What to Do If Admit Card Is Not Available – Common Issues & Official Solutions (2026)

It is two days before your exam. You open the portal, enter your registration number and date of birth, and the admit card simply does not appear. No download button. No error message. Just nothing — or worse, an error that says “Registration not found.”

For most government exam aspirants, this is a moment of pure panic. And understandably so — without the admit card, you cannot enter the exam hall. Without entering the exam hall, everything you prepared for counts for nothing.

The good news: in almost every case, the problem has a solution. Admit card issues are far more common than recruiting boards advertise, and there is a clear process to resolve each one — if you know where to look and what to do.

This guide covers every known admit card problem — from technical download errors to forgotten registration numbers to genuinely missing hall tickets — with specific, actionable steps to fix each one before your exam day.

First: Understand Why Admit Cards Are Not Issued in Some Cases

Before assuming a technical error, confirm whether you are actually supposed to receive an admit card at this stage. There are legitimate reasons why some candidates are not issued hall tickets at all.

Application Was Incomplete or Rejected

If your application was submitted but the fee was not successfully paid — or if the fee was paid but the confirmation did not reach the server — your application remains incomplete in the system. Incomplete applications do not generate admit cards.

Similarly, if your application was rejected due to eligibility mismatch, invalid photo, or incorrect details, no admit card will be issued — and in some cases, no rejection notice is sent proactively either.

What to do: Log in to the official exam portal and check your Application Status first. If it shows “Pending”, “Incomplete”, or “Rejected”, the admit card issue is a downstream effect of the application problem. Address the application status first.

Admit Card Released Region-Wise or in Batches

For large-scale exams like SSC, RRB, and UPSC, admit cards are often released region by region or in batches — not for all candidates simultaneously.

SSC, for example, releases admit cards through its Regional websites (SSC NR for North, SSC CR for Central Region, SSC ER for Eastern Region, etc.) — and not all regional admit cards are available at the same time.

What to do: Check your exam region from your application form or the original notification. Visit the regional website directly — not the national portal homepage. Your admit card may already be available there.

Admit Card Not Released Yet

Sometimes the portal shows nothing simply because the admit card has not been uploaded yet — even if the announced release date has passed. Government exam portals frequently run 1–3 days behind announced schedules without a formal update notice.

What to do: Visit the official website directly and look for any updated notice. Do not rely on WhatsApp groups or third-party coaching sites for status — check the official board notification only.

Problem 1: Forgot Registration Number / Application Number

This is one of the most common and most solvable admit card problems. Every major exam board has a built-in recovery mechanism for forgotten registration numbers.

For RRB / Railway Exams

1. Visit the official RRB website for your region (e.g., rrbcdg.gov.in for Chandigarh, rrbald.gov.in for Allahabad, rrbgorakhpur.gov.in for Gorakhpur).

2. Click on “Forgot Registration Number” — visible on the login page or admit card download section.

3. Select your recovery method: By Name and Date of Birth or By Email ID and Date of Birth.

4. Enter the exact details as submitted during application.

5. Your registration number will be sent to your registered email address.

RRB Helpdesk Contacts (for UP and Bihar aspirants):

For SSC Exams

1. Visit the relevant SSC Regional website (e.g., sscnr.net.in for North Region).

2. Look for “Forgot Registration Number” or “Forgot Password” link under the Login section.

3. Enter your Name, Date of Birth, and registered mobile number or email ID.

4. Your registration number will be recovered via OTP or email.

For NTA-Conducted Exams (UPSC, NEET, JEE, AISSEE, CUET)

1. Visit the specific exam’s official portal (e.g., aissee.nta.nic.in, neet.nta.nic.in, jeemain.nta.nic.in).

2. Click on “Forgot Application Number” on the login page.​

3. Provide your Name, Father’s Name, Mother’s Name, Date of Birth, and Category — exactly as filled during registration.​

4. The application number will be sent to your registered mobile/email.​

For UPSC Exams

1. Visit upsconline.nic.in.​

2. Use the “Forgot Registration ID” option.

3. Enter your name, date of birth, and email ID used during registration.

4. Registration ID will be emailed to you.​

Problem 2: Wrong Password / OTP Not Received

Many exam portals use a password + OTP combination for admit card login. Issues arise when the registered mobile number is no longer active or the OTP simply does not arrive.

OTP Not Received on Phone

1. Wait at least 3–5 minutes before requesting a resend — OTPs sometimes have network delay.​

2. Check if your registered number has DND (Do Not Disturb) activated — government OTPs may be blocked by DND settings on some carriers. Contact your mobile operator to lift DND.

3. Try requesting the OTP again during off-peak hours (avoid between 10 AM–1 PM when portals are most congested).​

4. If the portal offers OTP on email as an alternative, use that option.​

5. If none of these work: contact the exam helpdesk with your application number, name, and DOB to request a password reset manually.

Changed Your Mobile Number After Application

This is a critical and very common issue. If the mobile number registered during application is no longer active, OTP-based logins will fail permanently until the number is updated in the system.

What to do:

• Contact the official exam helpdesk by email (not phone, as written records are more reliable for such requests).

• Provide: Full Name, Application/Registration Number, Date of Birth, old registered mobile number, new mobile number, and a scanned copy of any valid ID proof.

• Request a mobile number update in the system.

• This typically takes 2–5 working days — do not wait until the day before the exam.

Forgot Password (Non-OTP Login Portals)

1. Click “Forgot Password” on the login page.​

2. Enter your Registration Number and Date of Birth.

3. A password reset link or temporary password will be sent to your registered email.

4. If you no longer have access to that email: contact the helpdesk with ID proof and a request for manual password reset.

Problem 3: Admit Card Page Loading Error / Website Not Opening

Government exam portals are notorious for crashing under heavy load — especially on the day admit cards are released, when lakhs of candidates try to access the site simultaneously.

Step-by-Step Fix for Loading Problems

1. Check your internet connection first. Try opening any other website. If that also fails, the issue is your connection, not the portal.

2. Switch networks. If on Wi-Fi, switch to mobile data (4G). If on mobile data, try a different network (different carrier or Wi-Fi). Government portals sometimes respond better to specific network types.​

3. Clear browser cache and cookies. In Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Clear Browsing Data → Select “All Time” → Clear. Then refresh the page.​

4. Try a different browser. If using Chrome, try Firefox or Microsoft Edge. Some exam portals are optimised for specific browsers.

5. Try Incognito / Private mode. This opens the page without cached data or saved passwords interfering.​

6. Try at a non-peak time. Between 11 PM and 6 AM, portal traffic is significantly lower. If the site is crashing during peak hours, try again late at night.

7. Try on a desktop/laptop instead of mobile. Government portals often have display and compatibility issues on mobile browsers that don’t appear on desktop.​

Problem 4: Admit Card Downloaded But PDF Won’t Open

You have successfully downloaded the PDF file, but it shows blank, won’t open, or displays a “damaged file” error.

Solutions:

1. Re-download the file. The first download may have been interrupted mid-way (especially on unstable connections), resulting in a corrupted file. Delete the partially downloaded file and download again.​

2. Use Adobe Acrobat Reader. Many government exam admit card PDFs use security features that are compatible only with Adobe Reader and not with browser-based PDF viewers. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) and open the file through it.​

3. Check if the file is password-protected. Some admit card PDFs require a password to open — typically your Date of Birth in DDMMYYYY format or your Registration Number. Check the exam notification for the password format.

4. Try on a different device. If the file fails to open on one device, download and try opening it on a different phone, tablet, or computer.​

Problem 5: Photo or Details Are Wrong on the Admit Card

Your admit card has downloaded correctly, but the photograph is wrong, blurred, or missing — or your name/date of birth is printed incorrectly.

This is the most time-sensitive admit card problem. Act the same day you discover the error.

Wrong Name, DOB, or Category Printed

1. Check whether the error exists in your original application form (log in to the portal and verify submitted details).

2. If the application form itself has wrong details:

   • Check if the Correction Window is still open. If yes, log in and correct the details immediately.​

   • If the correction window is closed, email the exam helpdesk with proof of the correct detail (copy of Aadhaar/10th certificate), application number, and a written request for correction.

3. If the application form has correct details but the admit card shows different information: this is a system error on the board’s side — contact the helpdesk immediately with screenshots of both the application form details and the admit card error.​

Blurred or Wrong Photograph on Admit Card

1. Log in to the portal and check the uploaded photo in your application.

2. If the uploaded photo was correct but the admit card shows a wrong image: contact the helpdesk with your Registration Number and the issue description.

3. Carry the original application form printout (which may have a clearer photo) and multiple copies of your photo ID to the exam centre.

4. Inform the invigilator in advance — most exam boards allow entry with a valid photo ID if the admit card photo is visibly blurred, as long as the roll number matches. However, do not assume this — confirm with the exam board helpdesk first.

Problem 6: Name Not Found in Exam City / Centre

Your admit card downloads, but it shows an exam centre that is different from what you expected — or when you arrive at the exam centre, your name is not on the attendance sheet.

Exam Centre Different From Expectation

Exam board allots exam centres automatically — you cannot always get the centre you prefer. However, if the centre allotted is impossible to reach (different state due to a system error), contact the helpdesk before the exam date with your roll number and a written request for centre correction.​

Important: Centre changes are rare and not guaranteed. Boards are under no obligation to change exam centres. Contact early and have a backup plan to travel.​

Name Missing From Exam Centre Attendance List

This happens in rare cases when the candidate’s roll number is in the system but the exam centre-wise attendance list was printed before a last-minute addition.​

What to do:

1. Carry your admit card, photo ID, and application number printout to the centre.

2. Report to the Centre Superintendent or Invigilator-in-Charge immediately upon arrival — before the exam starts.

3. They can verify your candidature through the Roll Number in their system, even if the printed list does not show your name.​

4. Do not leave the centre without trying this step — almost all genuine cases are resolved at centre level.

Problem 7: Admit Card Portal Shows “Exam Cancelled” or “On Hold”

In some cases, the admit card portal shows a notice that the exam for a specific region or date has been postponed, rescheduled, or placed on hold.

What to do:

1. Visit the official exam board’s homepage (not the admit card portal directly) and look for the latest press release or notification.

2. Check whether the cancellation is for all centres or only specific ones.

3. Subscribe to the official exam board’s email/SMS notifications — many boards send automatic updates to registered email IDs for such developments.

4. Do not book travel or make payments for accommodation until you confirm the exam is proceeding.​

Official Helpdesk Contacts – Exam Board Wise

When all self-help steps fail, contact the official helpdesk directly. Always email rather than call for documented communication.

SSC (Staff Selection Commission)

RRB (Railway Recruitment Board) – Key Offices for UP & Bihar

NTA (National Testing Agency) – For UPSC, NEET, JEE, AISSEE, CUET

• Website: nta.ac.in

• Helpdesk Email: nta@nta.ac.in

• Toll-free: 1800-103-2581

UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)

• Website: upsc.gov.in

• Contact: 011-23381125, 011-23385271

• Facilitation Counter: UPSC Dholpur House, New Delhi — open 10 AM to 5 PM on working days​

What to Carry to the Exam Hall If Admit Card Issue Is Unresolved

If you have done everything and the admit card issue is still not resolved on exam day, do not skip the exam. Go to the centre with these alternatives:

• Printed screenshot of your application form submission confirmation page (with your registration/application number visible).

• Your original photo ID — Aadhaar Card is the most universally accepted at government exam centres.

• The fee payment receipt or bank statement showing the exam fee deduction.

• A printout of the email confirmation received at the time of application, which typically contains your registration number.

• Any previous year hall ticket from the same exam board (if it’s a multi-stage exam and you have a previous stage admit card).

Report to the Centre Superintendent before the exam and show all documents. In most cases, genuine candidates are allowed to write the exam under observation and the admit card is later verified. However, final entry is at the discretion of the centre — which is why resolving the issue before exam day through the helpdesk is always the preferred path.

Quick Reference: Problem → Solution at a Glance

FAQs

Q. What if I have lost the printout of my admit card and the portal is no longer showing the download option?
If the exam has passed and the portal has archived the admit card, contact the exam board helpdesk by email with your application number and request a duplicate copy for records. For upcoming stages (DV, medical), a new call letter will be issued separately.​

Q. Can I enter the exam hall without a printout if I show the admit card on my phone?
Most government exam boards require a printed hard copy of the admit card. Digital copies on mobile screens are typically not accepted. Some boards explicitly state this in the admit card instructions. Always print the admit card — even in black and white is usually acceptable.

Q. My application was rejected due to an incorrect photo. Can I reapply?
If the application window is still open, you may be able to correct and resubmit. If the window is closed, most boards have a correction window period — check the official website. After the correction window also closes, you typically cannot reapply for the current cycle.

Q. The portal shows my application is “Under Scrutiny.” Will I get an admit card?
“Under Scrutiny” means your application is being reviewed — likely because of a discrepancy in uploaded documents or eligibility details. You should contact the helpdesk proactively to understand the status and resolve any issue before the admit card release date.

Q. What is the safest way to avoid all admit card problems?
Save your Registration Number, Password, and Application Confirmation Email immediately after applying — in multiple places (diary, cloud note, email folder). Keep your registered mobile number active throughout the recruitment cycle. Download your admit card on the first day of release, not the last day.