Teachers must help students cope with NEET setback

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is far more than a routine administrative exercise; it is the ultimate repository of dreams for millions of young Indians striving to enter the medical profession.

- BHASKAR NATH BISWAL

For an aspirant, securing a seat through this examination represents the culmination of years of relentless toil, sacrificed childhoods and the immense financial and emotional hopes of families across the socio-economic spectrum. In the collective Indian consciousness, NEET is the singular, merit-based bridge between a modest background and a life dedicated to healing.

The sheer magnitude of this examination is underscored by its staggering growth over the past five years. In 2022, registrations stood at approximately 18.72 lakh, which climbed significantly to 20.87 lakh in 2023 and surged to an unprecedented 23.81 lakh candidates in 2024. By 2025, numbers hovered near the 24-lakh mark and for the ill-fated 3 May 2026 attempt, over 22.79 lakh students registered across thousands of domestic and international centers. This consistent trajectory emphasizes the immense responsibility resting on the testing apparatus to maintain absolute sanctity for an exercise that involves a significant chunk of the nation's population on a single day.

However, the history of question paper leaks and logistical failures over the last five years has transformed this bridge into a precarious tightrope, repeatedly shattering the trust of the student community. From localized cheating rings and proxy candidate rackets exposed in 2021 and 2022, to the widespread institutional controversies regarding grace marks and paper compromises in 2024, the integrity of the process has faced constant erosion. The ultimate crisis unfolded with the outright cancellation of the May 2026 attempt, after a confirmed pan-India leak orchestrated through leaked digital files and compromised insiders left the country stunned.