Five students tell the story of NEET’s broken promise

Bhavika JainTIMESOFINDIA.COM
May 19, 2026 | 11:11 IST

From Kalyan to Nagpur, medical aspirants describe the fallout of NEET 2026’s cancellation — lost momentum, postponed family lives, abandoned holidays, fresh fears over leaks, and the growing belief that students are paying for failures beyond their control

The conclusion of NEET 2026 was meant to bring relief to lakhs of medical aspirants after months — often years — of punishing preparation. But its cancellation has instead pushed them back into the uncertainty they thought they had escaped.

For many, this is no longer just about one exam being scrapped. It is about disrupted lives, family sacrifices, financial strain, mental exhaustion, and the fear that hard work alone may not be enough in a system repeatedly shadowed by allegations of leaks and irregularities.
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