Five students tell the story of NEET’s broken promise

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.