by Afreen Ashraf
SRINAGAR: On Sunday, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 was conducted across the country, with more than 50,000 aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir appearing at designated centres under strict security arrangements. However, no official figures were released on the exact number of candidates registered or those who appeared for the examination in the Union Territory. While over 22.79 lakh candidates sat the examination across India, a significant number of students from the Valley appeared at centres set up in 10 districts, including Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Budgam.
NEET remains one of India’s largest entrance examinations for undergraduate medical courses, making it among the most competitive in the country.
Beyond the scale of the examination, the day unfolded outside centres in quieter, deeply human moments, where years of preparation met anxiety, where parents waited in silent prayer, and where young aspirants carried not only admit cards but also the weight of expectation, sacrifice, and a future they have long envisioned.
On the ground, authorities enforced strict security and logistical arrangements at multiple examination centres across the Valley.
In Srinagar, examination centres witnessed heavy turnout from late morning, with candidates arriving well before reporting time to complete security checks and verification procedures. Authorities had put in place elaborate arrangements, including frisking, biometric attendance, and restrictions on prohibited items, to ensure a fair and transparent conduct of the examination.
Outside the centres, similar scenes unfolded—students revising notes, parents and guardians waiting anxiously, and families offering silent prayers along with words of encouragement.
Among them was a family from Uri, who arrived a day earlier due to uncertainty over travel on the morning of the examination. They chose to stay overnight in a room at Sonwar. “This is his third attempt,” said Bilal’s mother, her voice reflecting both fatigue and hope.
Nearby, another family from Baramulla stood in quiet concern as their daughter appeared for her first attempt. Her father approached a security officer with a request. “She has been feeling anxious since last night,” he said. “If she feels overwhelmed during the exam, please look after her. Just help calm her.”
The examination, conducted in pen-and-paper mode, assessed candidates in Biology, Physics and Chemistry based on the NCERT syllabus for Classes 11 and 12. Aspirants from different parts of the Valley expressed a mix of confidence and nervousness before entering the examination halls. “The competition is very high, but I have worked very hard. Today is about giving my best,” said Ayman, an aspirant.
As candidates entered the centres, parents remained outside—some seated on pavements, others standing in small groups near the gates, their eyes fixed on the entrances.
As the gates closed, many parents turned to faith during the long hours of waiting. One mother said she had visited a local dargah before the examination, praying for her daughter’s success.
Inside the examination halls, candidates wrote the three-hour test covering Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Outside, parents described those hours as an eternity. “Who says it is just an exam for our children? It is an exam for us parents too,” said a father waiting in the scorching heat.
Candidates are competing for around 1,676 MBBS seats in the Union Territory, in addition to admissions to BDS, BVSc, AYUSH and nursing courses.
As the examination concluded in the afternoon, candidates began emerging from the centres, sharing their initial impressions of the paper. The emotional spectrum was wide—some walked out in quiet confidence, while others struggled to hold back tears. Parents rushed towards the gates, trying to catch a glimpse of their children. Emotional scenes followed, with parents embracing their wards, asking hurried questions about the paper, and, in some instances, even hugging other students, perhaps recognising shared exhaustion and hope.
As the last candidates stepped out and the gates gradually emptied, the scene outside did not settle immediately. Parents lingered, students stood in small groups, and the morning’s tension slowly gave way to quiet conversations as families began their journey home, carrying the weight of a day that began with prayer and pressure.
The growing number of NEET aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir reflects increasing interest in the medical profession among the region’s youth. However, it also highlights intense competition, with limited seats available in government and private medical colleges across the country.
For many students across the Valley, NEET preparation involves years of dedicated study, often under challenging circumstances.
