Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) detained by the police as they staged a protest against the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination in Chennai on Thursday, May 14, 2026 following allegations of paper leakage and examination irregularities. Photo credit: ANI
National Eligibility for Entrance Test (NEET) aspirants from across the country, who prepared and appeared for the exam in Delhi, reacted to the announcement of the re-examination date – June 21 – with apprehension and frustration on Friday. The decision to retake the exam left them in a state of uncertainty, exhaustion and disrupted academic plans, the students said. Some said they would now be forced to resume training amid medical recoveries, financial obligations and conflicting entrance tests.
“Sold all the books”
When West Bengal’s Deepanshu Goyal* appeared for this year’s NEET on May 3, it was his second attempt just before a road accident left him with severe ligament damage requiring extensive surgery. Hoping for adequate recovery time, he scheduled the surgery after the test in Delhi.
“I sold all my study material and ended my living in the city before what I believed would be the last days of my preparation.” He is currently under observation at a hospital in the capital.
Sister Diksha Dheeraj*, who was taking NEET for the second time, was also planning a procedure after the test. She underwent appendectomy on May 8, five days after the examination, Ms. Dheeraj said. “We have scheduled the surgery after the exam so that she can recover before the counseling starts. Now she has to start her preparation again even though she is not yet physically recovered,” Ms. Dheeraj said, adding that the uncertainty had heightened her sister’s fears of losing another year.
Rudra Vyas*, 18, from Varanasi, who was preparing for NEET in Delhi, asked how the authorities would prevent the document from being leaked again before June 21.
Data clash
Some aspirants have pointed out that the re-test date is in conflict with the UPSSSC Pharmacist (Bheshajik) Mains exam scheduled under the Preliminary Eligibility Test 2025.
For 19-year-old Pradeep Kumar*, last week’s announcement brought financial uncertainty along with academic uncertainty. Mr. Kumar, who cleared JEE Mains, says he may not have time to prepare again as JEE counseling is held around mid-June every year.
“I will have to combine my NEET studies with the counseling process. Even as I go through college applications, I am in danger of losing the ₹35,000 I paid as JEE seat admission fee, which is not a small amount for me,” he said.
However, for some, the dream of clearing NEET ended on May 15 when the National Testing Agency announced the cancellation of the exam on May 3.
‘Dreams End’
Riya Javeed*, 19, from Kashmir, may never get the chance to appear in NEET again. She said she traveled to Delhi to prepare and take the medical entrance exam despite her parents’ reluctance.
“My parents wanted me to settle down and get married in Kashmir. They only allowed me to come to Delhi a month before the exam to stay with my cousin and prepare,” she said, adding, “Now I am not sure if I will be allowed to come back to Delhi for the re-test.”
Naveen Sharma* from Noida said the last few weeks before the examination were mentally exhausting. “You’re really full and I’m going to have to prepare for it again,” said the 18-year-old student. He asked why the exam could not be held online this year.
Earlier in the day, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that NEET will be shifted to computer-based test from next year to ensure transparency.
(*Name changed upon request)
(With inputs from Mahima Rao)
Published – 15 May 2026 22:49 IST
