New Delhi: Anjali Kumari, a 24-year-old from Mau in Uttar Pradesh, stood at the entrance of Jantar Mantar, fanning exhausted protesters as they walked in. She has never appeared for NEET, but says the agitation extends far beyond one examination.Having cleared UGC-NET in Dec, Kumari appeared again in June for Junior Research Fellowship. But the sociology paper, she said, contained basic errors, including questions from history and political science, and one even asking candidates to “chronologically arrange the education ministers of our country”.Then there was the alleged paper leak. “My exam was at 3pm, but the paper was circulating on Telegram since 5am. Nearly 80 questions matched. We repeatedly flagged it and some seniors even went to the NTA headquarters, but nothing happened.”Pratyush Yadav from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli has come for his younger sister, who has spent three years preparing for NEET, dreaming to study at AIIMS Delhi. The 2024 controversy over unusually high scores dented her confidence, while the alleged leak in 2026 left her demoralised, he said.“We’re a middle-class family of four. One of us had to fulfil the dream of becoming a doctor, and that responsibility fell on her,” he said. “Everyone kept saying re-NEET was a blessing, but it only added to the pressure after years of sleepless preparation.”For 18-year-old Sattar Ahmad from Gujarat, it’s the CLAT-UG controversy. On Dec 7, 2025, alleged screenshots of the question paper surfaced online, nearly 15 hours before the examination. Supreme Court refused to order a re-test, observing that though the alleged leak came to light on Dec 6, the petitions were filed only on Dec 16, after the examination concluded and before the results were declared.“Once Supreme Court rejects something, it’s over. But it created a trust deficit in my mind about fair examinations,” Ahmad said, adding that he was fortunate to have the option of pursuing higher studies abroad, “an avenue not available to many”.The presence of non-medical students, they say, is about preserving faith in every competitive examination. “Everyone deserves a fair chance,” Kumari said.
