The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026 re-examination is less than three days away, and students right now are not just worried about the re-exam, but also about whether or not the exam will be conducted safely this time.
While students are currently anxious and worried, Indian novelist and columnist Shobhaa De shared a message with students who are gearing up to sit for the re-examination of NEET UG.
“The IAF, our Indian Air Force, is, as we speak, airlifting test papers across India for the NEET exam. Now, for those of you who don’t know what the NEET exam is, please find out, because it is affecting a lot of young lives,” she told Times Now Digital.
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She also talked about the unfortunate incidents where NEET aspirants reportedly died by suicide due to fear of re-appearing for the exam. “In the last two days, there have been four student suicides. It’s an exam that should not be exerting this kind of pressure on young minds, but it does. The fact that we are talking about leaks at the top level and students having to appear once again, having been through the tension of an examination already, is something we should really be ashamed of,” she said.
Shobhaa Dee also called for accountability from the authorities, and called for more emphasis on student wellbeing, be it physical or mental.
“And the Ministry of Education, our government agencies, all those responsible for the leaks, what have we done about them? Are they going to just get away with it saying, well, leaks happen, it shouldn’t be this way? The young students, I mean, look at what kind of pressure they’re enduring. I was a student once, my grandchildren are students right now, my children have all experienced examinations, but nothing like this, like a do or die thing,” she said. “Mental health, above all, has to be addressed. It’s an examination. The students need our support, they need our empathy, they need our understanding. They need an environment around them that tells them, go out there, do your best, but please don’t let it take such a toll on you.”
Sending a message of motivation and assurance, she said: “Stay determined, of course, do the best you can, of course you must, but at the end of the day, remember, it’s only an exam and your life, your mental health is far more important than the marks you get during NEET. So all the best from me, do your best.”
NEET UG 2026 was originally conducted on May 3, but was then cancelled on May 12 following reports of paper leak. The exam will now be re-conducted for over 22 lakh students on June 21. NEET UG is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) annually as a qualifying test for MBBS and BDS programmes in Indian medical and dental colleges.