Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, May 3: The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 was held today across Jammu and Kashmir, with nearly 50,000 candidates estimated to have appeared for the examination.
No official figures, however, were released on the exact number of candidates registered or those who took the test in the Union Territory. Overall, an estimated 47,000 to 51,000 aspirants from J&K are believed to have registered.
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On the ground, authorities enforced strict security and logistical arrangements at multiple examination centres across the Valley.
Officials said foolproof measures were put in place to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the examination, with strict adherence to guidelines issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and close coordination among stakeholders.
Keeping in view the sensitivity of the examination, adequate deployment of magistrates and security personnel was ensured at all centres.
Elaborate arrangements, including the deployment of invigilators, observers, and security personnel, were made to facilitate the process.
The examination was conducted from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in pen-and-paper mode, with entry to centres permitted between 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM.
Candidates eligible for compensatory time, including persons with disabilities (PwD/PwBD), were allowed to write until 6:00 PM.
Candidates are competing for around 1,676 MBBS seats in the Union Territory, in addition to admissions to BDS, BVSc, AYUSH, and nursing courses.
At the national level, the NTA conducted the exam across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad at more than 5,432 centres, for approximately 22.79 lakh registered candidates.
Officials said the scale of coordination was massive, with 674 city coordinators and over 6,000 observers deployed.
In Srinagar, several candidates, seen making their way to examination centres or waiting outside with their parents, expressed a mix of anxiety and optimism before entering the halls.
“I am nervous, but I will give my best-let’s hope for the best,” said Nafeesa, a candidate.
Tabiya, appearing for the first time, said she felt well prepared. “I have prepared well and will give it my best,” she said.
Another aspirant, Wahid from Anantnag, appearing for the second time, said he was hopeful of improving his performance. “I have studied the entire year, and I am hopeful it will go well,” he said.
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