Jaipur: The cancellation of the NEET examination amid the paper leak controversy has triggered severe emotional distress among students and parents across Rajasthan, with many aspirants reporting sleeplessness, panic, stress, lack of concentration and sudden loss of motivation ahead of the re-exam scheduled for June 21. Parents say several students have become emotionally disturbed since the cancellation announcement, particularly those who had spent years preparing for the medical entrance examination. ML Agarwal, a senior clinical psychologist who has been counselling students in Kota for the last 35 years, said the psychological impact of the controversy is far deeper than what is publicly visible. “We are continuously receiving calls from both parents and students. The mental pressure is the unseen cost of the paper leak. Students who seriously appeared for the examination after two to three years of intense preparation are feeling deeply dejected,” said Agarwal. According to estimates from the coaching sector, nearly 37,000 students appeared for NEET from Kota centres alone, while around 60,000 candidates from across Rajasthan took the exam. For many families, handling the emotional breakdown of children has become more difficult than the examination itself. Aseem Jain, a businessman from Jhansi, said his son Manish was devastated after hearing the cancellation news. “My son was crying inconsolably after the announcement. We tried our best to comfort him at home, but he was unable to come out of the shock,” Jain said. “I finally decided to bring him back to Kota so he could meet his teachers and counsellors. After talking to them for a long time, he is feeling slightly better now. I will stay here with him till the re-exam on June 21,” he added. The disruption has also put additional pressure on coaching institutes in Kota, Jaipur and Sikar. Several institutes have cancelled leave for teachers and academic staff as they simultaneously manage fresh batches and NEET re-exam students. Coaching institutes estimate that nearly 60%-70% of students are expected to return for revision classes and counselling support in the coming days. Lata Rawat, mentor at Cambridge Court Group of Schools, said students are gradually trying to rebuild confidence after the setback. “The best way to support students right now is to remind them that if they performed well earlier, they can perform even better now. And for those who were not fully satisfied with their preparation, these extra days can become an opportunity,” she said. Among those struggling to regain focus is Pragya Bhatt, a NEET aspirant from Alwar. “I had prepared for this exam with complete dedication. After the paper, my parents had planned a short trip to Manali because they felt I deserved a break. Now that trip has been cancelled. My only fear is whether I will be able to maintain the same level of focus and emotional strength again for the re-exam,” she said.
