Assam Launches Free NEET Coaching Initiative for Medical Aspirants
New Initiative for Medical Aspirants in Assam
A file image of students in a coaching class, Guwahati. (Photo: AT)
Guwahati, Sept 30: A new initiative has been launched to provide fully funded residential coaching for NEET to fifty medical aspirants from four districts in Assam, with the selection test set for October 11.
Health Minister Ashok Singhal announced this program on Tuesday, which will benefit students from Sonitpur, Darrang, Biswanath, and Udalguri districts.
“An entrance examination will be conducted to offer 100% free residential NEET coaching to Class 12 students and those who did not secure seats after NEET. The test will commence at 11 am, with five examination centres established across the four districts,” Singhal stated.
The examination centres will be located at LOKD College in Dhekiajuli, Darrang College in Tezpur, Mangaldai College in Mangaldai, Biswanath College in Biswanath Chariali, and Udalguri College in Udalguri.
Singhal mentioned that over 1,000 candidates are anticipated to participate in the entrance test, from which 50 students will be chosen for the coaching program.
The Sai Vikash Foundation will manage the test and oversee the entire examination process.
“This initiative is being launched on a trial basis and will continue if it proves successful,” he added.
When questioned about whether this initiative was a response to a similar program by Badruddin Ajmal, Singhal clarified that the goal is to enhance educational opportunities for underprivileged students.
“Our aim is not to compete but to provide quality education to those in need. If it turns out to be competitive, that’s acceptable,” he remarked.
The minister emphasized that this initiative would enable aspiring medical students to prepare for NEET without the financial strain of residential coaching.
Singhal also indicated that the government is considering extending this initiative to other regions of Assam in the future.
This program comes in the wake of widespread outrage regarding the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, which resulted in the cancellation of the May 3 examination, a CBI investigation, and a nationwide re-test on June 21. Over 20 lakh candidates had participated in the examination.
The controversy sparked weeks of protests, sit-ins, and a hunger strike by students demanding accountability for the examination and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on July 25.
The NEET crisis has also highlighted the immense pressure faced by medical aspirants, especially following reports of multiple student suicides linked to the paper leak, cancellation, and re-test.