3 days ago
Young Women Keep Doctor Dreams Alive After NEET Cancellation
Rehana and Afruja are two young women who still want to become doctors.
Their entrance exam, NEET-UG 2026, was cancelled after officials found irregularities.
This made many students wait longer and prepare for another exam.
Rehana took the exam again and earned a strong score and rank.
Her family is poor, so another round of studying was very difficult.
Afruja has a locomotor disability and said her mother could not afford another round of preparation.
She wants to become a doctor and help people with disabilities in her village.
Both women received scholarships for their determination.
NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled about a week after its May 3 exam because of irregularities, affecting 22 lakh students.
Rehana Khatun retook the exam on June 21, scored 597 out of 720, and secured an all-India rank of 11,073.
Rehana said becoming a doctor is essential to help lift her family out of poverty.
Afruja Khatun, who has a locomotor disability, cleared NEET in the disability category and is awaiting an MBBS seat.
Afruja hopes to practise in her village so people with disabilities do not need to travel long distances for treatment.
- Who
- Rehana Khatun and Afruja Khatun, two NEET aspirants who received scholarships.
- What
- They continued pursuing MBBS admission after NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled and caused uncertainty for students.
- Where
- The awards were held at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium; Afruja hopes to practise in her village after qualifying.
- When
- The original exam was held on May 3, the replacement exam on June 21, and the scholarship presentation took place on Saturday.
- Why
- NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled about a week after the exam because of irregularities, forcing students to face another examination and delay.
Key facts
- Students affected
- About 22 lakh students were pushed into uncertainty after the exam cancellation.
- Original NEET date
- May 3, 2026.
- Replacement exam date
- June 21, 2026.
- Rehana’s score
- 597 out of 720.
- Rehana’s rank
- All-India rank 11,073.
- Rehana’s scholarship
- The Bansari and Malay Saha Scholarship.
- Afruja’s scholarship
- The International Combustion (India) Limited Scholarship.
Quotes
Rehana Khatun
NEET aspirant who retook the exam and earned an MBBS rank
“It is not just them but the entire family dependent on them, waiting for them to become doctors or engineers. It’s the whole family banking on the family being uplifted... How unfair it is when they are denied an opportunity because of circumstances beyond their control”
telegraphindia.com
“When I was small, my father would bring me from Malda to SSKM Hospital in Calcutta for treatment. When I become a doctor, I want to practise in my village.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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