NEET pressure: 19-year-old Maharashtra student dies by suicide, leaves heartbreaking note for parents
A 19-year-old student from Maharashtra, who was preparing for the highly competitive National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), allegedly died by suicide at his home in Khandala village in Vaijapur taluka of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
The student has been identified as Suraj Subhash Shinde.
Student found dead at home
According to preliminary information, Suraj was studying for NEET in an upstairs room of his house when the incident took place.
He was reportedly under immense pressure over his studies and future career.
Before his death, Suraj allegedly left behind an emotional two-line note addressed to his parents.
"Sorry, Mom and Dad... I will definitely become a doctor for you in the next life. Please take care of yourselves and stay happy," the note reportedly read.
The incident has once again highlighted the intense academic pressure faced by students preparing for India's highly competitive medical entrance examination.
NEET under scrutiny
NEET-UG has faced intense scrutiny in recent years following allegations of question-paper leaks and irregularities surrounding the examination process.
The controversy triggered widespread outrage and protests by students and opposition parties, with demands for greater transparency and reforms in the conduct of competitive examinations.
Following the controversy, the Ministry of Education constituted a seven-member committee headed by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan to recommend reforms in the examination process, strengthen data-security protocols and review the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The government also constituted a high-powered task force, led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, to examine structural reforms in competitive examinations.
Supreme Court seeks stronger NTA infrastructure
The Supreme Court has also stressed the need to strengthen the NTA, directing that the agency be equipped with adequate infrastructure, manpower and technological capabilities to conduct examinations securely and efficiently.
Meanwhile, allegations related to the NEET-UG paper leak have been investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Suraj's death is likely to renew concerns over the enormous academic and psychological pressure experienced by students preparing for high-stakes entrance examinations.
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