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India: What’s driving the intense pressure on students?

DW English · Jun 23, 2026, 3:00 PM

Key takeaways

  • The reported deaths of aspiring medical students in India have exposed the immense pressures of the country's high-stakes examination system and a worsening mental-health crisis.
  • The original test in early May was canceled over suspicions that the questions had been leaked.
  • "It was mentally exhausting, but I had to keep my wits about me while writing," Patel told DW.

Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.

The reported deaths of aspiring medical students in India have exposed the immense pressures of the country's high-stakes examination system and a worsening mental-health crisis.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Fvd BOver 2 million medical aspirants retook the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) medical entrance examination on Sunday Image: Sanchit Khanna/Hindustan Times/Sipa USA/picture alliance Advertisement When 18-year-old Nelima Patel sat down to retake the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) medical entrance examination in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Sunday, she felt completely drained before the exam had even begun.

The original test in early May was canceled over suspicions that the questions had been leaked. Patel had to prepare all over again, navigating uncertainty, exhaustion and anxiety.

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