
Fifty medical aspirants from four Assam districts will be selected for fully funded residential NEET coaching under a new initiative, with the selection test scheduled for October 11. Health Minister Ashok Singhal…
Fifty medical aspirants from four Assam districts will be selected for fully funded residential NEET coaching under a new initiative, with the selection test scheduled for October 11. Health Minister Ashok Singhal announced the programme on Tuesday (6 October 2026) for students from Sonitpur, Darrang, Biswanath and Udalguri districts.
The entrance test, to be held at five centres across the four districts, is expected to draw over 1,000 candidates. The Sai Vikash Foundation will conduct the test. Singhal said the initiative aims to help underprivileged students prepare for NEET without the financial burden of residential coaching, and the government may expand it to other parts of Assam if it yields positive results.
The announcement follows nationwide outrage over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, which led to the cancellation of the May 3 examination, a CBI probe, and a nationwide re-test on June 21. Over 20 lakh candidates had appeared for the original exam.
The free coaching initiative addresses the financial barrier for rural medical aspirants but leaves open how it will compare with similar programmes in the state. The selection test on October 11 will be the first concrete measure of demand, with more than 1,000 candidates expected for 50 seats. The government has tied the programme's continuation to its results, making the performance of the first batch the deciding factor for expansion to other districts.
Source: assamtribune.com
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