NMC bars leaves for medical students on June 20-21 to prevent NEET ‘proxies’

New Delhi: Medical students have been barred from taking leave on June 20 and 21 to prevent them from appearing as proxy candidates in the re-examination of NEET-UG 2026 scheduled for June 21 — a practice flagged in past editions of the test.

New Delhi: Medical students have been barred from taking leave on June 20 and 21 to prevent them from appearing as proxy candidates in the re-examination of NEET-UG 2026 scheduled for June 21 — a practice flagged in past editions of the test.

On June 13, DoHE secretary Vineet Joshi wrote to Union health ministry secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, urging vigilance and sensitisation of students against any involvement in malpractices. He also recommended denying leave to students on June 20-21 except in justified cases.

“In view of certain instances reported in the past… all medical colleges shall remain vigilant and ensure that medical students are sensitised against any involvement in activities prejudicial to the conduct of the examination,” reads the NMC notice.

Officials in NMC, NTA and education ministry said in NEET UG 2024, at least 7 MBBS students were arrested from Bihar, Jharkhand and Rajasthan who either appeared as proxy candidates for aspirants or were part of solvers gangs.

“NMC has issued the public notice to all medical colleges on the request of the education ministry’s DoHE secretary. There have been some instances in the past wherein various investigation agencies and the education ministry had brought to our notice that some of the medical students were alleged to have been involved in impersonation and sitting as proxy candidates. In order to ensure the sanctity of this exam, the education ministry requested us to issue the notice and we have asked the medical college to remain vigilant and not to grant leaves to students on June 20 and June 21,” a senior NMC official told HT, requesting anonymity.