Every year, more than 20 lakh students across India register for NEET UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), all chasing a finite number of approximately 1 lakh MBBS and BDS seats. This national-level medical entrance exam has evolved from a meritocratic filter into a relentless rat race—an intense, unforgiving competition that is redefining the future of Indian healthcare, student psychology, and parental expectations.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Disproportionate Dream

The gap between aspirants and available seats is startling:

• Total Applicants (2024): ~20.87 lakh

• Government MBBS Seats: ~55,000

• Private MBBS Seats: ~45,000 (many unaffordable)

• BDS & AYUSH Seats: ~65,000 (less preferred by most)

This translates to just 1 in 20 students making it to a government MBBS seat, creating a pressure-cooker environment that begins as early as Class 9 in many homes.

Source: NTA NEET Data 2024

Coaching: The Unregulated Giant

The NEET coaching industry has ballooned into a multi-thousand crore business, with institutes in Kota, Hyderabad, Delhi, and even small towns promising medical seats like factory outputs. Families spend lakhs of rupees annually—often at the cost of financial stability—just for a “chance” at success.

• Kota alone has over 200 coaching centers

• Average fees range from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh/year

• Some families spend ₹10–12 lakh in total on prep, lodging & travel

Impact: Students live under constant academic surveillance. Mock tests weekly. Timetables rigidly followed. Failure feels fatal.

Source: The Print – Kota's Coaching Culture

Mental Health Crisis: Silent Epidemic

The competition has sparked a worrying rise in student burnout, anxiety, and suicides. Kota, India’s coaching capital, reported 26 student suicides in 2023 alone, the highest ever in a year.

Reasons include:

• Academic fatigue and fear of failure

• Isolation and homesickness in coaching hubs

• Parental pressure and financial guilt

Despite efforts by local governments and coaching centers to introduce counseling and “no-failure” policies, many students feel trapped, unable to back out due to societal expectations.

Source: Hindustan Times – Student Suicides in Kota

The Role of NEET in Widening Inequality

While NEET was introduced to standardize medical admissions, it has arguably deepened inequality:

• Urban, affluent students dominate top ranks due to better coaching access

• Rural students lag behind due to poor schooling and lack of support

• English medium questions disadvantage regional-language students

• Reserved category students face stigma despite qualifying

Thus, while designed to bring fairness, NEET inadvertently promotes an elitist model of education.

What Needs to Change?

1. Strengthen School Education: Students shouldn’t need coaching if schools were strong enough to prepare them.

2. Expand Medical Seats: More government medical colleges in underserved regions are essential.

3. Mental Health Support: Mandatory counseling, break policies, and awareness in schools/coaching centers.

4. Alternative Pathways: Encourage BSc, paramedical, and AYUSH careers with equal dignity and pay parity.

5. Regulate Coaching Institutes: Enforce ethical advertising, cap fees, and ensure mental health support.

Conclusion: Is the Dream Worth the Damage?

The NEET UG rat race has turned what should be a journey of compassion into a marathon of exhaustion. India may be producing doctors—but at what cost? Dreams should empower, not suffocate. The time has come for systemic reforms that balance ambition with empathy and policy with purpose.