NEET Retest Amid Conflict: How Manipur’s Ethnic Tensions Are Turning a Medical Entrance Exam Into a Dangerous Journey

For thousands of students across India, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is one of the most important examinations of their lives.

But for many aspirants in Manipur, the upcoming NEET retest has become far more than an academic challenge.

It has evolved into an emotionally exhausting and physically demanding ordeal, unfolding against the backdrop of renewed ethnic tensions, security concerns, and deepening divisions across the state.

More than a month ago, a 19-year-old student from Kangpokpi district in Manipur undertook a road journey via National Highway-2, passing through Senapati district to reach her examination centre in Nagaland’s Kohima.

She appeared for the NEET examination on May 3, hoping to secure admission to a medical college.

However, those hopes were abruptly disrupted when the examination was cancelled nationwide following a massive paper leak controversy.

Since then, the situation in Manipur has deteriorated further. Fresh episodes of unrest and heightened communal tensions have significantly altered the circumstances surrounding the rescheduled examination.

The NEET retest is now scheduled to be held on June 21, forcing candidates to navigate not only the pressure of another examination but also the challenges posed by an increasingly volatile security environment.

Days before the retest, the teenager once again had to leave her home and travel to her examination centre.

This time, however, the journey was markedly different. She travelled under the cover of darkness and was accompanied by security personnel, a reflection of the fragile law-and-order situation prevailing in the state.

Manipur has examination centres in three locations—Imphal, the state’s capital situated in the Meitei-majority valley; Churachandpur, where the Kuki-Zo community forms the majority; and Chandel, which is home to a mixed tribal population.

In addition, several students from the state have also been assigned examination centres in neighbouring states and in Guwahati.

For the 19-year-old aspirant, the new examination centre is located in Churachandpur, a town predominantly inhabited by the Kuki-Zo community, to which she also belongs.

However, the state’s complex and evolving ethnic conflict has transformed movement within Manipur into a daunting task.

The ongoing tensions now involve not only the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities but also escalating friction between the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities.

As a result, large parts of the state, including several key roads and highways, have become potentially unsafe for members of these communities.

Travelling from Kangpokpi to Churachandpur inevitably requires passing through either Meitei-majority or Naga-majority regions.

Consequently, on Tuesday night, the teenager joined around 20 other medical aspirants from Kangpokpi in a security convoy that travelled through the Imphal Valley before reaching Churachandpur.

Significantly, it marked her first entry into the valley since the ethnic violence erupted in May 2023.

Recalling the journey, she said it was a deeply frightening experience.

The darkness, the heavy presence of security personnel, and the uncertainty of the route made her apprehensive throughout the trip.

Nevertheless, the group safely reached Churachandpur late at night, and she is currently staying at her aunt’s residence until the examination.

The young aspirant admitted that the cancellation of the original examination and the need to prepare all over again have left her emotionally exhausted and physically drained.

Despite the fatigue and anxiety, she remains determined not to give up after investing so much time and effort in pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. She said she and her friends are constantly supporting and motivating one another to stay focused.

According to Kuki Students’ Organisation Kangpokpi vice-president Thangtinlen Haokip, the transportation arrangements for these students were made with the assistance of the district administration, police authorities and security agencies.

He added that another group of students from Kangpokpi was similarly escorted to Imphal airport so they could continue their journeys to examination centres located elsewhere.

In view of the complicated security situation, multiple district administrations, including those in Kangpokpi,

Kamjong, Noney, Tamenglong, Tengnoupal and Senapati, have announced special transportation and security measures to facilitate the movement of candidates and their guardians.

The Tengnoupal district administration stated that, given the prevailing law-and-order circumstances, dedicated coordination mechanisms had been established with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of candidates and their accompanying family members during the examination period.

The uncertainty has affected students from other communities as well. A 21-year-old medical aspirant from Naga-majority Senapati district said she remains anxious while waiting for information regarding arrangements for her journey to her examination centre in Imphal.

During the May 3 examination, she had travelled through Kuki-Zo-majority Kangpokpi without encountering any difficulties.

However, the subsequent deterioration in relations between the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities, particularly in Senapati and Kangpokpi districts, has turned the same route into a source of immense worry.

The student revealed that learning about the possibility of travelling under military protection deeply unsettled her.

She said the prospect of an escorted journey has left her haunted by fears of potential ambushes or bomb attacks. T

he trauma of the examination leak and cancellation had already severely damaged her confidence, making the present circumstances even more overwhelming.

Like the teenager from Kangpokpi, she described herself as emotionally and physically exhausted. She said students had devoted months of hard work to preparing for the examination and had given their best efforts during the May test.

The subsequent cancellation made them feel as though all their dedication and sacrifices had been rendered meaningless, causing severe emotional stress and a growing sense of uncertainty about the future.

Senapati District Students Association president Saloni Tony said the organisation is currently coordinating with more than 80 students from the district regarding their travel arrangements for the examination.

According to data released by the National Testing Agency (NTA), a total of 9,285 students from Manipur had appeared for the NEET examination conducted on May 3.

For many of these candidates, the upcoming retest is not merely another attempt at an entrance examination but a test of resilience, determination and hope amid one of the most challenging periods in the state’s recent history.