Ashok Bahara, believed to be the oldest candidate to appear for NEET-UG 2026, has approached the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court seeking a 1% reservation for senior citizens in MBBS and other medical admissions through the national entrance examination.

Bahara, a septuagenarian who appeared in both the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 examination and the June 21 re-examination, has urged the court to direct the Union Ministry of Education to formulate a policy providing a special quota for eligible senior citizens in medical colleges.

The petition, filed on July 13, comes after Bahara's earlier representations to the Centre on May 5 and June 26 reportedly received no response. The first hearing is expected later this week.

In his plea, Bahara argued that the government's inaction on his representations is "arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of the principles of fair administration." The petition seeks a writ of mandamus directing the Centre to consider and decide on a policy for reservation or a special quota for senior citizens in medical admissions within a timeframe set by the court.

Petition cites absence of reservation for senior citizens

The petition points out that several categories, including Persons with Disabilities (PwD), freedom fighters, ex-servicemen, and sportspersons, receive reservation or special benefits during admissions, while senior citizens currently have no such provision despite being eligible to appear for the examination.

Bahara's counsel, Advocate Pankaj Dheer Singh Rana, argued that the demand is consistent with judicial developments related to NEET eligibility.

"The Supreme Court removed the age ceiling for the NEET-UG examination, recognising that senior citizens have the right to pursue medical education if they choose. If they are eligible to compete for medical seats, there should also be consideration for reservation," Rana said.

He added that the petition has a strong legal basis and expressed confidence about its prospects before the High Court.

NEET-UG age limit removed in 2022

The National Medical Commission (NMC) removed the upper age limit for NEET-UG candidates in March 2022, following earlier directions from the Supreme Court, which had granted provisional permission to candidates above 25 years to appear for the examination in 2018.

Bahara has previously said that his decision to pursue medicine is driven by a deeply personal commitment. He wants to fulfil the last wish of his late mother, Saivthri Devi, who had hoped he would become a doctor. He also intends to use his medical education to serve residents of the Divya Prem Ashram, which he is developing in his native village of Gehru in Lucknow.

His family already has a strong medical background, with his wife working as a gynaecologist and nearly 20 doctors among his close relatives.

The case is likely to draw attention to the broader debate on medical education access, age inclusivity, and reservation policies under the NEET-UG admission process.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the NEET UG Re-Exam 2026 results on the official website. Candidates who appeared for the re-test can now download their scorecards by logging in at neet.nta.nic.in using their application number and password.

A total of 11.21 lakh candidates have qualified in the NEET UG re-examination. Aryan Gupta from Punjab has emerged as the All India Rank (AIR) 1 holder with 715 out of 720 marks, followed by Panshul Bansal (AIR 2) and Uplakshya Goyal (AIR 3). The highest-ranked female candidate is Kudale Shravani Krishna, who secured AIR 5.

NEET UG Re-Exam 2026: Top Rank Holders

Aryan Gupta's Success Strategy

Sharing the secret behind his achievement, Aryan Gupta said disciplined preparation and consistency played a crucial role in securing the top rank.

"I studied 16–17 hours every day for several months before NEET. I followed the study material and preparation strategy provided by my coaching institute," he said.

Aryan, whose parents are both doctors, has long aspired to become an oncologist. He revealed that losing his grandmother to cancer when he was in Class 3 inspired him to pursue oncology and dedicate his career to cancer treatment.

How to Download NEET UG Re-Exam Scorecard 2026

Candidates can access their scorecards by following these steps:

1. Visit the official NEET website: neet.nta.nic.in
2. Click on the NEET UG Re-Exam Scorecard 2026 link.
3. Enter the application number and password (or other required login credentials).
4. Download and save the scorecard PDF.
5. Take a printout for future admission and counselling purposes.

NEET UG Counselling 2026

Following the declaration of results, the NEET UG Counselling 2026 process is expected to begin soon. The admission process is likely to be conducted in four rounds:

• Round 1
• Round 2
• Mop-Up Round
• Stray Vacancy Round

Candidates will need to:

• Register online for counselling.
• Pay the counselling fee.
• Fill and lock their preferred medical and dental colleges.
• Participate in seat allotment based on NEET rank, reservation category, preferences, and seat availability.

Can Candidates Apply for Multiple States?

Yes. Candidates may register for counselling in more than one state, provided they satisfy that state's eligibility criteria.

While 85% of government medical college seats are generally reserved for domicile candidates, several states permit non-domicile candidates to apply for private college or management quota seats. Applicants should carefully review the counselling guidelines issued by each state before registering.

Arvind Kejriwal Congratulates the Topper

AAP national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulated Aryan Gupta and other successful candidates on social media, describing Aryan's achievement as a matter of pride for Punjab. He also encouraged students who could not achieve their desired results to remain motivated and prepare for future opportunities.

Seven years after the foundation stone for AIIMS Madurai was laid, the institute's first batch of MBBS students is preparing to graduate without having studied on its permanent campus. With the Thoppur campus still under construction, students have completed most of their medical education from a temporary facility in Ramanathapuram, raising concerns over fragmented clinical training and the delayed rollout of one of India's flagship medical institutions.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Madurai, announced in 2019, has been functioning from the Ramanathapuram Government Medical College and Hospital, nearly 140 km from Thoppur, where the permanent campus is being built. While the institute has admitted successive MBBS batches, students have had to share classrooms, laboratories and clinical facilities with other medical institutions.

According to officials, construction of the permanent campus began only in March 2024, despite the foundation stone being laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2019. The Tamil Nadu government handed over the land in 2020, and the institute was formally established later that year, while a funding agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was signed in 2022.

Students from the inaugural MBBS batch say the prolonged delay has significantly affected their learning experience. Clinical postings have been spread across multiple institutions, including Ramanathapuram Government Medical College and Hospital, the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), and Madurai Medical College and Hospital, where the first batch is expected to complete its internship.

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Students have expressed disappointment that they may become the only AIIMS batch to graduate without receiving clinical training in a dedicated AIIMS hospital.

The delay has been attributed to multiple factors, including administrative hurdles, the COVID-19 pandemic, rising construction costs and global supply chain disruptions linked to the conflict in West Asia. The rocky terrain at the Thoppur site has also slowed construction.

Officials from Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the company executing the project, said two hostel blocks have already been completed, while at least one academic block is expected to be ready by August 2026. The institute plans to begin shifting students to the new campus in September–October 2026, although full Phase I completion is now expected by late 2027 or early 2028.

To accommodate incoming students, AIIMS Madurai has expanded facilities at its temporary campus, where six classrooms, two laboratories and a library are currently operational. Additional classrooms are also being prepared for the next academic session.

While the institute continues to function under interim arrangements, the experience of its first MBBS batches highlights the challenges of establishing new medical institutions and the importance of timely infrastructure development in delivering quality medical education.

India’s school education landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with parents increasingly opting for private schools over government institutions. The latest UDISE+ 2025-26 Report released by the Ministry of Education reveals that government school enrolment has declined by nearly 86 lakh students over the past two academic years, while recognised private unaided schools have added more than 88 lakh students during the same period. Although overall student enrolment across the country has remained largely stable, the data points to changing parental aspirations and growing demand for quality education, making the findings a key indicator of emerging trends in India’s education sector.

The report highlights a mixed picture. While enrolment in government schools has fallen sharply, the total number of teachers in the country has crossed the one crore mark for the first time, reflecting sustained recruitment efforts and improved pupil-teacher ratios. It also records a continued decline in school dropout rates, suggesting that once children enter school, they are more likely to complete their education than in previous years.

Education experts attribute the migration towards private schools to multiple factors. Parents increasingly perceive private institutions as offering better learning outcomes, stronger English-medium instruction, improved classroom discipline and greater preparation for competitive examinations. The rapid expansion of affordable private schools, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, has further widened access to private education. Rising household incomes and growing awareness of education as a pathway to better employment have also encouraged families to invest in private schooling.

Despite the enrolment decline, government schools continue to educate nearly half of India’s school-going children and remain critical for ensuring equitable access to education. They continue to serve rural communities, economically weaker sections, tribal populations and children benefiting from flagship welfare initiatives such as PM POSHAN, free textbooks, uniforms and scholarship schemes.

The UDISE+ report also points to structural reasons behind the changing enrolment pattern. Falling birth rates in several states, school rationalisation and consolidation, urban migration and changing demographic trends have all contributed to shifts in school statistics. At the same time, improved infrastructure, digital learning initiatives and awareness campaigns have helped reduce dropout rates across multiple stages of schooling.

The findings underscore that India’s education challenge is gradually shifting from expanding access to improving quality. Policymakers are expected to focus on strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy, enhancing teacher training, expanding digital classrooms, improving accountability and introducing future-ready skills aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The report also highlights significant state-level variations, indicating that while some states have strengthened public education through effective reforms and welfare programmes, others continue to witness faster migration towards private schools. As India aims to build a more inclusive and high-quality education system, the UDISE+ 2025-26 report reinforces that improving learning outcomes in government schools will remain central to restoring public confidence and achieving equitable educational development.

 As climate activist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk completed the 18th day of his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the Delhi High Court is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking urgent medical intervention, including hospitalisation and force-feeding, amid growing concerns that his condition has become life-threatening.

The petition, filed by advocate Rakesh Kumar Saini, urges the Centre and the Delhi government to immediately shift Wangchuk to a government hospital and provide life-saving treatment, arguing that his rapidly deteriorating health cannot be ignored. The plea specifically seeks directions for doctors to administer essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals through a liquid diet if necessary to preserve his life.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia is scheduled to hear the matter after concerns were raised that the activist's prolonged fast could prove fatal if urgent intervention is delayed. The court had earlier deferred the hearing due to the ongoing work abstention by the Delhi High Court Bar Association.

The legal move comes as Wangchuk's supporters warn that his health has reached a critical stage. Protest organisers claim he has lost nearly 9 kilograms since beginning his fast on June 28, with doctors monitoring him round the clock. Activists backing the protest have described the situation as a potential “matter of national shame” if the government allows a globally respected educator and innovator to die without initiating dialogue.

The hunger strike, launched in support of students protesting alleged irregularities in NEET 2026 and concerns over CBSE’s on-screen marking system, has drawn backing from leaders across the political spectrum. While AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is expected to meet Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, opposition leaders including Mahua Moitra, Kirti Azad, Shashi Tharoor, Akhilesh Yadav and others have urged the Centre to engage with the activist before the crisis deepens.

Even as political parties trade accusations over the protest, the focus has increasingly shifted to Wangchuk’s health. Several public figures, including actors, writers and activists, have appealed to him to end his fast, while simultaneously demanding that the government open channels of communication.

With Parliament's Monsoon Session approaching and protesters planning a march to Parliament on July 20, Thursday’s hearing could prove crucial in determining whether the state can intervene medically to save Wangchuk's life while balancing his right to protest.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking urgent medical intervention for climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk, whose indefinite hunger strike entered its 18th day. The petition claims Wangchuk has lost around 8.5 kg and warns that he could lose his life within two days if immediate medical care is not provided.

PIL Seeks Immediate Medical Intervention for Sonam Wangchuk

The petition, filed by activist-lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini, has asked the Delhi High Court to direct the Centre and the Delhi government to shift Sonam Wangchuk to a government hospital and, if required, begin medically supervised liquid nutrition to prevent his condition from deteriorating further.

The plea argues that preserving Wangchuk's life should be the highest priority, even if medical intervention has to be carried out against his wishes.

"If he passes away, it would be a matter of great shame for the country and the world," the petition states.

Educator Who Inspired Millions Now at the Centre of a Health Crisis

Sonam Wangchuk is widely known as an engineer, education reformer and environmental campaigner whose work in Ladakh has earned national and international recognition. His innovative approach to education inspired the fictional character of Phunsukh Wangdu in the Bollywood film ‘3 Idiots’, introducing his ideas to millions of Indians.

Today, the celebrated teacher and innovator is no longer making headlines for his educational reforms but for a hunger strike that, according to the petition, has pushed his health into a critical condition.

Petition Says Authorities Must Act to Protect Life

The PIL argues that while peaceful protest and hunger strikes are democratic rights, the State also has a constitutional duty to protect the life and health of every citizen.

It contends that allowing Wangchuk's condition to worsen without medical intervention would amount to a failure of that constitutional responsibility. The petition further alleges that the authorities have shown inadequate concern for his deteriorating health. The government has not publicly responded to the allegations made in the petition.

Sonam Wangchuk Has Lost Around 8.5 kg, Organisers Say

Wangchuk joined the indefinite hunger strike on 28 June after becoming part of protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in NEET and other competitive examinations.

CJP claims he has lost around 8.5 kg since the fast began, raising concerns about his health. The petition warns that his condition has deteriorated significantly and urges immediate judicial intervention.

Support Grows as Public Figures Appeal to End Fast

Several public figures have appealed to Wangchuk to end his hunger strike while expressing support for the issues he has raised. Among them are author Arundhati Roy, actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, and economist Jayati Ghosh.

The protest continues to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities, including NEET.

Delhi High Court Hearing May Face Delay

The PIL has been filed with a request for urgent listing. However, it remains uncertain when the matter will be heard after the Delhi High Court Bar Association announced an abstention from work over the proposed enhancement of the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts.

Growing Concern Over Sonam Wangchuk's Health

As concerns over Sonam Wangchuk's health continue to grow, attention is now focused on whether the Delhi High Court or the authorities will intervene before his condition worsens further.

For many Indians, Wangchuk is an educator whose work transformed classrooms, encouraged innovation and inspired generations to think differently. With his hunger strike entering its third week, the legal battle is no longer centred only on a protest, but on an urgent plea to save a life before it is too late.