The indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar entered its 22nd day on Sunday, with Neha, Ameen Amitoj and Manish Kumar, three leaders associated with the All India Students' Association (AISA), continuing their protest despite growing concerns over their health. The demonstration intensified following the hospitalisation of activist Sonam Wangchuk on the previous day, while organisers confirmed that the planned July 20 Parliament march would proceed as scheduled.

The protest, demanding accountability from the Union Education Ministry, has drawn support from student groups, teachers' organisations and civil society members.

Three Student Activists Continue Fast

The three hunger strikers have remained at the protest site after Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on medical advice.

According to organisers:

• Neha, AISA president and a PhD scholar in Theatre and Performance Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), reportedly began the fast at 66 kg and has lost 7.5 kg.
• Ameen Amitoj, a PhD scholar in Urban Studies at Dr B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi and a participant in the 2020–21 farmers' protest, reportedly started at 69.3 kg and has lost 9.3 kg.
• Manish Kumar, AISA's Uttar Pradesh president and a PhD scholar in Political Science at Allahabad University, reportedly began the fast at 85.7 kg and has lost 10.4 kg.

Doctors have continued monitoring their health, with fresh medical assessments expected as the fast extends beyond three weeks.

Protest Continues After Sonam Wangchuk's Hospitalisation

The protest gained renewed attention after activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday.

Delhi Police stated that the decision was taken following expert medical advice and in compliance with directions of the Delhi High Court because of concerns over his deteriorating health. Police said some protesters attempted to obstruct the transfer but denied allegations of a lathi charge or mass detention.

Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, said he continues his hunger strike in hospital, consuming only salt water. She questioned the necessity of shifting him, stating that the High Court had directed regular health monitoring rather than hospitalisation.

AISA Alleges Attempt to End Peaceful Protest

Addressing supporters, Neha alleged that police personnel in plain clothes and uniform attempted to remove the remaining hunger strikers after Wangchuk's transfer.

She claimed that volunteers prevented their detention and accused authorities of attempting to end what she described as a peaceful and democratic protest. Neha also appealed to students and citizens to join the ongoing movement, stating that the agitation would continue until their demands were addressed.

Parliament March Scheduled to Go Ahead

Organisers reiterated that the planned Parliament march on July 20 would proceed despite the developments.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) also extended support to the agitation. Party chief Abhijeet Dipke, who has begun his own hunger strike, alleged that electricity supply at the protest site had been disrupted and claimed authorities were preparing for a crackdown. Delhi Police has not publicly responded to these allegations.

Teachers Extend Support

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) criticised the reported police action and expressed solidarity with the protesting students. The association described the movement as part of a broader struggle over the future of education in India while appealing to teachers nationwide to participate in Monday's Parliament march.

At the same time, JNUTA urged those on an indefinite fast to consider alternative forms of protest that would allow the movement to continue without further risking their health.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a strong advisory to NEET UG 2026 candidates and their parents, cautioning them against submitting fake or AI-generated OMR sheets while filing complaints related to score discrepancies. The examination authority warned that the submission of forged documents could invite legal action.

The advisory comes after the NTA examined several representations from candidates who claimed that their declared NEET UG 2026 scores did not match their expected marks.

NTA Detects Fake and AI-Generated OMR Sheets

According to the NTA, many of the OMR sheets attached to complaints during the verification process were found to be fabricated or generated using artificial intelligence (AI) rather than being authentic copies of candidates' answer sheets.

The agency stated that such submissions are misleading and interfere with the grievance redressal process. Candidates have been advised to rely only on official records available through NTA while reporting any discrepancies.

Legal Action May Be Initiated

The NTA has warned that submitting fake documents, manipulated OMR sheets, or AI-generated images to support complaints is a serious matter and may result in appropriate legal action against those responsible.

The agency urged students and parents to avoid misinformation and refrain from sharing or relying on unofficial documents circulating on social media or messaging platforms.

Advisory Issued After Score Discrepancy Complaints

The warning follows a series of complaints from candidates who alleged differences between their expected NEET UG 2026 marks and the scores declared by the NTA.

While examining these representations, officials found that several supporting OMR sheets did not match the official records, prompting the agency to issue a public advisory.

The NTA reiterated that every complaint is verified against the original examination records before any decision is taken.

Candidates Asked to Use Official Channels

The examination authority has advised candidates to:

• Use only the official NTA OMR sheet and response records while submitting grievances.
• Avoid uploading edited, fabricated, or AI-generated documents.
• Report score-related issues only through the prescribed NTA grievance mechanism.
• Ignore misleading claims or unofficial content circulating online.

The NTA emphasized that genuine concerns will continue to be examined through established verification procedures to ensure fairness and transparency.

NTA Reaffirms Commitment to Examination Integrity

The advisory underscores the NTA's commitment to maintaining the credibility of NEET UG 2026, one of India's largest medical entrance examinations. By cautioning candidates against the use of manipulated documents, the agency aims to protect the integrity of the evaluation process and ensure that grievances are addressed based solely on authentic examination records.

With the NEET UG 2026 Result declared on July 16, aspirants are now awaiting the commencement of the NEET UG 2026 counselling process. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is expected to release the counselling schedule shortly on its official website, mcc.nic.in, for admissions under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ), Deemed Universities, Central Universities, and other participating institutions.

Last year, the first round of NEET UG counselling began on July 21, and a similar timeline is expected this year.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has stated that the results were announced on schedule to ensure that the medical admission and counselling calendar remains on track.

Over 11.21 Lakh Candidates Qualified

According to the NTA, nearly 20 lakh candidates appeared for NEET UG 2026 at 5,440 examination centres across 551 cities in India and 14 international cities.

Out of them:

• 11.21 lakh candidates qualified for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, AYUSH, and allied health courses.
• More than 58% of the qualified candidates are women.
• Most successful candidates belong to the 17–19 years age group.
• Aryan Gupta (Punjab) and Panshul Bansal (Haryana) jointly secured the highest score of 715 out of 720.

NEET UG 2026 Counselling Process

The MCC NEET UG 2026 counselling is expected to be conducted in four rounds, following the previous admission pattern:

1. Round 1
2. Round 2
3. Round 3 (Mop-Up Round)
4. Stray Vacancy Round

Separate counselling will also be conducted by individual states for 85% State Quota seats, while MCC will manage admissions under the 15% All India Quota, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, ESIC, AFMS (where applicable), and other participating institutes.

How to Register for NEET UG 2026 Counselling

Once registration begins, candidates should follow these steps:

1. Visit the official MCC counselling portal.
2. Register using the NEET UG 2026 application details.
3. Fill in the required personal and academic information.
4. Pay the prescribed counselling registration fee.
5. Choose and arrange preferred medical and dental colleges and courses.
6. Lock the choices before the deadline.
7. Download the confirmation page for future reference.

Candidates are advised to carefully research colleges before locking their preferences, as seat allotment largely depends on these choices.

NEET UG 2026 Seat Allotment Process

After each counselling round, seats will be allotted based on:

• NEET UG 2026 rank
• Candidate's category
• Reservation policy
• Choice filling and preference order
• Availability of seats
• Applicable admission rules

Candidates who are allotted a seat must report to the allotted institute within the specified timeline for document verification and completion of admission formalities.

Documents Required for Counselling

Candidates should keep the following documents ready:

• NEET UG 2026 Admit Card
• NEET UG 2026 Scorecard/Rank Letter
• Class 10 Certificate (Date of Birth proof)
• Class 12 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate
• Valid Photo ID
• Passport-size photographs
• Category Certificate (if applicable)
• PwD Certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile Certificate (for State Quota admissions, if required)

Additional documents may be requested by the counselling authority or allotted institution.

What Candidates Should Do Now

While waiting for the official counselling notification, candidates should:

• Regularly check the MCC website for counselling dates.
• Keep all original documents and photocopies ready.
• Shortlist preferred colleges and courses based on rank and previous years' cut-offs.
• Stay informed about both All India Quota and State Quota counselling schedules.

The NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule is expected to be released shortly, marking the next crucial step for lakhs of aspiring medical students seeking admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and allied health programmes across India.

Jadavpur University (JU) has appealed to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to reduce or exempt the deployment of its non-teaching staff for Census 2027, citing severe manpower shortages that could disrupt the institution's academic and administrative functioning.

In a letter addressed to KMC Commissioner Smita Pandey, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Chiranjib Bhattacharjee requested that the number of university employees assigned as census enumerators be reconsidered to ensure the university's smooth operation.

According to the university, more than 200 non-teaching employees have been assigned duties related to Census 2027, raising concerns over the institution's ability to manage its day-to-day activities.

Highlighting the staffing crisis, Bhattacharjee stated that the university is currently operating with 685 vacant non-teaching posts, making it difficult to spare a large number of employees for census work without affecting essential services.

“The university is functioning under severe manpower constraints owing to 685 vacant non-teaching posts. Deployment of a significant number of university employees for census-related duties may considerably impact the smooth and uninterrupted functioning of the university,” the Vice-Chancellor said in the letter.

He acknowledged the national importance of Census 2027 but stressed that balancing census responsibilities with the university's core academic and administrative obligations would be extremely challenging under the current staffing situation.

The Vice-Chancellor also noted that assigning a substantial portion of the existing workforce to census duties could hamper routine university operations, including student services, examinations, administrative processes, and campus management.

This is not the first time the university has raised the issue. Earlier, Bhattacharjee had written to the City Census Officer of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, making a similar appeal for either exemption or a reduction in the deployment of JU's non-teaching staff.

The university has urged the civic authorities to consider its staffing constraints while finalising personnel deployment for the nationwide population enumeration exercise.

The request comes as educational institutions across the country prepare to support Census 2027, one of India's largest administrative exercises. However, Jadavpur University maintains that any large-scale deployment of its already limited workforce could adversely affect its ability to deliver uninterrupted academic and administrative services.

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.