J&K Minister Sakeena Itoo Urges Extension for NEET-UG 2026 Deadline Amid Internet Connectivity Issues

SRINAGAR, March 6, 2026 — In a proactive move to safeguard the academic prospects of medical aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, has formally requested the Union Minister for Education to extend the application deadline for NEET-UG 2026.

Highlighting the significant technical hurdles faced by students, particularly in the Kashmir Division, the Minister noted that administrative decisions to restrict internet speeds to 2G for maintaining law and order have made completing the online application process nearly impossible.

These low-speed connections have specifically disrupted critical steps such as OTP verification and final form submission, causing widespread anxiety among students in remote and rural areas who lack alternative stable internet access. In her official communication to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Itoo emphasized that NEET-UG is a high-stakes examination and that any inability to apply due to external technical constraints would be a grave injustice to eligible candidates.

She has called for a sympathetic and urgent review of the situation to ensure that no student is deprived of the opportunity to pursue their medical education goals due to connectivity barriers.