Major coaching hubs across India are witnessing an unprecedented surge in admissions and inquiries as thousands of NEET UG 2026 aspirants prepare for the upcoming Re-NEET examination. Following the CBI’s crackdown on the paper leak scandal, the National Testing Agency’s announcement of the re-test has triggered a fresh wave of intense preparation among medical aspirants.
Coaching centres in Kota, Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Chandigarh are operating at near-full capacity. Institutes report a 40-60% increase in fresh enrolments and rejoinings within the last one week. Many students who had returned home after the original NEET exam have rushed back to these coaching hubs to utilise the limited preparation window before the Re-NEET, expected in late May.
“We had almost closed new batches, but suddenly received over 800 enquiries in just four days,” said S.K. Sharma, Director of a leading institute in Kota. “Students are highly motivated and anxious. Many are opting for crash courses and extended-hour programmes.”
The surge has put immense pressure on coaching infrastructure. Hostels are running full, and many institutes have started waitlists. Fees for short-term Re-NEET programmes have also increased by 15-25% due to high demand. In Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar and Kota’s coaching corridors, scenes of students carrying luggage and searching for accommodation have become common again.
Students expressed mixed feelings. “It’s stressful because we have to start everything afresh, but we don’t want to lose this opportunity,” said Priya Mehta, a repeater from Gujarat who has rejoined a Delhi coaching centre. Many parents are worried about the mental health impact of this sudden uncertainty on their children.
Education experts believe this rush highlights the heavy reliance of students on coaching institutes for competitive exams. The situation has also renewed demands for long-term reforms in the medical entrance system to reduce such dependency.
Coaching associations have appealed to the government to announce the exact Re-NEET date at the earliest so that structured preparation schedules can be rolled out. With limited time remaining, coaching hubs are working around the clock to support students aiming to secure seats in the upcoming counselling process.