One of the primary goals of education is to secure a good job and a respectable position in society. In today's era, most students and parents view education solely as a means to earn money—an approach that can be summed up as "learn to earn." While it is true that education plays a crucial role in survival, the deeper purpose of education, which is to create responsible individuals who serve society, is gradually fading.

In earlier times, students who aspired to become doctors, engineers, or civil servants were driven by a strong commitment to serving society. However, in this materialistic world, that sense of purpose has been overshadowed by financial aspirations. In Kashmir, this shift is particularly evident in the way students and parents approach the medical profession. The dream of becoming a doctor, which once symbolized a noble pursuit of saving lives, has now turned into a race for wealth and social status.

The NEET Obsession in Kashmir

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is India's toughest medical entrance exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, BHMS, and other medical courses. In recent years, an increasing number of students from Jammu and Kashmir are appearing for NEET, seeing it as the ultimate gateway to success.
In 2024 alone, approximately 48,545 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir registered for NEET, out of which 47,228 appeared for the exam. However, the total number of MBBS seats available in the region is only 1,147. This means that a vast majority of aspirants—despite clearing the exam—are left without a seat.
With limited seats in J&K, many students either keep attempting NEET multiple times or seek admissions abroad, often at great financial cost. Parents, influenced by societal pressure, sometimes go to extreme lengths, even selling their assets, to send their children to foreign medical colleges. This trend has now turned into a competition—if one family sends their child abroad for an MBBS degree, others follow suit, regardless of the child’s capability or interest.

The Consequences of Blindly Chasing MBBS

This obsession with becoming a doctor has led to several issues like
Wasted Potential – Many students attempt NEET repeatedly without success, wasting crucial years of their lives instead of exploring alternative career paths.
Financial Burden – Families invest their entire savings in medical education abroad, often without considering the return on investment.
Declining Medical Standards – With the rush to obtain an MBBS degree, the focus on quality medical education is diminishing. This is one reason why people in Kashmir prefer consulting super-specialists over general MBBS doctors.
Neglect of Other Professions – Other equally important career fields are being overlooked because of the social pressure to pursue medicine.

Rethinking Career Choices

It is high time that students and parents in Kashmir reflect on whether NEET is their true ambition or just a societal trend. Not every child is destined to be a doctor, and success is not limited to a single profession.
Self-reflection is crucial—if a student realizes after the first or second attempt that they are unable to qualify for NEET, they must consider other career options. Education should be about finding one’s true potential, not blindly chasing a title.
Instead of forcing children into the medical field, parents must recognize their children's strengths and guide them toward careers where they can truly excel. Only then can we build a society with not just doctors, but also skilled professionals in various fields who contribute meaningfully to the community.
In the end, we must remember: a doctor without dedication is just another degree holder, but a passionate individual in any field can bring real change.

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