Panaji: A total of 4,371 students appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) at 12 centres across Goa on Sunday. The examination was largely incident-free, though a handful of students at two centres alleged they were denied entry to the exam halls.Heavy police deployment was seen outside all centres.“All guidelines have been followed at the 12 centres for the students,” North Goa collector Ankit Yadav said.Goa police personnel frisked candidates before entry, while trained volunteers assisted in conducting the examination smoothly.“All parents were cooperative and we had no issues in carrying out our duties,” a police official said.At the Cujira educational complex, one of the state’s major examination hubs, students arrived under overcast skies while parents waited outside with umbrellas and water bottles. The atmosphere remained tense as candidates prepared for one of India’s most competitive entrance examinations.One parent said the pressure of the exam had affected her daughter’s mental health.“She developed anxiety issues. This morning she seemed calm, but just before leaving for the centre she became anxious again,” she said.Many parents chose to remain outside the centres throughout the examination, carrying food and water rather than risk delays caused by traffic.Dattatreya Bhonsle, who travelled from Vasco with his 17-year-old son, arrived hours before the examination.“We came at 11am even though the exam is at 2pm because traffic can always become a problem. The arrangements are generally good. There is parking, toilets and police presence. Maybe there could be more drinking water facilities and better signage,” he said.There were reports that a few candidates at one centre were denied entry after arriving late, while students at another centre were allegedly asked to leave shortly before the examination began.After the test, many students described the paper as challenging.Eighteen-year-old Faizan Sheikh from Ponda, who spent two years preparing for NEET, said Physics was particularly difficult.“Biology was simple, but physics was really difficult. I wasn’t stressed. I have a dream and I have to pursue it,” he said.Vaidehi Vengurlekar from Parra echoed similar views, while Sarvam Shetkar from Mapusa described the paper as moderate but heavily calculation-based.“If we had even twenty extra minutes, it would have helped,” he said.As students emerged from centres after 5pm, discussions centred on answer keys, cut-offs and prospects of securing medical seats.
