New Delhi, April 25 -- Medical students have been barred from taking leave on May 2 and 3 to prevent them from appearing as proxy candidates in the NEET-UG 2026 examination scheduled for May 3 - a practice flagged in past editions of the test.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has advised all medical colleges not to grant leave on those days barring "exceptional circumstances with due justification," acting on a direction from the department of higher education (DoHE) under the Union ministry of education.

On April 20, DoHE secretary Vineet Joshi wrote to Union health ministry secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, urging vigilance and sensitisation of students against any involvement in malpractices. He also recommended denying leave o...