New Delhi, July 23 -- As students protest relentlessly, braving rain, heat and even assault, in the national capital, the mood in India's coaching Mecca, Kota, is pensive. The 50-km radius city in Rajasthan is entering this year's admission season under a cloud of uncertainty as coaching institutes and hostel owners fear the controversy over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) paper leak, the trigger for the protests, could make 'repeat' medical aspirants think twice about returning.

Pramod Maheshwari, founder of Kota-based coaching centre Career Point Ltd, is concerned that there will be a delay in students deciding their options, which in turn will dent the admission numbers.

"Over the last couple of years, at most a ...