Srinagar, June 23 -- A student arrives at an examination centre after months, sometimes years, of preparation.

The journey may have included crowded roads, diverted buses, unexpected checkpoints, confusing directions, or a traffic jam that brought movement to a halt.

The delay amounts to a few minutes, but the gate has already closed. Entry is denied, and the examination proceeds without that student.

Such scenes have become common during major competitive examinations in India, particularly high-stakes tests such as NEET.

What appears to be a small administrative decision often produces life-altering consequences.

A missed examination can mean the loss of an academic year, a postponed career path, and the collapse of plans built thr...