Imphal: The Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has urged senior state leaders and MPs to intervene in the allocation of NEET-PG 2026 examination centres in Churachandpur for 29 Meitei and Naga candidates.
The student organisation has raised concerns over the safety of the candidates, citing the continuing ethnic conflict in Manipur and the risks associated with travelling to Churachandpur ahead of the August 30 examination.
DESAM submitted representations to the Governor, Chief Minister and parliamentary representatives, seeking immediate administrative action to relocate the allotted examination centres.
The organisation has asked the authorities to coordinate with the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to shift the candidates’ centres to Imphal or other safe and accessible locations in the valley before the examination.
According to DESAM, the 29 candidates had selected valley-based locations, including Imphal, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching, as their preferred examination centres. However, they were subsequently assigned centres in Churachandpur.
The organisation said travelling across district boundaries to reach Churachandpur could expose the candidates to serious security and logistical challenges given the prevailing situation in the state.
DESAM also highlighted the psychological pressure associated with postgraduate medical entrance examinations, arguing that requiring students to travel through areas they consider unsafe could affect their ability to appear for the test on equal terms.
The NEET-PG 2026 examination is scheduled to be held on August 30.
The memorandum was submitted to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand, Inner Manipur Lok Sabha MP Dr Bimol Akoijam, and Rajya Sabha MP A. Sharda.
DESAM said the request was aimed at ensuring that candidates are able to sit for the examination in a secure and accessible environment without being disadvantaged by the prevailing conflict.
The student body pointed to the prolonged ethnic tensions that began in May 2023 and the resulting geographical and community segregation across parts of Manipur. It said movement between areas associated with different communities remains restricted by security concerns and heavily guarded buffer zones.
Against this backdrop, DESAM has called for the examination centres to be shifted before August 30 so that the affected candidates can appear for NEET-PG without facing additional security-related difficulties.