Srinagar, Mar 6: With only two days left for the submission of forms for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026, many aspirants in Kashmir say they are unable to complete their applications due to non-receipt of OTP verification codes on their mobile phones.
The All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) has written to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, urging immediate intervention and an extension of the deadline for students from the Valley.
According to the association, the problem arose after internet speeds in the region were restricted, affecting the final OTP-based verification required to submit applications. While students are able to fill in their details and upload documents, many claim the verification code required to complete the process never reaches their phones.
“We are seeing our dreams fall apart. We filled in the forms and paid the fees, but the OTP never arrives because of the slow network. Students should not suffer due to internet restrictions,” said Aaliya Rather, a student from Srinagar.
Another aspirant from Budgam, Umar Nazir, said students were competing for around 1,526 MBBS seats in Jammu and Kashmir but were unable even to complete the application process. “The helpline tells us to check with the bank or wait 24 hours, but the problem is not payment. The OTP itself doesn’t come through,” he said.
AIMSA Vice-President Mohammad Momin Khan said the issue has triggered anxiety among students and parents as the NTA portal is scheduled to close on March 8.
“Students are filling out the forms correctly, but the OTP is not being delivered. With the deadline approaching, authorities must intervene immediately so that students from the region are not left out,” he said, adding that the association has requested either a deadline extension or an alternative verification mechanism that does not rely solely on OTP authentication.
Officials said the internet restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order following protests by sections of the Shia community. A senior official, however, said the situation was being monitored and noted that there was still time left for applicants to complete the process.
High-speed internet services were restored across the Valley on Friday evening after remaining suspended for five days following reports of the killing of Ali Khamenei in a US-Israel strike.
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