Competitive exam culture has become popular in Kashmir, almost every other parent wants their child to be a doctor or an engineer, believing that it will improve their social standing and there is no better option for a secure future.

The constant pressure to compete and the dread of failure brought on by these forced choices have increased mental health issues in young people, particularly in teenagers.
According to Dr. Wasim Kakroo, a clinical psychologist at Centre for Mental Health Services in Rambagh, Srinagar, the hype and pointless comparisons harm students’ mental health.
“When results of these exams are sensationalized students with poor self-confidence are unable to handle this which at times turns out to be disastrous and they become suicidal,” said Dr. Kakroo.

According to the NCRB’s Accidental Deaths and Suicide in India (ADSI) report 2021, student suicides have increased by 4.5%. The report states that 864 of the 10,732 students under the age of 18 commit suicide because of the “failure in examination.”

Maheen (name changed), an exemplary student, throughout her school was forced to take the much-coveted National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) due to family pressure, but they had no idea she that was interested in humanities.

“Just because I was good at studies, the medical stream was picked for me. I was given little choice to express my views and being naïve, I thought it would be better to trust them for a stable future, “said Maheen.

Maheen attempted the exam twice but could not make it. Her family reacted poorly to this, casting doubt on her abilities and giving her a silent treatment, which had an adverse effect on her mental health.

“I began to be compared to those who had passed the test. It had a psychological impact on me; I developed suicidal thoughts and stopped communicating with my friends and family. I have PCOD, which got worse due to tremendous stress,” said Maheen.
After much struggle she was able to convince her family to let her persue higher studies in Humanities, she is currently pursuing an honours degree in political science.

“Even though I’m doing what I’ve always loved to do and I’m content with my degree, the trauma from earlier occurrences is still present. I can’t forget that since people still look down on me and compare me to my siblings, trying to convince me that my future is in danger,” she further added.

According to Er. Taniya Noor, who is mentoring students of non-med and engineering field, the competitive exams are not particularly difficult due to the syllabus, but the ratio of students makes them difficult since it puts pressure on them to work harder to the mark of 100%.

“Others, who may be equally as good in other contexts, are unable to perform well due to the pressure they experience during these exams,” Noor said. Mehvish Malik, another student contacted by The Indus Post, attempted NEET out of her own choice but could not make it. Although her family supported her and never forced her to pursue a career she did not want, she faced criticism from others.

“Friends and relatives began questioning me, which stressed me. People in Kashmir believe that everyone should become a doctor or an engineer, and that qualifying it is a matter of life and death,” Malik said.

Bareeq Rafiq, a class 12th student who will take the NEET exam, has already begun her preparations and has mentally prepared herself, but the limited number of seats concerns her.

“I believe that being nervous or scared before exam is normal, but what bothers me is that the candidate must win against thousands of other candidates in order to secure a seat. If the candidate fails, he or she will lose a full year,” said Rafiq.

“The number of seats must be increased so that those who are more capable can demonstrate their abilities and save their mental health,” said Er. Taniya.

Competitive exams, like any other field, have reservations for the underprivileged, such as ST, SC, and OBC, but many people believe that some people have taken advantage of this reservation unfairly.

“There should be no reservations. Everyone prepares and gives their best, but Open Merit students are unable to make it, whereas reserved category students qualify even with lower grades,” Mehvish Malik said.

Maheen also added, “I’m not saying there should be no reservations, but instead of giving people reservations based on their community, it should be given based on their financial situation. Only those who are financially weak deserve it.”Competitive exams are a component of life, not life itself.

“Life is more than just passing a single exam. Students must work on handling emotions otherwise even qualifying an exam become overwhelming for them. They may turn less empathetic towards others and boastful about themselves,” Dr. Kakroo said.
According to Kakroo, work on a student’s emotional intelligence should begin in childhood so that they can handle stressful situations and manage their emotions.

“The focus of parents should not be solely on IQ and academics. Qualifying exams are beneficial, but they should not be made the primary goal of one’s life,” he said.
“A student’s goal should not be limited to becoming a doctor, engineer or officer. This belief should be abandoned. Teach them the significance of life. Don’t confine them to a single domain. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to send capable students into society,” he added.

He further added that parents and teachers should focus on students’ hobbies, self-care and friendship. They must be taught how to contribute to society from an early age.
“If such a student exhibits signs of depression such as aloofness, loss of appetite, irritability and abnormal sleeping patterns, try to help by understanding and motivating them, and if that does not work, consult a mental health professional who can guide them accordingly,” Dr. Kakroo added.