On 6th March 2026, SFLC.in wrote to Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, outlining concerns relating to internet shutdowns (data, voice and SMS) in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir (“J&K”). According to media reports, the Home Department issued orders to restrict mobile services (data/voice/SMS) in response to the increasing protests against the assassination of Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel strike. SFLC.in is deeply concerned with the impact of such suspension on students preparing to apply for competitive examinations, including the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (“NEET”).
While the orders have been reportedly issued to maintain public order and continued to be in effect as a precautionary measure, it was brought to our attention that students across the region are facing immense difficulties in receiving the required One-Time Passwords (“OTPs”) to complete their NEET application form due to the ongoing suspension of prepaid mobile data services and SMS services across J&K. Further, students often utilize online studying platforms that also require SMS based authentication. With upcoming submission deadlines on the horizon, this lack of connectivity is places the academic and career opportunities of students based in J&K at a significant risk. In SFLC.in’s Let the Net Work 2.0 Report, our case study revealed that students in Manipur shared similar difficulties in accessing study materials and obtaining financial support from their parents during the prolonged instance of internet shutdown.
Internet shutdowns severely hamper students’ ability to fulfill mandatory digital requirements for national-level examinations. In light of the concerns listed above, we respectfully request the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, to take following actions –
- Provide an alternative login method (such as email-only OTPs or offline registration centers) for students in affected areas if services remain suspended.
- Extend the deadlines for submission of applications for NEET and other competitive exams for candidates from the Kashmir region.
