The protest by MBBS intern doctors in Madhya Pradesh intensified on Tuesday as demonstrators continued their agitation over a demand for higher stipends, with regular outpatient services affected at Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal.

Intern doctors who had been protesting since Monday remained on the road near Kamla Park through the night. The agitation followed a confrontation with police on Monday when doctors attempting to march towards the Chief Minister’s residence were stopped and water cannons were used. Reports also said a doctor was injured during the confrontation. 

The interns are seeking an increase in their monthly stipend from around ₹14,337 to ₹30,000 and have been pressing for a written government order on the issue.

OPD services affected at Hamidia

The continuing protest has affected routine medical services at Hamidia Hospital. Intern and junior doctors have stayed away from regular OPD work, while elective operation theatre services have also been affected.

Emergency services, however, have continued, according to reports. The disruption has particularly affected patients who had arrived at the hospital for consultations, investigations and routine treatment.

Long queues were reported at the hospital as the availability of junior doctors in the OPD was reduced. Patients and their attendants also faced difficulties because access to the hospital was restricted amid the protest and police deployment.

Doctors remain at Kamla Park

The protesting interns have continued their sit-in on the road near Kamla Park, demanding direct dialogue with the government.

The doctors have said they want the government to formally address their stipend demand rather than provide only verbal assurances. Reports from Monday said the interns had sought an increase from ₹14,337 to ₹30,000 and were asking for a written order before ending their agitation. 

The protest site has also become a focal point for traffic restrictions in central Bhopal.

Police deployment, traffic restrictions

Police have increased security around the protest location and roads leading towards the Chief Minister’s residence have been barricaded.

Traffic movement in parts of the old city and adjoining areas has been affected as protesters remained on the road. Reports on Monday said congestion extended across alternative routes, with a traffic jam reported over a stretch of around 1.5 km from VIP Road towards Polytechnic Square.

On Tuesday, commuters in areas around Kamla Park, Royal Market and routes connecting the old city were also facing restrictions and slower movement.

Dispute over Monday's police action

Monday's confrontation remains a major point of contention between the protesters and the administration.

The doctors alleged that police used force against them during their attempt to move towards the Chief Minister's residence. Police, meanwhile, said the water cannon was used after protesters crossed or attempted to cross barricades and there was a confrontation near the hospital's emergency access area.

According to a police explanation reported after the incident, the action was taken after pushing and confrontation at the emergency gate. 

The dispute over the police response has added another layer to the original stipend-related protest.

Protest spreads beyond Bhopal

The agitation has also received support from junior doctors and medical groups, with reports of demonstrations at MY Hospital in Indore against the police action in Bhopal.

The wider participation could increase pressure on the state government to open formal negotiations with the protesting interns.

For patients, however, the immediate concern remains the availability of routine healthcare services at government hospitals. With emergency services continuing but OPD and elective services affected, the duration of the protest will determine how significantly public healthcare delivery is disrupted.

The stipend figures and doctors' demands are reported as claims made by the protesting interns and corroborated by multiple reports. The police justification for the water-cannon action is presented separately from the doctors' allegations. The protest and service disruption are ongoing developments and may change as government-doctor talks progress.

Salman, whose father Shahban runs a tea cart outside the Rewa Municipal Corporation office, scored 640 out of 720 marks in NEET after preparing for nearly two years with complete focus. His achievement has become an inspiring example for medical aspirants, particularly those coming from modest economic backgrounds.

For Shahban, earning enough money to support his family has never been easy. Every day, he serves tea to employees, officials and visitors outside the municipal office. Watching government officers regularly visit the office gradually shaped a dream in his mind—that one day his children would build careers that would change the family's future.

Despite limited income, Shahban ensured that both his sons received a quality education. He prioritised school fees and coaching expenses over many household comforts, believing that education was the only path to a better life.

Salman's preparation was built on discipline rather than expensive resources. According to his family, he deliberately stayed away from smartphones throughout his NEET preparation to minimise distractions. For nearly two years, he focused entirely on textbooks, classroom learning and regular revision instead of spending time on social media or digital entertainment.

His mother, Sitara Devi, also played an equally significant role in his journey. She said the family maintained an environment that allowed Salman to study without interruption. During late-night study sessions, she remained awake to prepare tea and meals whenever needed while continuing to manage household responsibilities and support her husband's tea business early each morning.

The family's sacrifices have now translated into one of the biggest achievements of their lives.

With an AIR of 2221, Salman is expected to secure admission to a government medical college for the MBBS programme. His long-term ambition is to specialise in cardiology after completing his medical education and contribute to healthcare as a heart specialist.

His success has also inspired his younger brother, Shahjaan, who has set his sights on the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination. According to the family, he dreams of becoming an IAS or IPS officer, continuing the family's journey of educational achievement.

Stories like Salman's continue to resonate because they underline an important reality: access to determination, discipline and family support can often matter more than financial privilege. While competitive examinations such as NEET demand years of consistent preparation, Salman's journey demonstrates that limited resources need not become a barrier to academic excellence.

Education experts often point out that sustained focus and effective time management play a crucial role in competitive examinations. Salman's decision to avoid smartphone distractions for two years has attracted attention as an example of maintaining concentration during preparation.

Following the announcement of the NEET results, neighbours, friends and local residents visited the family to congratulate them on the achievement. For Shahban, who continues to serve tea outside the municipal office, the success represents far more than an examination result—it marks the fulfilment of a dream that began while watching officers enter the government building each day.

Salman's achievement serves as another reminder that extraordinary success can emerge from ordinary circumstances when backed by perseverance, family support and unwavering commitment to education.

The siblings — Rajnish Kumar, Sakshi Kumari and Prahlad Kumar — belong to a family supported by a small grocery business. Their father, Rohit Kumar, runs a kirana shop, while their mother, Poonam Devi, stood firmly behind their education despite the family’s limited financial resources. Their success has brought celebrations not only to their home but also across their neighbourhood and village.

The achievement is even more significant because all three prepared without relocating to major coaching hubs. Instead, they continued their studies while staying in Saharsa, relying on local educational support and consistent self-discipline. Their journey has become an example that success in competitive examinations does not always depend on studying in large metropolitan coaching centres.

According to available information, Rajnish and Sakshi secured success in their third attempt at the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET UG), while their younger brother, Prahlad Kumar, cleared the examination in his very first attempt. The differing paths of the three siblings underline the importance of perseverance, with repeated setbacks eventually giving way to success.

The siblings completed their schooling in their home region before preparing for India's highly competitive medical entrance examination. Rajnish and Sakshi studied under both the CBSE and Bihar Board systems during different stages of their education, while Prahlad completed both his matriculation and intermediate studies through the Bihar Board before qualifying for NEET on his first attempt.

Their parents described the result as the reward for years of sacrifice and hard work. Despite financial constraints, the family ensured that education remained the highest priority. Relatives, neighbours and well-wishers have continued visiting their residence since the results were announced to congratulate the family. Local representatives also joined the celebrations to honour the siblings' achievement.

Prahlad Kumar said he now hopes to specialise as an orthopaedic surgeon in the future. Sakshi Kumari expressed her desire to become a paediatrician after completing medical education. Rajnish highlighted that financial limitations should never discourage students from pursuing ambitious goals, adding that determination and disciplined preparation can overcome difficult circumstances.

The success comes at a time when competition in NEET UG continues to intensify each year, with lakhs of students competing for a limited number of medical seats across India. Stories such as this continue to resonate because they demonstrate that persistence, family support and consistent effort remain critical factors behind success in one of the country's toughest entrance examinations.

For many aspiring doctors, the Saharsa siblings' achievement offers a powerful reminder that opportunities can be created even without access to expensive resources, provided the commitment to learning remains strong.

For students and parents planning higher education, understanding the fee structure of government and private institutions can play a crucial role in making an informed decision.

Engineering Education: Costs Vary Widely Across Institutions

Engineering continues to be one of the most popular career options in India. Students seeking admission to premier institutes such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) generally gain entry through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced.

For General, OBC, and EWS category students, the total cost of a four-year B.Tech programme at IITs, including hostel and other academic expenses, typically ranges between ₹8.5 lakh and ₹13.5 lakh. Depending on the institute and course, the average expenditure often falls between ₹8 lakh and ₹10 lakh.

National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are comparatively more affordable. The overall cost of a four-year engineering degree at most NITs generally ranges between ₹5 lakh and ₹6 lakh.

Students from economically weaker backgrounds also receive substantial fee concessions. In many IITs and NITs, candidates belonging to families with annual incomes below prescribed limits are eligible for full or partial tuition fee waivers.

Private Engineering Colleges Can Be Expensive

The fee structure in private engineering institutions varies significantly depending on reputation, infrastructure, and placement records.

In several Tier-3 private colleges, particularly in states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, annual tuition fees may range from ₹45,000 to ₹60,000. However, established private engineering colleges often charge between ₹2 lakh and ₹5 lakh per year.

Premium private universities and institutes, including some of India's top-ranked engineering colleges, can charge between ₹18 lakh and ₹22 lakh for a complete four-year programme. As a result, the total cost of engineering education in private institutions can range from ₹8 lakh to over ₹22 lakh.

MBBS in Government Colleges Remains Highly Affordable

Medical education is often perceived as expensive, but government medical colleges remain among the most affordable higher education options in the country.

Several prestigious government institutions, including medical colleges affiliated with Delhi University, charge extremely low tuition fees. In some cases, annual fees begin at just a few thousand rupees.

In states such as Maharashtra, the annual fee for open-category students in government medical colleges is approximately ₹1.6 lakh. Various reservation categories, including SC, ST, and certain socially disadvantaged groups, may receive substantial fee concessions or complete fee waivers depending on state policies.

Because government MBBS seats are heavily subsidized, the total cost of completing the course is often significantly lower than many private professional programmes.

Private MBBS Colleges Are Among the Most Expensive

The financial picture changes dramatically for students enrolling in private medical colleges. Annual MBBS fees in private institutions frequently range from ₹10 lakh to ₹30 lakh or more, depending on the state and institution.

In some deemed universities and private medical colleges, the total cost of completing an MBBS degree can exceed ₹1 crore when tuition fees, hostel charges, and other expenses are included.

As a result, MBBS can be either one of the cheapest professional degrees or one of the most expensive, depending entirely on whether a student secures a government seat.

Career and Earnings Comparison

Engineering graduates typically enter the workforce immediately after completing a four-year degree. Salaries vary widely based on college reputation, specialization, and skills. Graduates from top institutes often receive high-paying domestic and international job offers.

MBBS graduates generally require a longer educational journey. After completing the MBBS degree, many doctors pursue internships, postgraduate specialization, and advanced medical training before reaching their peak earning potential.

While engineers may start earning earlier, medical professionals often achieve higher long-term career stability and income growth after specialization.

Which Course Is More Expensive?

The answer depends on the institution.

Government MBBS colleges are generally cheaper than engineering programmes at top institutes. However, private MBBS colleges are substantially more expensive than most engineering colleges, including premium private engineering universities.

Students should therefore evaluate not only fees but also their interests, aptitude, career goals, and long-term professional aspirations before choosing between Engineering and MBBS.