Srinagar, Aug. 22 -- In the valleys of Kashmir, where dreams rise as naturally as the mist over the mountains, the death of merit has become one of the most silent yet most profound tragedies of our time. The promise of education has long been a fragile lifeline for Kashmiri youth, who, despite economic instability, and social turbulence, have clung to the hope that hard work and talent would be enough to carve out a dignified future. Yet, in the wake of competitive examinations like NEET and other national entrance tests, this hope is increasingly being smothered under the weight of systemic failure. The very essence of meritocracy that an individual's effort and ability alone should determine success appears to be bleeding away, leaving...