Srinagar, May 7 -- The 10th-grade results are out, and for a brief moment, students across Kashmir breathe easy. But this relief doesn't last long. They're now expected to pick one of two doors - JEE or NEET - the only two seen as worthy by most Kashmiri families.

Behind the celebrations and toppers' photos is a growing pressure to fit into a template that leaves little room for personal curiosity or joy.

For decades, becoming a doctor or engineer has been a mark of pride here, not because every child dreams of it, but because every parent does. It's a path handed down more than chosen. And it begins early.

By eighth grade, students are already in coaching. Not to explore subjects, but to crack exams. School itself becomes a feeder sys...