NEET AIR-1 Secured by Aryan Gupta and Panshul Bansal After Exam Cancellation
Just over two months after the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination amid a paper leak controversy, Aryan Gupta from Ludhiana secured the joint All India Rank (AIR)-1, scoring 715 out of 720 marks in the re-test. He shares the top rank with Panshul Bansal from Haryana. The results were declared by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday.
This year, the NEET-UG examination was embroiled in controversy. Following widespread allegations of a paper leak and other irregularities, the exam conducted on May 3 was cancelled by the NTA on May 12. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating the matter. The re-examination was held on June 21, with over 22 lakh candidates appearing.
Aryan, a 17-year-old from Ludhiana's Dugri area, said he 'cried a lot' when the original exam was cancelled. However, he resumed preparation the next day. 'I decided I can't give up so easily. But it took a week to regain the momentum,' he said. His elder brother Aditya, who is pursuing MBBS, encouraged him to view the re-test as an opportunity to improve.
According to the NTA, 11.21 lakh candidates qualified the entrance exam. The top score of 715 is 29 more than the 686 secured by the 2024 topper when an unusually tough paper ensured no candidate crossed 700. This year, 19 candidates scored 700, 138 obtained 690 marks, 1,492 scored 650 or above, and 10,160 scored 600 or more. Over 58% of the qualifying candidates are women.
Panshul Bansal, a student of Somerville School in Delhi, also scored 715. He said he was expecting a good college even with his first score but was pleasantly surprised by the top rank. Panshul maintained a balanced routine, starting his day at 6.30 am and prioritizing time with family and friends. He did not give up his hobbies despite the pressure.
Aryan's father, Dr. Sachin Gupta, an anesthetist, expressed faith in the NTA, stating, 'There are rotten apples in every system. We still have full faith in the NTA. The NEET continues to be the most competitive, fair and objective exam.'
