The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the results of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026 on Thursday. Punjab’s Aryan Gupta and Haryana’s Panshul Bansal topped the NEET-UG as 11.21 lakh candidates qualified the entrance exam this year.
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The toppers each scored 715 out of 720 marks. Meanwhile, 19 candidates scored 700, and 138 obtained 690 marks.
Notably, more than 93 per cent of the 138 candidates scoring above 690 were appearing for NEET-UG for the first time.
Also Read | Aryan Gupta, Panshul Bansal top NEET-UG with 715/720 as 1.1 million clear exam
Aryan Gupta emerged as the top scorer in NEET UG 2026, securing All India Rank (AIR) 1. Coming from a family of doctors, he said that “everything feels like a dream.”
He credited his success to relentless dedication and studying for 16-17 hours a day. He also advised other aspirants to listen to their teachers.
“I worked hard; I would not get sleep, but it is feeling surreal now, looking like a dream. Everyone is happy. I studied for 16-17 hours in a day,” he told news agency PTI.
Talking about his future plans, he said that he wants to become an oncologist.
Sharing the reason behind it, Gupta said, “I want to become an oncologist. My grandmother had died from cancer; I was in third standard, then I had taken a pledge.”
Furthermore, advising other NEET-UG aspirants, he said, “First of all, blindly follow your teachers. They have been teaching for many years. For 15-20 years.”
Also Read | NEET UG 2026 results declared, 11.21 lakh candidates qualify | See how to check scorecard here
The exam conducted on May 9 was cancelled by the NTA on May 12 amid allegations of a paper leak. An investigation into the matter is being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
After the allegations, the exam was re-conducted on June 21. NEET-UG was conducted in 13 languages.
Following the controversy over the alleged paper leak in the exam process, the Centre reportedly announced that the exam will now be conducted as a computer-based test (CBT).
Uttar Pradesh produced the largest number of successful candidates, with over 1.7 lakh qualifying, while Lakshadweep had 43, PTI reported.
The top 17 candidates, all scoring above 705, came from eight states: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
Also Read | NEET UG 2026 state-wise toppers list: Check top rankers from every state
The NEET-UG is the largest undergraduate entrance exam in the country, with lakhs of aspirants appearing for the crucial test.
The NTA conducts NEET every year for admission into medical colleges. A total of 1,08,000 seats are available for the MBBS course.
