A 22-lakh-student examination cancelled over a paper leak. A re-examination date set for June 21. And a growing number of young aspirants who did not make it to that date.
Pradeep Meghwal, a medical aspirant from Jhunjhunu district’s Gudha Gaudji area in Rajasthan, allegedly died by suicide in Sikar on Friday afternoon. He was preparing for NEET-UG at a private coaching institute and had been living with his two sisters there for three years.
According to Udyog Nagar station house officer Rajesh Kumar, Pradeep allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister’s scarf while his younger sister was at coaching classes and his elder sister was in the bathroom. On returning, his elder sister found him, cut the scarf with scissors and immediately alerted the landlord and police. He was rushed to SK Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His body has been kept in the hospital mortuary.
Pradeep had appeared for the NEET-UG 2026 examination on May 3. His father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police his son had performed well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks out of 720. They said he had been confident of securing a government medical college seat this year. When the National Testing Agency cancelled the examination following allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, the family said the uncertainty over a re-examination pushed him into depression.
The Cancellation and What Follows
The NTA cancelled NEET-UG 2026 earlier this week. More than 22 lakh students had appeared for the exam. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Friday that the re-examination will be held on June 21, and that the medical entrance test will shift to a computer-based format from next year.
Other Cases Reported Across the Country
Pradeep’s death is not an isolated case. Congress leader Sachin Pilot, in a post on X, described his death as “extremely heartbreaking” and referred to similar incidents from Goa and Uttar Pradesh, saying the paper leak and cancellation had created widespread anxiety among aspirants.
In Delhi’s Azadpur, a 20-year-old NEET aspirant allegedly died by suicide at her residence. Police said no suicide note was found and the exact cause was yet to be ascertained. According to PTI, her family took the body for cremation without informing the police.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri, 21-year-old Ritik Mishra allegedly died by suicide after reportedly being distressed by the cancellation. His family said he had been confident of clearing the exam on his third attempt.
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A 17-year-old boy from South Goa district also allegedly died by suicide after appearing for NEET-UG 2026. His suicide note, according to police, cited academic stress and concerns over balancing studies with his passion for hockey.
This article contains references to suicide. If you are experiencing distress, please contact iCall: 9152987821 or Vandrevala Foundation: 1860-2662-345 (available 24/7).