Jaipur boy bags AIR 3 after NEET re-exam; Bihar boy set to be village’s first doc

Jaipur: Uplakshya Goyal from Jaipur secured All India Rank (AIR) 3 in NEET (UG) 2026 with 711 out of 720, saying the opportunity to retake the examination after its cancellation proved to be a “blessing in disguise”. Meanwhile, Bihar’s Ayush Bhalotia, who prepared in Kota, secured AIR 4 with 710 marks and is set to become the first doctor in his family and village.In a statement, Goyal emphasised the importance of sincerity and discipline in his preparation, noting that the initially easier exam would not have allowed him to achieve such a high rank.Speaking to TOI, Goyal said, “After the paper got cancelled, my mother told me to put the past behind and just focus on studying. She motivated me by saying that I had already invested two years. These final two months are no different, so I worked on the mistakes I made earlier and worked to ensure I do not repeat them.”“My first attempt went well but not as well as the second one. Even though the paper was more difficult the second time, I have been able to secure a good rank. My mantra was always to work hard with complete honesty,” Goyal added.He added that he followed every guidance given by his teachers and school without doubting them, which helped him study with complete discipline. Goyal said that he is set to become the first doctor in his family and aims to study at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi.He further said that since he took the exam previously, he was mentally prepared for what to expect on the day of the re-exam.Bhalotia, who hails from Warisaliganj in Bihar and prepared for the exam in Kota, credits his success to daily revision and mock tests. His father, Sunil Bhalotia, said, “Ayush’s journey towards medicine began after Class 10. He was always inspired by his elder brother, who is an IIT Delhi graduate. Seeing his elder brother’s academic journey motivated him to set a goal for himself.”Unlike the common perception that cracking NEET requires extremely long study hours, Ayush followed a more balanced approach. His father said the family always encouraged him to study without pressure and maintain a healthy routine throughout his preparation.“This success belongs as much to my family as it does to me. I hope my success motivates students from villages and small towns to gather the courage to set ambitious goals. I often felt mental pressure during my NEET preparation, but the support from my family and the coaching faculty kept me positive throughout,” said Ayush.To students preparing for NEET in upcoming years, Bhalotia said, “Patience, discipline and consistent hard work are the keys to success in any major examination.”From Rajasthan, a total of five candidates secured ranks in the top 20, which include AIR 3 Goyal, AIR 9 Gaurav Singh, AIR 11 Abhilash, AIR 16 Kartik Chaudhary and AIR 18 Kritik Jain.(With inputs from Sakshi Shree)