Bengaluru An 18-year-old student in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district died by suicide days after appearing for the NEET-UG 2026 exam, which was later canceled by the National Testing Agency over allegations of paper leak.
The student, who recently completed her pre-university course with 92% marks, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her apartment, police said. Officers who searched the scene said that no suicide note was found and the investigation was continuing under the jurisdiction of Station Bazar Police Station.
Her father told reporters that she performed well in the examination and that the family did not notice any obvious distress. He said: “There was no distress or problem in our family, and we lived happily.”
He added that his daughter may have been anxious about having to sit for the exam again after the May 3 test was cancelled. “She did well (in NEET), and everything was going well. Maybe she had some feelings in her mind about writing NEET again. I’m not blaming anyone, I’m not accusing anyone. We don’t know her pain or suffering. What can I say?” He said.
The National Testing Agency canceled the NEET-UG 2026 exam earlier this month after allegations of irregularities and paper leak emerged. More than 22 thousand candidates appeared for the test.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan later announced that the re-examination will be held on June 21 and the medical entrance examination will be switched to a computer-based format from next year.
The cancellation led to anxiety among many aspirants, especially students who thought they had done well in the original test and were unsure about returning those results in a second attempt. The center had announced a refund of exam fees and additional time for formalities during the re-test.
The death in Kalaburagi came days after another medical student in Rajasthan died by suicide after the examination was cancelled. Police identified the student as a resident of Jhunjhunu district who was preparing for NEET at a coaching institute in Sikar while staying with his sisters.
The controversy surrounding the exam also sparked political reactions. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah last week accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pradhan of failing to take responsibility for allegations of repeated leaking of NEET papers.
Speaking at a protest organized by the Karnataka Youth Congress in Bengaluru on Thursday, Siddaramaiah said the power to conduct medical admission checks should go back to the states.
“NEET question paper leak has happened time and again, but neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accepted responsibility,” he said. “Dharmendra Pradhan has simply announced another examination date and washed his hands of the issue. He and the Prime Minister must take responsibility.”
