NEET UG 2026 exam canceled due to paper leak has left thousands of aspirants reeling in uncertainty. Since then, backlash over the newspaper leak and student suicides has increased, sparking protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and emotional turmoil among students across the country.
While many have spoken about the mental toll the decision has taken on them, Aryan Gupta – who secured an All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the Re-NEET UG 2026 exam on June 21 – has now shared that he too was overwhelmed by the setback. Recalling the days after the exam was cancelled, Gupta said he was “really devastated” and “cried a lot” before deciding to start his preparations again.
Speaking about the period following the cancellation, Gupta said he found it difficult to come to terms with what happened.
Read also | NEET topper Panshul Bansal skipped CJP protest. Explains why
“I was disappointed at first”
“I was disappointed initially. I felt very devastated and cried a lot when the paper was cancelled. However, I realized that what had happened was of course unfair, but it is not just me, 22 lakh other aspirants have suffered the same fate and are appearing for the exam again. Somewhere along the line I realized that I have another chance. So, I just came back and did my best every day. I started studying from the next day itself and the results are in front of you. It was not possible to get it,” Gupta told news agency ANI. On the rank/score without my parents, elder brother or teachers around me. “My parents are both doctors, so they gave me a very strong foundation and a lot of emotional support during this period.”
Gupta credited his family and teachers with helping him get through this difficult phase, saying their guidance and emotional support played a major role in his journey to the top rank.
Message to future aspirants
Giving advice to students preparing for the exam in the future, Gupta urged them to rely on their teachers and remain consistent in their efforts.
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“To the students who will be writing the exam later, I will say: Trust your teachers, follow them blindly because they know much more than you know, because they know much more than you know… Give your best every day and keep doing the work every day with consistency and discipline, and things will work themselves out…,” Gupta told the news agency.
Panchul Bansal misses RJD protest
All India Rank (AIR) 2 holder Panchul Bansal said he chose to focus on his preparations rather than joining the demonstrations, using the time to improve his performance.
Read also | Those involved in NEET paper leak will be punished: PM Modi speaks at NDA meeting
Speaking to NDTV about the paper leak controversy and the ongoing agitation, Bansal said: “I thought the situation was an opportunity to improve my grades. So I thought, why should I go to the protest? Instead, I can study at home and improve my skills and grades.”
Justice and Development Party protest
The alleged NEET paper leak led to one of the largest student demonstrations in the national capital on July 20, where thousands of aspirants, parents and supporters gathered for a ‘Sansad Chalo’ rally to demand accountability over the exam controversy. An estimated 50,000 people participated in the protest at Jantar Mantar, where tensions rose during the demonstration. A number of students and police officers were reportedly injured during the outbreak of clashes.
