At a time when thousands of NEET aspirants were marching on the streets, demanding accountability over the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak and the subsequent cancellation of the examination, one student made a very different choice.
“I thought, why should I go to the protest? Instead, I could be studying at home and improving my skills and improving my score.”
With this statement, Panshul Bansal, who secured All India Rank (AIR) 2 with a remarkable 99.9999 percentile in the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, has found himself at the centre of a wider national conversation not merely about examinations, but about how students respond to crisis.
The cancellation of the original NEET UG examination held on May 3 came as a devastating blow to lakhs of candidates. The decision, announced on May 12 after allegations of a question paper leak, forced students to relive months of preparation and endure another round of uncertainty.
Like everyone else, Bansal admitted that the news initially left him shattered. “Initially, I had a feeling of despair and sadness. But after one or two hours, I looked at it from a positive perspective and got motivated and determined to do better this time.”
#NDTVExclusive | "I thought of the situation as an opportunity to improve my score. So I thought, why should I go to the protest? Instead I could be studying at home and improving my skill and score": NEET UG 2026 topper Panshul Bansal to NDTV's @ShivAroor on #IndiaMatters pic.twitter.com/G8c7O2KXHn
— NDTV (@ndtv) July 21, 2026
Instead of allowing frustration to consume him, the Delhi student reframed the setback as an opportunity. “I thought of the situation as an opportunity to improve my score,” he said.
Having reportedly scored around 706 marks in the original examination, Bansal improved his performance to 715 marks in the re-examination conducted on June 21, eventually securing AIR 2 when results were declared on July 16.
Perhaps the most striking part of Bansal’s interview came when he explained why he stayed away from the nationwide protests that erupted after the paper leak allegations. “I thought, why should I go to the protest? Instead I could be studying at home and improving my skills and improving my score.”
At a time when many aspirants believed public demonstrations were necessary to demand transparency and justice, Bansal focused exclusively on preparing for the fresh examination. His philosophy was simple: channel energy into what could still be controlled. “I thought, why should I bring negativity into the picture? I should forget everything and focus on my main goal. Whatever happens will be for the good.”
Rather than allowing uncertainty to dictate his routine, he said he maintained complete consistency throughout the additional preparation period. “I did not change anything in my schedule. I simply followed the same routine. I just felt that in the last one-and-a-half months I had to give everything I could and leave the rest to God.”
Despite the controversy surrounding NEET UG 2026, Bansal refrained from taking sides when questioned about the ongoing protests.
The alleged paper leak has triggered widespread protests across multiple states, with opposition parties demanding accountability and calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues to investigate the alleged leak.
A student of KR Mangalam World School, Greater Kailash, Bansal now hopes to pursue medicine with the ambition of becoming either a neurosurgeon or a cardiovascular surgeon.
His journey from disappointment to securing one of the highest ranks in one of India’s most competitive examinations has become a story of resilience and mental discipline. Rather than allowing circumstances to define his preparation, he adapted to them.
