New Delhi: Ludhiana resident Aryan Gupta, one of the two joint toppers in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-Graduation 2026, expressed happiness over topping the merit list and said he wants to become an oncologist. Gupta, who secured the joint top position with Haryana’s Panshul Bansal (who scored 715 out of 720), on Thursday credited his parents for the unwavering support he received during his preparation and said he used to study for about 16-17 hours a day.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday announced that a total of 11.21 lakh candidates have been successful in the re-examination this year. According to the agency, more than 93 per cent of the 138 candidates who scored more than 690 appeared for the NEET-Graduate exam for the first time, while 19 candidates scored 700. According to NTA, a total of 1,492 candidates scored 650 or more marks, while 10,160 candidates scored 600 or more marks. Speaking to reporters, Gupta, who comes from a family of doctors, said that achieving ‘All India Rank (AIR) One’ feels “like a dream”.
He said, “Both my parents are doctors. The entire family is very happy.” He said, “I used to study 16-17 hours a day. There were many days when I could not sleep. But I persisted because I had set a goal for myself.” Talking about his desire to become an oncologist, Gupta said, “I want to become an oncologist. When I was in third class, my grandmother passed away due to cancer. That very day I swore that I will work in this field.” He said, “There is a lot to do in life. But right now I am feeling good. This success is because of my parents, teachers and all the people who believed in me.”
