Aspirants undergo security check as they enter the examination hall for the NEET-UG-2026 retest, in Bengaluru on June 21.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The much-awaited NEET-2026 retest results have been released, and the candidates are upset that they have lost good scores compared to the first NEET due to the tough questions.
In this NEET retest, Vaishnavi Das, a student of Sri Chaitanya Techno School in J.P. Nagar, Bengaluru, has secured 700 marks out of 720 and got All India Rank (AIR) 20 and emerged as a Karnataka State topper. She too is among those to have lost marks.
While she had scored 710 when the National Testing Agency (NTA) released the key answers of NEET the first time, she has now lost 10 marks.
Suchita M., of Sri Chaitanya Techno School, Davangere, has secured 695 marks and got AIR-48 and emerged as a second topper in the State. Suchita had secured a perfect score (720/720) in first NEET and she has lost 25 marks in NEET retest.
Speaking to The Hindu, Vaishnavi Das said, “Compared to first NEET results, retest was tougher. Hence, the marks have gone down. But, I am happy to have got AIR-20. This result has also surprised my parents. But, I am happy with the rank I have got now.”
Desire to join AIIMS
State’s NEET retest toppers have expressed their desire to join All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
“I scored 492 out of 500 marks in Science stream in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class XII examination and my childhood dream was to become a doctor. My mother inspired my dream of becoming a doctor. I have decided to join AIIMS. I would like to get into research, if possible,” said Vaishnavi Das.
Ms. Suchitra said she has decided to continue in the medical field. “I wish to serve as a doctor,” she said.
Other toppers from Karnataka include Ravikiran Kini (AIR-62), Diganth B.S., (AIR-64), Johann Job (AIR-69).
Why retest
The first NEET exam was held on May 3, 2026. In the wake of the paper leak during the exam, NTA conducted the NEET-2026 retest on June 21, 2026. The exam was conducted in a total of 13 languages, including Kannada.
Close to 20 lakh candidates appeared for NEET retest in 5,440 centres in 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. As many as 11.21 lakh candidates have qualified for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, AYUSH and allied programmes.
Published – July 17, 2026 07:18 pm IST
