Panshul Bansal said he had been preparing for the NEET exam for the past three years.
Panshul Bansal of Faridabad, Haryana, secured All India Rank (AIR) 2 in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 re-examination held on June 21 this year and hopes to specialise in surgery after gaining admission to All India Institute Of Medical Sciences Delhi.
The NEET exam, originally conducted on May 3, was cancelled following allegations of paper leak and large-scale irregularities, forcing candidates to prepare for a retest. Mr. Bansal described it a significant setback.
“It was a disheartening experience because anyone who has dedicated three years to a single goal would feel as though their hard work had simply vanished in a day,” he said.
However, he said he quickly shifted his focus to the retest instead of dwelling on the setback.
“Since the situation was beyond my control, the best path forward was to simply cope and begin studying again to secure a better rank,” he said.
‘NCERT mandatory’
A student of Somerville School, Vasundhara Enclave, Mr. Bansal said he decided to pursue medicine while in Class 4, driven by an interest in biology and science. His preparation focused on mastering the basics rather than relying on multiple study materials.
“NCERT is essentially the bible for this examination. Even if a student chooses to ignore the most famous reference books, mastering NCERT is mandatory because it serves as the backbone of the entire paper,” he said.
He said he read the Biology and Chemistry NCERT textbooks at least five times each.
In the final phase of preparation, Mr. Bansal solved around 400 to 500 mock test papers. On coaching days, he attended classes from 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. before revising in the evening. On other days, he divided his study schedule into three sessions covering the morning, afternoon and evening.
“Sticking to a single coaching module along with previous years’ question papers is more than enough,” he said.
Balance and discipline
To avoid mental fatigue, he continued extracurricular activities such as badminton, skating, speedcubing and video games. He has also completed Grade 2 in piano under the Trinity College London curriculum.
Mr. Bansal said he used social media as well, but in moderation.
“I continued to use social media and watch YouTube quite often, but I made sure it only happened during its own dedicated time,” he said.
He said staying focused on his goal helped him avoid distractions.
“If a student possesses the inner strength and a genuine desire to become a doctor, they will develop an intrinsic feeling that prevents them from being distracted during their studies,” he said.
(With inputs from Ekaa Kant Kohli)
Published – July 18, 2026 01:47 am IST
