NEET aspirant sold mobile covers by day and studied at night; his NEET score stuns Physics Wallah

In the bustling town of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, a young man named Rohit Kumar, who earns his livelihood by selling mobile phone covers on a roadside cart, has achieved something truly extraordinary. Against all odds, he scored an impressive 549 marks in the NEET-UG examination, earning an all-India rank of 12,484, as per a Mint report. With this score, he now aspires to secure a seat at a government medical college in Jharkhand—a dream built from years of perseverance, hard work, and unshakable determination.

Recently, in a viral video, Rohit shared how he managed to prepare for NEET along with running a successful mobile phone cover business.

Support from Physics Wallah and a Life-Changing Batch

Rohit was a student of the ‘Ummeed Batch’—a special initiative by Physics Wallah that offers free coaching for students preparing for NEET. His achievement caught the attention of Alakh Pandey, the founder and CEO of Physics Wallah, who visited Rohit at his street stall to personally congratulate him. In a touching moment captured on video, Pandey acknowledged Rohit's efforts and dedication and celebrated his success.

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Humble Beginnings and an Early Inspiration

Coming from a modest background, Rohit’s father worked in a local vegetable market. After completing his 12th grade, Rohit decided to pause formal education and focus entirely on preparing for the medical entrance exam. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he took up a job at a medical store. It was during this time that he became fascinated by the medical profession and began nurturing a deep desire to become a doctor.

Balancing Work and Study with Sheer Grit

Rohit’s preparation journey was far from conventional. Throughout his NEET preparation, he continued to run his phone cover stall to support himself and his family. He would work all day at the cart and begin studying only late i night. Often, his study sessions stretched until 3 in the morning. Despite limited sleep, he would wake up by 7 am and return to his stall—repeating this exhausting routine daily, driven by an unwavering focus on his goal.

Recognition and a Symbolic Gift

In another emotional moment shared online, Alakh Pandey gifted Rohit a white doctor’s coat—symbolizing the bright future awaiting him. The gesture was not just a token of appreciation but also a recognition of the incredible determination and sacrifices Rohit had made.

Highlights from NEET-UG 2025

This year, Mahesh Kumar from Rajasthan secured the top rank in NEET-UG 2025. Utkarsh Awadhiya from Madhya Pradesh stood second, while Delhi’s Avika Aggarwal emerged as the highest-scoring female candidate, finishing fifth overall. A total of 22.09 lakh candidates appeared for the exam this year—slightly lower than last year’s 23.33 lakh—with a notable drop in qualifying students compared to the previous cycle.