How NEET AIR 1 Aryan Gupta scored 715 out of 720: Topper says hard work alone didn't get him Rank 1; luck also mattered

Punjab’s Ludhiana student Aryan Gupta secured All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the Re-NEET UG 2026 examination held on June 21, scoring an impressive 715 out of 720 marks. While his dedication and preparation played a key role in his achievement, Aryan believes family support, guidance from teachers, faith and even luck contributed to his success.

In interviews after the result, Aryan opened up about his journey to becoming the top scorer, his study habits, his family's role and the lessons he hopes future NEET aspirants can learn from his experience.

NEET UG 2026 topper Aryan Gupta comes from a family of doctors

For Aryan, becoming a doctor was a dream shaped by his surroundings. Coming from a family with several doctors, he grew up seeing medicine as a natural career path.


His father, Dr Sachin Gupta, is an anaesthesiologist, while his mother, Dr Reenu Gupta, is a gynaecologist. Several relatives, including his maternal uncles and aunts and paternal family members, are also doctors.

Speaking about his inspiration, Aryan told ANI: "Yes, I come from a family of doctors. My maternal uncles and aunts, paternal grandparents, paternal aunts and uncles, all are doctors. So, since childhood, the thought has been that I want to become a doctor."

He said his preparation focused on following classroom lessons, completing assignments and maintaining consistency throughout his two-year journey.

"As for studies, I used to do what was taught in classes and regularly did the homework given by teachers at home. Two years passed like this, and I worked as hard as I could. But yes, not everything happens with hard work."

NEET AIR 1 Aryan Gupta says luck and God's grace also played a role

Despite securing the highest rank, Aryan said he does not believe success comes only from hard work. He credited timing, faith and the support of those around him.

Reflecting on his exam day experience, he said: "Somewhere, God's grace is also there. Luck also plays a big part. On the exam day, June 21st, luck was also on my side. I feel that's why such a good result came."

Aryan added that he considers his family and teachers among the biggest contributors to his success.

"I give the biggest credit to my elder brother. I give it to my parents, to my teachers. But yes, my role model, my inspiration for the last two years has been my elder brother."

Elder brother's NEET success inspired Aryan Gupta

Aryan revealed that his elder brother Aditya Gupta also achieved a remarkable feat by securing AIR 54 in NEET UG 2025. He is currently pursuing MBBS at Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi.

Aryan said his brother's journey motivated him throughout his own preparation and helped him stay focused on his goal.

NEET topper Aryan Gupta followed 16 to 17 hour daily study routine

Aryan's achievement was backed by intense preparation and discipline. Speaking after the results, he revealed that he studied for nearly 16 to 17 hours daily during his preparation period.

"I worked hard; I would not get sleep, but it is feeling surreal now, looking like a dream. Everyone is happy. I studied for 16-17 hours in a day."

However, he advised students not to blindly copy his schedule but instead focus on consistency and honest effort.

Aryan Gupta's advice for NEET aspirants

The NEET UG 2026 topper said students should trust their teachers, avoid overthinking and remain committed to their preparation.

"Blindly follow your teachers. Do exactly what they tell you. Don't overthink or try to create your own strategy in the beginning."

He added: "Work honestly. If you don't put in honest effort, you won't get the result you want. Work as hard as you can for those two years and keep doing it sincerely."

Aryan Gupta's parents reveal how they supported his NEET preparation

Aryan's parents played an important role in creating a supportive environment during his preparation.

His mother, Dr Reenu Gupta, said both parents remained closely involved despite their professional responsibilities.

"My husband was always very involved. Even when he was outside, he knew exactly what our son was doing. If I was busy downstairs with patients, he would remind me when Aryan had slept or when he needed to wake up."

She added: "My responsibility was to make sure he got his meals on time and faced no problems while studying. After seeing one patient, I would quickly go upstairs to spend time with him. We always made sure to be with our children."

Inputs from TOI