NEET topper Panshul Bansal shares how Re-NEET helped him improve score from 706 to 715, secure better college

Re-NEET UG 2026 joint topper Panshul Bansal has said the mandatory re-examination proved beneficial for him, allowing him to improve his score and strengthen his chances of securing admission to a better medical college. Bansal, who shared All India Rank (AIR) 1 with Punjab's Aryan Gupta, said he increased his score from around 701 or 706 in the cancelled examination to 715 in the re-examination.

Speaking in an interview after the results were announced, Bansal said the additional month before the re-examination gave him time to revise the syllabus thoroughly, helping him perform better.

He, however, noted that the impact of the re-examination differed from one student to another. While he improved his score, he claimed that some of his peers scored 50 to 60 marks less than they had in the cancelled examination.


"It depends on the student. Someone like me improved the score, while some others could not," he said.

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Re-NEET conducted after original exam was cancelled

The NEET UG 2026 examination was initially held on May 3 but was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak. The National Testing Agency (NTA) subsequently conducted a mandatory Re-NEET on June 21, with the final results declared on July 16.

Nearly 20 lakh candidates appeared for the re-examination, of whom 11.21 lakh qualified for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, AYUSH and allied courses across the country.

Panshul Bansal and Aryan Gupta secure AIR 1

Panshul Bansal from Haryana and Aryan Gupta from Punjab jointly topped Re-NEET UG 2026 after scoring 715 out of 720 marks, securing All India Rank 1.

Bansal said his improved score has enhanced his prospects of gaining admission to a better medical college compared with what would have been possible after the cancelled examination.

Also Read: NEET topper Aryan Gupta full story: How Ludhiana boy turned heartbreak into AIR-1

Aryan Gupta credits hard work and family support

Aryan Gupta said consistent hard work over two years, following his teachers' guidance and the unwavering support of his family helped him secure the top rank.

"I secured All India Rank 1 in NEET (UG) 2026. I got 715 out of 720 marks. I worked very hard for two years, studied a lot, and took a lot of stress too, so it feels very good. I'm feeling very relieved. It feels like I've got the fruit of the hard work I put in," he told ANI.

Sharing his preparation strategy, Aryan advised aspirants to trust their teachers and remain disciplined.

"My elder brother Aditya had already told me to follow the teachers blindly. Whatever homework, DPPs or assignments they gave, I'd finish them at home. Two years passed like this," he said.

He also credited his parents and elder brother for their constant encouragement throughout his preparation.

"My family's support was immense. My elder brother has been a role model for me for two years. My father always made sure someone was sitting with me. Every night, Papa would come after work and sit with me. The family has been very supportive," he said.

Aryan said he hopes to join AIIMS Delhi and pursue a career in oncology.

Women record higher qualification rate

According to the NTA, women accounted for more than 58 per cent of the qualified candidates. They also recorded a higher qualification rate than men, with 56.8 per cent of female candidates clearing the examination compared with 55.1 per cent of male candidates.