‘Fulfilled a dream that spanned 3 generations': NEET-UG 2nd topper has some advice for future aspirants
Utkarsh Awadhiya from Madhya Pradesh's Indore, the second topper in the medical entrance NEET-UG, has fulfilled a family dream that spans three generations.
'My grandfather had this dream for my father to become a doctor but he couldn't. My father had the same dream for me and I always wanted to fulfill his dream,' he said. 'I was also curious about learning about the human body and that's why I decided to become a doctor.'
Utkarsh's father Alok Awadhiya, a bank manager, said, 'It could not fulfill my father's dream because of various reasons. Now my son has fulfilled that dream and made our family proud.'
Utkarsh's NEET preparation followed a structured approach. His method included regular practice after learning topics. 'After studying any topic, I used to do objective questions related to those topics from training modules. That was helpful.'
NCERT revision formed the backbone of his preparation. 'I used to study NCERT for all the subjects during the fortnightly tests. So a month before the exams, I had already revised NCERT more than 10 times,' he said.
Error analysis was crucial to his success. 'I also made an error analysis copy. After every test, I used to write my errors in those and after every test I used to go to my teachers with my doubts.'
Utkarsh maintained a disciplined yet balanced approach to his preparations. 'I used to study for 6 to 7 hours after coaching. I studied for 2 hours then took a 15-20 minute break during which I used to spend time with my family and friends. I also played games such as volleyball and football,' he said.
Stressing the importance of those breaks, he said, 'They helped me rejuvenate my energy and also increase my efficiency, helping me concentrate better for the next 2 hours,' he said.
Utkarsh said he stayed away from social media and called it a distraction. 'I never used social media during my preparation. I used it once a week to stay connected. The future aspirants should know this — the less you stay on social media, the better your preparation will be in two years. Social media is nothing but a distraction and a waste of your time.'
However, he did leverage technology like Artificial Intelligence for his studies. 'I used AI during the last stages of my preparation for clearing doubts and formulating some questions.'
Utkarsh has clear goals for his medical career. 'I want to pursue my MBBS from Delhi and MD medicine from Delhi,' he said.
His advice for future NEET aspirants is to focus on consistency and perseverance. 'Always follow what your teachers are saying. Regularly study NCERT. Never miss any test. Never miss any class and at the end do not feel demotivated if you get low marks in your tests,' he said.
Drawing from personal experience, he added: 'I also used to get low marks in my tests, but at the end you will be able to clear NEET if you stay focused.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Snehasis Das tops Odisha in NEET-UG, bags all-India rank 60
BHUBANESWAR: Snehasis Das has emerged as the state topper in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test UG (NEET-UG)-2025, results of which were declared by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday. With a percentile of 99.997, Das has secured an all-India rank (AIR) of 60. Rajasthan's Mahesh Kumar secured AIR-1 with a percentile of 99.9999547. Kumar was closely followed by Utkarsh Awadhiya of Madhya Pradesh (99.9999095) who bagged the second rank while Krishang Joshi of Maharashtra was ranked AIR-3 with a percentile of 99.9998189. National Capital Territory (NCT) Delhi's Avika Aggarwal with a percentile of 99.9996832, who secured AIR-5, was the topper among women candidates. Das is a student of DPS-Kalinga and this was his first attempt at NEET-UG. The 18-year-old is keen on joining the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at New Delhi. 'I used to give six to seven hours everyday towards self-study and also went through coaching here. The mock test analysis was an important part of my preparations,' he said. Keen on pursuing medical science from an early age, Das said he had started his preparations after clearing Class X. Five other students from Odisha have also bagged ranks in different categories. Pabitra Sethi has scored 99.99 percentile to secure a NEET rank of 180. He is among the top-10 in SC category nationally. Similarly, two differently-abled girls Baishali Moharana and Saima Mirza have secured first and fifth ranks respectively in the list of top-5 female candidates in Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category in the country. While Baishali has scored 99.05 percentile with NEET rank of 20,496, Saima got 98.45 percentile and a rank of 33,389.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
8 interesting ways to stay motivated during long study hours
Studying for long hours can feel exhausting and overwhelming, especially during exam season or when prepping for competitive exams like NEET, JEE, UPSC, etc. Whether you're cramming for finals or working on a long-term project, staying motivated over extended periods is a challenge for almost every student. The key lies in finding creative and sustainable ways to keep your energy and focus levels up. Here's a list of 8 interesting, science-backed strategies to stay motivated during those marathon study sessions. 1. Create a 'Focus-Only' Music Playlist Music can be a powerful tool for concentration—if used the right way. Instrumental, lo-fi, or classical music helps stimulate the brain without distracting lyrics. Create a playlist that you listen to only during study sessions. Over time, your brain will associate this playlist with focus mode, helping you switch into study gear faster. Bonus tip: Apps like or YouTube's 'Study With Me' lo-fi streams can make your study time feel calm and productive. 2. Gamify Your Study Time Who said studying can't be fun? Turn your revision into a game! Use apps like Habitica, Forest, or Study Bunny where you earn points, grow virtual trees, or unlock levels every time you finish a task. Setting up challenges like "Finish two chapters in 1 hour" makes study time more engaging and rewarding. Why it works: Gamification triggers dopamine release, the "feel-good" chemical that boosts motivation. 3. Set Up a 'Why Wall' or Vision Board When you're mentally drained, it's easy to forget why you started. A visual reminder of your goals can help. Paste a photo of your dream college, a quote that inspires you, or a list of your academic goals on your study wall. Seeing your "why" regularly can reignite your motivation and keep your efforts focused. 4. Eat Brain-Friendly Snacks Your brain burns calories while studying—so keeping it fuelled is crucial. Avoid junk food and go for light, energy-rich snacks like: Nuts (almonds, walnuts) Fruits (bananas, blueberries) Dark chocolate Yogurt These improve memory, reduce fatigue, and help you stay sharp. Hydration tip: Keep a bottle of water next to you—dehydration can reduce your focus and energy without you even noticing. 5. Use the Pomodoro Technique The classic Pomodoro method recommends 25 minutes of study followed by a 5-minute break. After four rounds, you take a longer break. But here's the twist: During the break, don't scroll social media. Instead, stretch, take a walk, or listen to a relaxing track. This reduces eye and mental fatigue and resets your focus. 6. Study with Online Communities If you struggle with studying alone, you're not the only one. Many students use real-time YouTube or TikTok "Study With Me" videos to feel a sense of community. Just watching someone else quietly study beside you (virtually) can increase your accountability and reduce loneliness. Alternatively, join a study group on Discord, Reddit, or WhatsApp. Sharing goals or updates can boost consistency. 7. Change Your Study Environment Staring at the same desk for hours can make you mentally stale. Try switching places every few hours—study at a library, a coffee shop, or even a different room in your home. A slight change in surroundings can make a big difference in productivity and mood. 8. Celebrate Small Wins With a Reward System You don't have to wait until the exams are over to celebrate your hard work. Build a simple reward system to keep your motivation high throughout the journey. Treat each milestone—big or small—as a reason to feel proud. For instance: Finish a tough chapter? Treat yourself to one episode of your favorite show. Complete your daily to-do list? Order that snack you've been craving. Hit a 5-hour study goal? Take the evening off to relax and recharge. These small, consistent rewards keep your spirits up and make disciplined study feel both achievable and enjoyable. Staying motivated during long study hours is more about working smart than hard. Mix up your routine, be kind to yourself, and use creative techniques to stay on track. Remember, consistency beats intensity—so find what works best for you and stick to it. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Hans India
Rajasthan's Mahesh tops NEET-UG, Utkarsh bags second rank
New Delhi: Rajasthan's Mahesh Kumar has topped the medical entrance exam NEET-UG, while Utkarsh Awadhiya from Madhya Pradesh has bagged the second rank, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced on Saturday. More than 12.36 lakh candidates out of 22.09 lakh test takers qualified the exam. The number is down from last year's 13.15 lakh qualifying candidates. However, the number of test takers was also higher last year at over 23.33 lakh. Among the qualifying candidates this year, over 7.2 lakh are females while over 5.14 lakh are males. While 529 qualifying candidates are foreign nationals, 405 are NRIs and 606 are OCI card holders. Maharashtra's Krishang Joshi and Delhi's Mrinal Kishore Jha bagged the third and fourth ranks, respectively. Among females, Delhi's Avika Aggarwal emerged topper, bagging the fifth rank nationally. The maximum qualifying candidates are from Uttar Pradesh (over 1.70 lakh), followed by Maharashtra (over 1.25 lakh) and Rajasthan (over 1.19 lakh). A total of 73 candidates have scored marks in the range of 651 to 686 out of 720 while 1,259 candidates have scored between 601 to 650. "The NTA conducts the exam and declares result based on the eligibility criteria provided by the National Medical Council (NMC). The admitting authorities will now draw a merit list based on all India rank for the MBBS and BDS seats available in their jurisdiction," said Col B Vijay Kumar, Director (Exams), NTA. The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) is the largest entrance exam in the country in terms of the number of candidates appearing for the test. The NTA conducts the NEET every year for admission into medical colleges. A total of 1,08,000 seats are available for the MBSS course -- approximately 56,000 in government hospitals, and about 52,000 in private colleges. Admissions to undergraduate courses in dentistry, Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha also utilise NEET results for admission. NTA conducted NEET at 5,468 centres located at 552 cities in India and 14 cities in other countries on May 4. The cities outside India were Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bangkok, Colombo, Doha, Kathmandu, Kuwait, Lagos, Kaula Lumpur, Manama, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah and Singapore. The exam was conducted in 13 languages -- Assamese, Bengali, English, Urdu, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malyalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Odia. Over 18 lakh candidates had opted to appear for the exam in English while over 2.28 lakh candidates appeared in Hindi.
