Latest news with #AvikaAggarwal
Time of India
3 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Rajasthan's Mahesh Kumar tops NEET-UG, MP's Utkarsh Awadhiya bags second rank
New Delhi: Rajasthan's Mahesh Kumar has topped the medical entrance exam NEET-UG, while Utkarsh Awadhiya from Madhya Pradhesh 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 and over 5.14 lakh males. While 529 qualifying candidates are foreign nationals, 405 are NRIs and 606 are OCI card holders. Not a single candidate scored a perfect 720 in NEET-UG this year, a stark departure from last year when 17 students had achieved the maximum possible marks. Maharashtra's Krishang Joshi and Mrinal Kishore Jha from Delhi 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). States like Karnataka, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala also recorded over 70,000 qualifiers each, while more than 40,000 students who qualified were from Delhi. 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 majority of candidates fell in the 301-550 mark range with more than 1.26 lakh scoring between 301 and 350 and over 3 lakh between 144 and 200 -- the minimum qualifying range. Mahesh Kumar who was enrolled in a coaching centre in Rajasthan's Sikar said he used to score perfect marks in mock tests ahead of the exams. "But after appearing for the exam, I knew I won't score full marks but I did not expect first rank," he said. Avika Aggarwal's parents, who are doctors, said they prepared her well. "They warned me about how demanding this path is, but I still chose it for myself. I knew what I was walking into and I worked hard to earn it," Avika said. At 17, Delhi has the most candidates in the top 100, followed by 14 from Rajasthan, 11 from Maharashtra, nine each from Gujarat and Punjab and seven from Karnataka (7). Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and others also had strong representation in the top 100. All top 10 candidates belong to the general category. In other categories, the highest-ranked Other Backward Class-Non Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) candidate, Tanay from Rajasthan, secured 13th position while Haryana's Kavish led the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category with 35th rank. Among Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates, Ayush Gautam from Uttar Pradesh topped with a 53rd rank, while Rajasthan's Nishant Kumar Meena topped in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category by securing the 197th position. Notably, seven of the top 10 ST rankers are from Rajasthan. The qualifying cut-off range for the general and EWS categories dropped from 720-162 last year to 686-144 this year. For OBC, SC, and ST candidates, the cut-off fell from 161-127 to 143-113. A total of 5,64,611 OBC, 3,38,728 General, 1,68,873 SC, and 67,234 ST candidates have qualified. "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. The NTA had earlier this year announced that the crucial exam will continue to be conducted in pen and paper mode. The decision came after detailed deliberations between education and health ministries on whether to conduct the NEET-UG in pen and paper mode or online mode. States like Karnataka, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala also recorded over 70,000 qualifiers each, while Delhi saw over 40,000 students qualify In the line of fire over alleged irregularities in NEET and PhD entrance NET, the Centre had in July last year set up a panel to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations by NTA. According to the high-level panel headed by former ISRO Chief R Radhakrishnan, multi-stage testing for NEET-UG could be a viable possibility that needs to be followed up. While NEET was last year plagued by several allegations of irregularities, including paper leaks, and litigation, UGC-NET was cancelled as the ministry received inputs that the integrity of the exam had been compromised. Both matters are being probed by the CBI. PTI>
India Today
5 hours ago
- Health
- India Today
17-year-old Avika Aggarwal cracks NEET with rank 5, avoided social media entirely
Out of the many students who appeared for NEET UG 2025, 17-year-old Avika Aggarwal from Delhi stood out as the only girl in the top 10. She secured All India Rank 5 with an impressive score of 680 out of 720. Her journey is not just about studying hard, but also about staying focused, being consistent, and having strong support.A topper since Class 10, Avika's journey to NEET glory was built on a simple yet powerful foundation: clear purpose, daily discipline, and minimal distractions. She kept a strict distance from social media, channelling her focus on revision, test series, and small, achievable day was structured around 6 to 8 hours of study, broken into focused 90-minute sessions with short breaks in between. This rhythm helped her stay fresh and motivated without burning out. 'Studying never felt like a burden because I gave myself time to rest,' she SYSTEM: WHEN FAMILY BECOMES YOUR BACKBONE But this success wasn't hers alone. With both her parents—Dr. Ashutosh Aggarwal and Dr. Neha Aggarwal—in the medical field, Avika grew up surrounded by discipline and direction. Her parents played a crucial role in her preparation, not just academically but emotionally.'Whenever I felt demotivated or confused, they understood what I was going through before I could even say it,' Avika shared. Her father emphasised how essential it is for parents to engage with their child's academic life: 'You should know what chapters they are studying, what problems they're facing. That's how you walk with them toward their goal.'advertisementHer mother noted how Avika always prioritised practice over prestige. 'She was a consistent topper, but she never let success distract her. She stayed grounded and focused.'SMART STRATEGIES AND A SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVEAvika's preparation strategy revolved around regular revision, test series, and self-paced learning. She would revise lessons the same day they were taught and practice related questions to avoid silly mistakes. This approach, she believes, helped her avoid last-minute pressure and boosted her also spoke about how this journey reshaped her relationship with her body and mind. 'Preparing for NEET changed how I viewed my own strength. I've learned to appreciate what I'm capable of,' she ahead, Avika hopes to specialise in dermatology or neurosurgery. To those preparing for NEET, she offers grounded advice: identify your purpose, make small goals, stay consistent, and lean on those who support you. 'Motivation comes automatically when you know what you want from life,' she OVER PRESSUREHer message to parents is just as powerful: 'Children don't just need resources—they need your time, your attention, and your belief.'Her father echoes the sentiment: 'Be present. Children shouldn't feel like they're alone on this journey.'Her story is a reminder that success in competitive exams like NEET is not just about academic rigour—it's also about emotional support, smart planning, and the courage to cut out the noise.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
NEET UG results: No perfect scores recorded this year, cut-off scores drop
The Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) ( NEET-UG 2025 ) 2025 results were announced on Saturday and not a single candidate scored a perfect 720 marks this year, a massive drop from last year when 17 students secured maximum possible marks. The highest marks were scored by Rajasthan's Mahesh Kumar. He secured 686 marks, indicating a tougher question paper and more stringent evaluation. "A few months before the exam, pressure increases automatically, and given last year's NEET-UG entrance, a little bit of tension was normal. Then when we got the question paper, it was a different keeping calm and solving it under pressure was a challenge. After the paper, I knew I wouldn't get a score of 700 like I used to in practice papers, but later when I analysed the answers, I realised that I would get a decent rank, never thought that it would be AIR 1," Mahesh Kumar told TOI. The drop in scores has also been reflected in the cut-offs, which have declined across all categories. Delhi's Avika Aggarwal , ranked fifth overall, was the highest scoring woman candidate this year and the only one in the top 10. Live Events " Having doctor parents didn't pressure me-it prepared me. They warned me about how demanding this path is, but I still chose it for myself. I knew what I was walking into, and I worked hard to earn it," Avika Aggarwal told TOI. Rounding out the top ranks are Utkarsh Awadhiya from Madhya Pradesh (Rank 2), Krishang Joshi from Maharashtra (Rank 3), and Mrinal Kishore Jha from Delhi (Rank 4). All top 10 candidates belong to the general category. In other categories, the highest-ranked OBC-NCL candidate, Tanay from Rajasthan, secured 13th position. Haryana's Kavish led the EWS category with a 35th rank. Among SC candidates, Ayush Gautam from UP topped with a 53rd rank, while Rajasthan's Nishant Kumar Meena topped the ST category at 197th position. Notably, seven of the top 10 ST rankers are from Rajasthan. Delhi had the most candidates in the top 100 with 17, followed by Rajasthan (14), Maharashtra (11), Gujarat and Punjab (9 each), and Karnataka (7). Out of 22.09 lakh candidates who appeared for the exam held on May 4, 12.36 lakh have qualified, a drop from last year's 13.15 lakh qualifiers though the number of test takers also was higher at 23.33 lakh. Among the successful candidates, 7.22 lakh are women and 5.14 lakh are men. Additionally, 529 foreign nationals, 405 NRIs, and 606 OCI cardholders qualified, reflecting the exam's international reach. NEET UG 2025: Qualifying cut-off range The qualifying cut-off range for the general and EWS categories dropped from 720-162 last year to 686-144 this year. For OBC, SC, and ST candidates, the cut-off fell from 161-127 to 143-113. A total of 5,64,611 OBC, 3,38,728 General, 1,68,873 SC, and 67,234 ST candidates have qualified. This year, only 73 candidates scored between 651 and 686 marks. Another 1,259 scored between 601 and 650. The majority of candidates fell in the 301-550 mark range, with more than 1.26 lakh scoring in the range, and over 3 lakh between 144 and 200-the minimum qualifying range. UP had the highest number of qualifying candidates at over 1.7 lakh, followed by Maharashtra (over 1.2 lakh) and Rajasthan (over 1.19 lakh). States like Karnataka, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala also recorded over 70,000 qualifiers each, while Delhi saw over 40,000 students qualify NEET-UG is the sole entrance examination for undergraduate medical and dental courses in India. It is also used for admission to courses in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy. Conducted in 13 languages across 5,468 centres in 552 cities-including 14 overseas locations, the exam remains one of India's largest and most competitive entrance tests. This year's exam was held in pen-and-paper mode, with 1.08 lakh MBBS seats on offer across govt and private institutions. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Three Delhi students among top 10 NEET-UG rank-holders
NEW DELHI: Three students from Delhi figured among the top 10 rankers in the NEET UG 2025 medical entrance exam, the results of which were announced on Saturday by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Additionally, 17 students from the region are included in the top 100 rankers in the country. Mrinal Kishore Jha, who secured All India Rank (AIR) 4, is Delhi topper. Apart from Mrinal, Avika Aggarwal and Harsh Kedawat bagged AIR-5 and AIR-9, respectively. The three secured the 99.99 percentile and belong to the General category. Meanwhile, Avika Aggarwal is among the top 20 female toppers. While Rajasthan's Mahesh Kumar and Madhya Pradesh's Utkarsh Avadhiya clinched the first and second spots, Maharashtra's Krashank Joshi stood third. Out of 22.76 lakh students who appeared for the exam, 12.36 lakh qualified for it. There are 1.08 lakh MBBS seats available in the country, of which, 56,000 are in government and 52,000 in private colleges. In Delhi, 1,092 medical seats are available in seven government colleges. According to PN Pandey, Professor at Maulana Azad Medical College, those seeking admission to government medical colleges in the city need a NEET UG ranking of less than 600 to secure a seat. A total of 7.22 lakh women and 5.14 lakh men and six Transgenders figure among the successful candidates.
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Five students from Telangana make it to top 100 in NEET UG
HYDERABAD: Mahesh Kumar from Rajasthan secured All India Rank (AIR) 1 while Avika Aggarwal achieved AIR 5 and emerged as the female topper in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) UG-2025, the results of which were released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday. From Telangana, Kakarla Jeevan Sai Kumar secured the 18th rank, becoming the state topper. A total of 22,76,609 candidates registered for the medical entrance examination, of whom 22,09,318 appeared and 12,36,531 qualified. In Telangana, 72,094 candidates registered, 70,259 appeared, and 41,584 qualified.
