NEET UG 2026 AIR 2 Panshul Bansal: "I Chose to Study Instead of Protest"

New Delhi | July 22, 2026

Panshul Bansal, who secured All India Rank (AIR) 2 in the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, has shared an inspiring message for students across India.

Instead of joining protests after the NEET paper leak controversy, he decided to stay focused on his studies.

"I Could Study Instead of Protest"

Speaking to NDTV, Panshul said that he was disappointed when the original NEET UG 2026 examination was cancelled. However, he quickly changed his mindset.

"I thought, why should I go to the protest? Instead, I could be studying at home and improving my skills and improving my score."

His positive approach helped him perform even better in the re-examination.

Improved His Score

Panshul revealed that he had scored around 706 marks in the original examination.

During the extra preparation time, he continued studying with the same routine.

In the re-examination, he scored 715 marks and achieved AIR 2 with an impressive 99.9999 percentile.

No Change in Study Routine

Panshul said he did not make major changes to his preparation.

He followed the same daily schedule.

He focused on revision and stayed consistent.

He also said he gave his best and left the rest to God.

Staying Positive

After the cancellation, Panshul admitted that he felt sad for a few hours.

Later, he decided to think positively.

He focused only on his goal of getting admission to a government medical college.

According to him, bringing negativity into the preparation would not help.

NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak

The original NEET UG 2026 examination was held on May 3.

The examination was cancelled after allegations of a paper leak.

A fresh examination was conducted on June 21 under strict security arrangements.

The results were declared on July 16.

The investigation into the paper leak is currently being handled by the CBI.

He Did Not Comment on the Protests

When asked about the protests taking place across the country, Panshul chose not to express an opinion.

He simply said that he did not want to comment on the issue.

A Lesson for Students

Panshul Bansal's journey highlights an important lesson for every competitive exam aspirant.

Unexpected challenges can happen.

What matters most is how you respond.

Staying calm, maintaining discipline, and focusing on your preparation can make a big difference.

For many students preparing for NEET, JEE, UPSC, CAT, or other competitive examinations, his story is a reminder that consistency and a positive mindset are often the strongest tools for success.

NEET UG 2026, Panshul Bansal, AIR 2 NEET 2026, NEET topper, NEET re-exam, NEET paper leak, NEET 2026 result, NEET preparation tips, NEET success story, medical entrance exam India.

IMAGE: Panshul Bansal, left, NEET-UG 2026 AIR 2, is felicitated by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Photograph: Courtesy @dpradhanbjp/X