An 18-year-old woman from Karnataka’s Kalaburgi district, a NEET aspirant died by suicide days after the cancellation of the NEET UG 2026 exam, putting the immense pressure faced by medical entrace candidates in focus again.

The student had secured 92% marks in her PUC (Class 12) exams and had taken the NEET UG exam on May 3 this year. However, the National Testing Agency (NTA) scrapped the exam later after allegations and confirmation of a paper leak.

Father raises possibility of re-exam anxiety

The teenage girl’s father, while speaking to the media, said that there had been no visible signs of distress at home and the family was living peacefully. While mourning the loss of his daughter, he said his daughter had performed well in the pan-India medical entrance examination and was hopeful about her future. He said, “There was no distress or problem in our family, and we were living happily.” Holding back tears, he wondered whether the announcement of a re-exam may have emotionally affected his daughter.

He added, “She had performed well in NEET UG 2026 exam, everything was going well. Maybe she had some feelings in her mind about writing it again. I do not blame or accuse anyone. We do not know her pain or suffering.”

Meanwhile, the police said they did not recover any suicide note from the scene and a case has been registered at the Station Bazaar police station. According to police, the incident is being probed.

Aspirants left in limbo after exam cancellation

The NEET UG 2026 exam, one of India’s largest competitive entrance tests, was cancelled after authorities learnt of a paper leak controversy that sparked nationwide outrage. Although the Union Education Ministry later announced that the exam would be held again on June 21, with fee refunds and additional time allowances for candidates, the sudden cancellation reportedly left many aspirants mentally exhausted and uncertain.

Several students who took the exam and believed they had performed exceptionally well in the first attempt have expressed fears about replicating the same performance in the re-exam under heightened pressure. Mental health experts have also raised an alarm over the emotional burden associated with highly competitive exams, particularly when uncertainty and abrupt policy decisions affect students’ preparation and confidence.

String of suicides reported from other states

The Kalaburgi tragedy is not the sole case. In recent weeks, similar incidents where NEET aspirants ended their lives have been reported from other parts of the country. In Rajasthan’s Sikar, a student, whose family expected him to secure nearly 650 marks in the exam died by suicide after learning that the exam had been cancelled.

Another aspirant from UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri, who had been taking the exam for the third time and was highly confident about qualifying it, also met the same fate following the cancellation announcement.