A 19-year-old NEET-UG aspirant allegedly died by suicide at her home in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district after reportedly failing to clear the qualifying cut-off in the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, police said. The incident has once again brought the spotlight on the immense pressure faced by students preparing for competitive examinations.
The deceased, identified as Ankita Suresh Sangale, was a resident of Jalalpur village in Karjat taluka. According to police, she was found hanging at her residence on Saturday when no other family members were present. A case of accidental death has been registered, and an investigation is underway.
Family members told police that Ankita had been under severe emotional distress ever since the NEET re-examination results were declared. She had scored 166 marks, falling 11 marks short of the qualifying cut-off of 177 for her category. They said she had been deeply upset over the result and had struggled to cope with the disappointment.
Police recovered a handwritten note from the house, in which the teenager reportedly described herself as “an average student” and apologised to her parents. Investigators are examining the note as part of the probe, though officials have not disclosed its complete contents.
The tragedy comes against the backdrop of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, which led to the cancellation of the original examination, a re-test for candidates, nationwide protests, and political demands for accountability. The controversy has intensified concerns over the mental health impact of repeated disruptions and uncertainty surrounding high-stakes examinations.
The latest incident has renewed calls from educators and mental health experts for stronger psychological support systems for students preparing for competitive exams, alongside efforts to ensure greater transparency and credibility in the examination process.
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