The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the NEET UG 2026 results, with Aryaman Solanki from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh securing All India Rank (AIR) 46. While the announcement of the re-examination initially came as a setback, Solanki says it ultimately worked in his favour, helping him improve both his score and rank.
Speaking to ANI, Solanki said he is currently inclined towards pursuing Urology, although he remains open to exploring other specialisations during his medical studies.
“I haven’t decided for sure yet, but based on my current inclination, I would like to pursue Urology, though that could change during my studies. I haven’t set anything in stone; I’m keeping my options flexible, though naturally, I have a preference for Urology,” he said.
Recalling the period leading up to the re-examination, Solanki said the announcement left many students anxious and uncertain.
“When the re-NEET was announced, the atmosphere was quite depressing and disheartening because the May 3 NEET had gone really well,” he said.
However, he added that the outcome of the re-exam changed his perspective. “The re-NEET turned out to be the right decision; my marks and my rank improved significantly compared to the May 3 exam,” Solanki said.
Three Days of Uncertainty Before Re-NEET Announcement
Solanki also spoke about the uncertainty surrounding the alleged NEET paper leak controversy and the days before the re-examination was announced.
“Talk of the NEET paper leak started around May 10. It was all over the news on May 11, and the re-NEET was announced on May 12. So, for those three days, I was constantly glued to Twitter and the like, wondering what was going to happen next. Then, as soon as the re-NEET was announced on May 12, I felt pretty bad about it initially,” he said.
Sharing his preparation strategy, Solanki emphasised the importance of maintaining a balanced routine. He followed a disciplined schedule that included studies, classes, sports and adequate sleep.
“I would wake up around 8:00 am. After breakfast, I would study for an hour or two, followed by my classes. After returning from classes, I’d spend an hour playing sports with my friends. After that, I would have my meal, and then I would sit down to study. At night, I would study for at least two to three hours, relax a bit with my family, and then go to sleep; I made sure to get six and a half to seven hours of sleep every day,” he said.
Acknowledging the people who supported him throughout his journey, Solanki said, “I would like to give credit to my parents, teachers, friends, and sister.”
NEET UG result was declared on July 16, 2026. This year, about 11.21 lakh candidates have qualified in the medical entrance exam, with NTA announcing joint toppers Aryan Gupta and Panshul Bansal as AIR 1 holders.
(With inputs from ANI)