A 17 year old NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh’s Mauganj district has died by suicide after reportedly falling into depression following the cancellation of the medical entrance examination she had appeared for amid NEET paper leak aftermath.
Akanksha Chaturvedi left behind a note saying that “she did not have the courage” to appear for the test again.
She was among the lakhs of students who appeared for the NEET-UG conducted on May 3. The National Testing Agency (NTA), however, cancelled the examination on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak and announced a re-test on June 21.
According to her family, she had been preparing for the examination and was expecting a score of around 650 marks.
Family members claimed that Akanksha had been disturbed after the government admitted that NEET examination papers had been leaked and students will have to re-appear for the exam. Over 22 lac students across the country had appeared for this examination.
Akanksha’s parents say that the paper leak and government stand to it affected her mental state. Akanksha’s parents said they had made significant financial sacrifices to support her dream of becoming a doctor. Akanksha was aware about it and felt distressed after the paper leak episode. She wanted to become a doctor and help her parents overcome their financial situation.
Despite their modest means, the family reportedly took a loan of Rs 3 lakh through a Kisan Credit Card to fund her coaching in Nagpur.
Her father, Krishna Kumar Chaturvedi, a farmer by profession, also took up work as a cook in Nagpur while his daughter prepared for the examination there.
The family said they were confident she would secure admission to a medical college this year.
The suicide note recovered from the spot reflected her concerns about the future.
“Mummy Papa, you believed your daughter would study and become a doctor. But I do not have the courage to take the NEET exam again. I have ruined both of you,” she wrote.
“There is no guarantee that I will perform well if I appear for the examination again.”
The alleged paper leak and subsequent cancellation of the examination have triggered anxiety and uncertainty among many candidates.
In a similar case in Jharkhand, a 16-year-old aspirant died by suicide, with her family claiming that the NEET controversy had left her battling severe depression.
As per her family, after completing Class 10, she joined a coaching institute in Delhi to prepare for NEET. After completing the course, she returned home and appeared for the examination.
The family said she was confident of clearing the competitive exam this year.
Akanksha’s suicide has once again drawn attention to the immense pressure associated with India’s largest medical entrance examination. Akanksha’s case is not an isolated one.
In Rajasthan, a student who was reportedly expecting a score of around 650 marks allegedly died by suicide shortly after the cancellation of the examination. Family members said he had been confident of securing admission to a medical college.
In Delhi, a 20-year-old NEET aspirant allegedly died by suicide, with family members suspecting that the cancellation of the examination had contributed to her distress.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri, a 21-year-old aspirant also allegedly died by suicide, with relatives linking the tragedy to the cancellation of the examination after the paper leak revelations.
Media reports indicate that multiple aspirants across different states have allegedly taken their lives after the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, highlighting the emotional toll of uncertainty surrounding high-stakes competitive examinations.
The 2026 Paper Leak Controversy
NEET-UG 2026, conducted on May 3 for over 22 lakh candidates, was cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) after evidence emerged of a large-scale paper leak allegedly originating from Rajasthan and spreading through organised networks and messaging platforms. Investigations by the CBI have led to multiple arrests across states.
The controversy has reached the Supreme Court, where petitions have sought reforms in the examination system and accountability from the NTA. Critics argue that recurring irregularities have eroded trust in one of India’s most important entrance examinations.
Not the First NEET Crisis
The 2026 scandal follows the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, when allegations of paper leaks, inflated scores and grace marks triggered nationwide protests and litigation. Although the Supreme Court declined to cancel the entire examination in 2024, it acknowledged irregularities in certain centres and ordered corrective measures. The latest scandal has renewed questions about whether sufficient reforms were implemented after the earlier controversy.
Bigger Than a Paper Leak
Mental health experts have long warned that India’s highly competitive entrance examination ecosystem places extraordinary pressure on teenagers. For many families, years of preparation, substantial financial investments and expectations of social mobility are tied to a single examination. The recent deaths have intensified calls for stronger psychological support systems for students and greater accountability in the conduct of national examinations.
As investigations continue into both the paper leak and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of aspirants, the NEET controversy is increasingly being viewed not merely as an examination scandal but as a wider crisis of trust affecting millions of students and their families.
Also Read: Re-NEET Question Papers And Scores Allegedly Being Sold Through Telegram Channels https://www.vibesofindia.com/re-neet-question-papers-and-scores-allegedly-being-sold-through-telegram-channels/
