Depressed over NEET exam cancellation, 22-year-old student dies by suicide in Sikar

A 22-year-old NEET aspirant allegedly died by suicide in Rajasthan’s Sikar on Friday, days after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 examination over a paper leak. The incident came on the same day the government announced June 21 as the date for the re-examination, even as a CBI probe into the leak continues. The student’s family has linked his death to distress caused by the cancellation of the exam in which they said he was expected to score well.

The victim was identified as Pradeep Meghwal, a resident of Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district. Police said he had been living in a rented room in Sikar’s Jaldhari Nagar area along with his sisters and had been preparing for NEET for the past three years.

According to Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar, Pradeep allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using a scarf belonging to his sister.

"At the time of the incident, one sister had gone for coaching classes while another was in the bathroom. His sister later found him hanging, brought him down, and informed the landlord and police," he said. "The body has been kept in the mortuary at SK Hospital. Postmortem has not yet been conducted".

Pradeep’s father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that his son had performed well in the May 3 exam and was expected to score around 650 out of 720 marks.

He said the family had been hopeful that Pradeep would secure admission to a medical college this year after years of preparation.

"His paper had gone very well this time. We were expecting over 650 marks and believed he would finally become a doctor," the father said.

He added that his son had been under severe stress after the paper leak surfaced, and the examination was subsequently cancelled. "After hearing about the paper leak and cancellation, he became disturbed and depressed," he said.

Family acquaintances said the Meghwal family had spent nearly Rs 8-11 lakh on Pradeep’s education despite severe financial hardship. His father works as a daily wage labourer, and relatives said the family had sold part of its agricultural land to fund his studies.

"This was not just a suicide. The system’s failure and the paper leak mafia are responsible for destroying his future," said Rajesh Joya, a family acquaintance.

The incident has sparked a political reaction. Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed grief and said repeated paper leaks were taking a toll on students’ mental health.

"The suicide of Pradeep is deeply tragic. Anxiety regarding the NEET 2026 paper leak has placed immense pressure on students and directly impacted their mental health," Pilot said in a post on X.

He also questioned the Centre’s handling of the matter, saying, "The government has handed over the case to the CBI, but is this merely a token gesture? A time-bound investigation must be conducted and strict action taken against those responsible".

THE NEET-UG PAPER LEAK SCANDAL

NEET-UG 2026, held on May 3 for admissions to undergraduate medical courses, was cancelled on Tuesday after law enforcement agencies indicated the exam process had been compromised.

Around 22 lakh students had appeared for the test. The Centre has since handed the case to the CBI, while over 45 people have reportedly been detained in Rajasthan in connection with the leak.

The NTA has said candidates will not need to register again, and previous application data will be carried forward for the June 21 re-exam.

But for many students, the cancellation has amplified anxiety around one of India’s most competitive entrance tests. Pradeep’s death has now brought into sharp focus the emotional cost of exam irregularities and the pressure borne by aspirants and their families.

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Sushil Joshi input