Panshula Bansal of Haryana achieved All India Rank 2 [1] in the NEET UG 2026 medical entrance examination.
The result places Bansal among the top candidates in one of India's most competitive academic tests, determining eligibility for limited medical seats nationwide.
Bansal shared a joint highest score of 715 out of 720 [4] with Aryan Gupta of Punjab. The results follow the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, which took place on June 21, 2026 [7]. That specific examination session saw more than 22.79 lakh candidates appear across 5,440 centers [8, 9].
Speaking about his preparation, Bansal said the achievement was his first attempt. He attributed his success to a disciplined routine, saying that he studied for six to seven hours per day [2]. This consistency followed a strong academic foundation, as Bansal reported earning 94% in his 12th-grade board examinations [3].
The scale of the 2026 examination cycle highlights the intense competition for medical education in India. Approximately 1.1 million candidates cleared the NEET UG 2026 [5], yet they must compete for only 137,000 available MBBS seats [6].
Bansal's performance marks him as a primary topper in a cycle characterized by high participation and a rigorous re-test process. His approach emphasizes a balance of steady daily effort over extreme study hours, a strategy that may serve as a blueprint for future candidates facing the nationwide exam.
“"I used to study 6-7 hours a day."”
The gap between the 1.1 million qualifying candidates and the 137,000 available MBBS seats underscores the extreme scarcity of medical placements in India. Bansal's success, achieved on a first attempt with a moderate daily study schedule, suggests that strategic consistency and a strong secondary education foundation are more critical than the exhaustive, high-hour study marathons often associated with competitive Indian entrance exams.
