Madhya Pradesh/Nagpur: An 18-year-old NEET-UG aspirant from Madhya Pradesh's Mauganj district died by suicide in Nagpur after reportedly experiencing severe distress following the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination amid a paper leak controversy, according to multiple media reports.
The student, identified as Akanksha Chaturvedi, had been preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) at a coaching institute in Nagpur. She was found dead in her room on May 20, according to reports. Akanksha reportedly died on May 20, days after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 examination and before the scheduled re-examination on June 21. A handwritten note recovered later has drawn attention to the psychological impact that examination-related uncertainty can have on students.
According to NDTV, Akanksha wrote in the note that she no longer had the courage to take the examination again. She reportedly expressed concern that despite performing well in her first attempt, there was no assurance she would achieve similar results in a re-examination.
According to Hindustan Times, the note indicated that Akanksha had performed well in the original examination and believed she had performed well enough to secure admission to a government medical college. She reportedly wrote that she was uncertain whether she could repeat the same performance in another examination and felt unable to face the process again.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled NEET-UG 2026 after allegations of a paper leak and examination irregularities emerged following the May 3 examination. The agency subsequently announced that a re-examination would be conducted on June 21, 2026.
The alleged paper leak is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI registered the case on May 12 following a complaint from the Department of Higher Education. The agency has conducted searches in multiple states and made several arrests as part of its ongoing investigation, according to official announcements and media reports.
According to family members quoted by NDTV, Akanksha had returned home after the examination feeling optimistic about her performance. Her uncle reportedly said she expected to score more than 650 marks and appeared happy with how the examination had gone.
The family alleged that reports of the paper leak and the subsequent cancellation of the examination deeply affected her mental state. They claimed she became withdrawn and distressed after the controversy surfaced.
According to her uncle, family members observed noticeable changes in her behaviour after reports of the paper leak emerged. He alleged that she became withdrawn, ate less, and remained disturbed in the days before her death.
Akanksha belonged to Maganiya village in Mauganj district of Madhya Pradesh. According to NDTV, her father is a small farmer who also worked as a cook in Nagpur to support the family's finances and her education.
Family members said substantial financial sacrifices had been made to support her medical entrance preparation. According to reports, her father worked as a cook in Nagpur in addition to farming, while the family relied on loans and financial assistance from relatives to fund coaching expenses. Family members stated that they had borrowed approximately ₹3 lakh through a Kisan Credit Card loan and received additional financial assistance from relatives to support her coaching and studies.
Akanksha's death is not the only case reported following the cancellation of the examination.
According to Hindustan Times and The Indian Express, families of several NEET aspirants who died by suicide in recent weeks have linked their distress to the examination's cancellation and the prospect of appearing for the test again.
In Rajasthan's Sikar, a NEET aspirant identified as Pradeep Mahich died by suicide. Family members told media outlets that he had expected a strong score in what was reportedly his third attempt at the examination and was upset after the cancellation announcement.
Reports have also emerged from Karnataka and other states involving NEET aspirants who died by suicide, although authorities have not conclusively established a direct connection between every death and the examination controversy.
Separately, a 17-year-old girl preparing for NEET was found dead in a private hostel in Patna, Bihar, on June 2.
According to police statements reported by India Today and local media, the student was a resident of Samastipur district and had been staying in the hostel since 2024 while preparing for medical entrance examinations. Investigators recovered no suicide note from the scene.
Police said forensic and post-mortem examinations would help determine the circumstances surrounding her death. Authorities have stated that they are examining all possible angles and have not officially linked the incident to the NEET examination controversy.
The recent incidents have renewed attention on the mental health challenges faced by students preparing for highly competitive entrance examinations.
NEET-UG is one of India's largest medical entrance examinations. Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for NEET-UG 2026 before the examination was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak and examination irregularities.
Commenting on the impact of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, Shweta Sharma, a counselling psychologist and career coach with an MA in Applied Psychology and a PGD in Guidance and Counselling, noted in a public LinkedIn post that incidents such as examination cancellations can affect students' confidence, motivation, trust in the system, and overall mental well-being. She emphasized that students often invest years of preparation, emotional effort, and family support into competitive examinations, making sudden disruptions particularly distressing.
Authorities have not released any official assessment linking the NEET paper leak controversy directly to individual deaths. Investigations into the reported suicides remain ongoing.
(Rh/MSM)
