For thousands of students, NEET is the gateway to a medical career. But the pressure surrounding preparation, results and medical admissions can become overwhelming.
This year, deaths by suicide involving NEET aspirants have been reported across India. Some cases followed the cancellation of the original exam and the uncertainty around the re-test. Others came after students received disappointing scores.
The latest case involves 19-year-old Suraj Subhash Shinde from Khandala village in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Police are investigating whether disappointment over his NEET score contributed to his death.
What Happened To Suraj?
Suraj was preparing for NEET from home.
According to the preliminary police investigation, he had been upset after scoring fewer marks than he expected in the medical entrance examination.
His family had gone to attend a week-long religious programme in their village.
When they returned at around 2 pm on Wednesday, they tried calling Suraj. His phone was switched off.
His younger sister then found him unresponsive upstairs.
The family rushed him to Vaijapur Sub-District Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Suraj had also left a note for his parents.
It read: “Sorry Aai and Appa, in my next life I will become a doctor for you. Take care of yourselves and stay happy.”
The note has become part of the investigation. However, it does not by itself establish that his NEET result was the sole cause of his death.
What Are Police Doing?
Vaijapur police have registered an accidental death case and are investigating the circumstances surrounding Suraj’s death.
Police are examining whether disappointment over his NEET score played a role.
At present, authorities have not established a definitive cause beyond the circumstances under investigation.
That distinction is important. A death following an exam setback cannot automatically be attributed to the examination itself.
Suraj Was Not The Only NEET Aspirant
Suraj’s case came after several other deaths by suicide involving NEET aspirants were reported across India this year.
In some cases, families linked the deaths to the cancellation of the original NEET exam and the pressure of preparing for a re-test.
One such case was that of 19-year-old Sheikh Sana in Tamil Nadu. Reuters reported that her family attributed her death to the fear and pressure surrounding the re-examination. Police registered the death as a suicide, but did not publicly establish the reason for it.
There were also cases involving students who died after receiving or calculating disappointing scores.
This shows that the pressure did not end with the cancellation or re-test. For some students, distress reportedly continued through the results and the uncertainty over their chances of getting a medical seat.
By July, Reuters reported that more than a dozen student suicides had been linked to the NEET cancellation crisis. A youth group later claimed a higher figure, but Reuters said it could not independently verify that number.
These figures should therefore not be treated as an official nationwide count.
When One Exam Starts Feeling Like Everything
For a NEET aspirant, the pressure can involve much more than marks.
There can be years of preparation, coaching expenses, family expectations and the belief that one result will decide the future.
But a score, rank or missed cut-off does not determine a person’s worth or entire future.
Suraj’s case remains under investigation. The same applies to several other reported cases.
What is clear is that the pressure surrounding high-stakes entrance examinations has become an important part of the conversation about student well-being.
TL;DR | News At Glance
What happened?
19-year-old NEET aspirant Suraj Subhash Shinde died by suicide at his home in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Why is NEET being discussed?
Police are investigating whether disappointment over his lower-than-expected score contributed to his death.
What did Suraj's note say?
He apologised to his parents and wrote that he would become a doctor for them in his next life.
What action has the police taken?
Vaijapur police registered an accidental death case and are investigating.
Have other NEET-related deaths been reported?
Yes. Several cases have been reported across India this year, involving distress around the exam cancellation, re-test and, in some cases, disappointing results.
Need Help?
If exam pressure feels overwhelming, speak to someone you trust or seek professional support.
In India, Tele-MANAS provides free mental health support 24/7 at 14416.
