Pune/Kolhapur: Students from the state delivered an impressive performance in NEET UG 2026, overcoming the uncertainty created by the cancellation of the earlier examination and the subsequent re-exam. Leading the state’s performance was Shravani Kudale from Daund taluka, who emerged as the highest-ranked girl in the country, securing All India Rank (AIR) 5 and becoming the state topper. The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the results on Thursday.Shravani’s achievement stood out also because of her journey. Her formative years were in a zilla parishad school in Daund taluka, and she kept away from her cellphone and social media for the whole year to focus on her studies.Maharashtra also produced several other top rankers. Mohanish Maruti Bhosale from Atpadi tehsil in Sangli district secured AIR 10 and was the state’s second-highest-ranked candidate, while Sarthak Mahesh Patil from Miraj in Sangli district secured AIR 14 and finished third in the state. Sanidhya Dongre secured AIR 28, followed by Arnav Lahoti at AIR 32, Pranav Tembhurne at AIR 33 and Rashmit Gupta at AIR 34, giving Maharashtra a strong presence in the national merit list.For many students, the re-examination was an emotional and academic challenge after the earlier NEET was cancelled following the paper leak controversy. They had to restart preparations after months of hard work.“My elder brother who is undergoing his MBBS internship, inspired me. He studied at a private college. It studied hard to secure a rank enough to get into AIIMS. In earlier NEET exam, I was hoping to get 700 marks, I improved it now to 705,” Bhosale, whose father is a senior college professor in Pune, said.Sarthak Patil, son of doctors Mahesh Patil and Surekha Patil from Miraj, said the NEET cancellation was a setback, but it eventually worked in his favour.“My parents encouraged me and helped me restart preparations. I would have scored 715 in the earlier NEET but I got 705 marks in the re-exam and the AIR 14. I like to listen to music and watch football and spend time with my parents,” he said.Sahim Sadiq Patwegar from Jaysingpur in Kolhapur district secured AIR 106 after scoring 690 marks. He has also cleared JEE Advanced. “In the earlier NEET, I would have got 710 marks, in re-NEET I have got 690 marks with AIR 106. I also appeared for JEE Advanced without special coaching for maths, I cleared it. But I want to become a doctor and studied for two years. I read Robin Sharma books for motivation,” he said.Kolhapur’s Sanjay Ghodawat IIT and Medical Academy also produced Shriwallabh Gawade, who secured AIR 122 with 690 marks, and Sameer Jadhav, who secured AIR 177 with 685 marks. Mohanish, Sarthak and Sahim had also appeared for mock tests conducted by Pune-based DEEPER Institute.Harish Butle of the Institute said, “In the top 138 students list, repeater students are only 7%. It means their success rate is drastically decreasing.”Durgesh Mangeshkar, director of IIT Prashikshan Kendra, said, “In 2026, the number of students scoring above 500, 600, 650 and 700 marks as compared to the past years’ statistics (2021-26) reveals that re-NEET 2026 was the second toughest paper after NEET 2025.”Shravani, with ZP schooling in early years, tops girls’ group in countryPune: A year without a cellphone, distancing herself from social media and an unwavering focus helped Shravani Krishna Kudale from Khadki village in Daund tehsil of Pune district reach the top rank among girls in NEET UG 2026. Scoring 710 out of 720, Shravani secured the fifth rank nationally and became Maharashtra’s top scorer in the country’s biggest medical entrance examination.Her journey began at Zilla Parishad Primary School at Chormale Vasti in Gopalwadi, where she studied up to Std V. She completed her secondary education at Sharadabai Pawar Vidyaniketan College in Malegaon before preparing for NEET at a private coaching institute in the Baramati region.“I stayed away from my cellphone and social media for a year for my studies. My parents and uncle, who are all teachers, guided me throughout my preparation. Consistent study and regular practice helped me clear the exam in my first attempt,” Shravani told TOI.Her parents, Jayshree and Krishna, were there with constant guidance and encouragement. Shravani belongs to a family associated with the warkari tradition. Others from the family also backed her throughout her preparation. “If you have a clear goal and study consistently, students from rural areas can achieve success,” Shravani said.Her village is now proud and has proved that students from govt schools and rural backgrounds can compete with the best in the country through discipline, perseverance and sustained hard work.
