Who Is NEET UG 2026 Topper Aryan Gupta? AIR 1 Dreams of Becoming a Cancer Specialist

Aryan Gupta, who secured All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the NEET UG 2026 examination with 715 out of 720 marks, says his remarkable achievement is the result of years of discipline, perseverance and a deeply personal dream of becoming a cancer specialist.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) awarded Aryan AIR 1 after applying its tie-breaking rules, even though he shared the highest score in the country with Panshul Bansal of Haryana.

A Family of Doctors Inspired His Medical Journey

Medicine has always been part of Aryan's life.

His father, Dr Sachin Gupta, is an anaesthesiologist, while his mother, Dr Reena Gupta, is a gynaecologist. His elder brother is also pursuing MBBS after securing AIR 54 in the previous year's NEET examination.

Growing up in a family of doctors strengthened his interest in medicine, but one personal tragedy ultimately shaped his career goal.

Grandmother's Cancer Battle Inspired His Dream

Aryan revealed that his ambition to become an oncologist began after losing his grandmother to stage 4 cancer when he was studying in Class 3.

Despite having doctors in the family, they were unable to save her.

The experience motivated him to dedicate his future to cancer treatment and research.

According to Aryan, becoming a cancer specialist has remained his goal ever since, and securing the top rank in NEET is only the first step toward achieving it.

Studied 16 to 17 Hours Every Day

Preparing for one of India's toughest entrance examinations required extraordinary commitment.

Aryan said he studied for nearly 16 to 17 hours every day, often sacrificing sleep to remain focused on his preparation.

He described the moment of securing AIR 1 as surreal, adding that years of consistent effort had finally paid off.

Preparation Started from Class 6

Aryan's preparation did not begin only during higher secondary school.

He said his competitive examination journey started in Class 6 after performing well in a scholarship examination in 2019, an achievement he considers the foundation of his NEET preparation.

From that stage onwards, he remained focused on his goal of pursuing medicine.

Advice for Future NEET Aspirants

Sharing his message for future aspirants, Aryan emphasised the importance of consistency and discipline.

He advised students to:

• Trust their teachers.
• Study regularly every day.
• Stay disciplined throughout the preparation journey.
• Focus on long-term consistency instead of short-term results.

According to Aryan, sustained hard work is the key to succeeding in highly competitive examinations like NEET.

NEET UG 2026 Results at a Glance

The NTA announced the NEET UG 2026 results with:

• 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying for undergraduate medical admissions.
• 19 candidates scoring above 700 marks.
• 138 candidates scoring more than 690 marks.

Aryan Gupta's 715 marks placed him at the top of the national merit list, marking the beginning of his journey towards becoming an oncologist.

Key Highlights

• Aryan Gupta secured AIR 1 in NEET UG 2026 with 715 marks.
• He shares the highest score nationally with Panshul Bansal, while securing AIR 1 through NTA's tie-breaking rules.
• Aryan hopes to become an oncologist after losing his grandmother to cancer.
• He studied 16–17 hours daily during his NEET preparation.
• His preparation journey began as early as Class 6.

FAQs

Who is the NEET UG 2026 topper?

Aryan Gupta from Punjab secured AIR 1 in NEET UG 2026 with 715 out of 720 marks.

How many marks did Aryan Gupta score in NEET UG 2026?

He scored 715 marks, the highest score in the examination.

Why does Aryan Gupta want to become an oncologist?

He was inspired by the loss of his grandmother to stage 4 cancer during his childhood and wants to contribute to cancer treatment.

How many hours did Aryan Gupta study for NEET?

Aryan said he studied approximately 16 to 17 hours every day during his preparation.

What advice did Aryan Gupta give to NEET aspirants?

He advised students to remain disciplined, trust their teachers, and stay consistent with their studies throughout their preparation.