TG Among Top NEET Rankers

HYDERABAD: Telangana was among the eight states represented in the top 17 ranks of NEET UG 2026, with all candidates in this group scoring above 705 marks, according to the National Testing Agency (NTA). The results were announced on Thursday as the state prepares for medical admissions with an increased intake of MBBS seats. Detailed Telangana-wise qualification figures and the counselling schedule of KNRUHS are awaited.

Punjab’s Aryan Gupta and Haryana’s Panshul Bansal topped the NEET-UG examination, scoring 715 out of 720, with 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying this year.

According to the NTA, 19 candidates scored 700 marks, while 138 secured 690. A total of 1,492 candidates scored 650 or above, and 10,160 candidates obtained 600 or more marks. More than 58 per cent of the qualified candidates are women.

The examination held on May 9 was cancelled on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak, and a re-examination was conducted on June 21. The CBI is investigating the case.

The NTA said the results were declared on schedule to ensure that the admission and counselling process remains on track. “The results were declared within time through re-engineering of the process, with stages designed to run in parallel rather than in sequence, and with the de-linking of the OMR sheet challenge from answer key release. Each stage was completed in full and made available for candidate view,” it said.

NEET-UG is the largest undergraduate entrance examination in the country, with nearly 25 lakh candidates appearing. It is conducted for admission to medical courses, including MBBS, with around 1.08 lakh seats available, comprising about 56,000 in government institutions and 52,000 in private colleges.

The examination is also used for admissions to courses in dentistry, Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha.

Following the controversy over the paper leak, the Centre has decided to conduct NEET-UG as a computer-based test in future instead of the pen-and-paper mode.