NEET 2025: From Exam Rooms to Big Wins, Who Came Out on Top?
By [Your Name], Education Reporter
June 14, 2025
On June 14, 2025, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the NEET UG 2025 results, bringing joy and excitement to millions of students across India. Over 22 lakh young people took the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on May 4, 2025, hoping to become doctors. The exam was tough, but some students shone brightly, earning the top ranks. Leading the way is Mahesh Kumar from Rajasthan, who grabbed the number one spot with an amazing score of 686 out of 720. So, who are these top students, and what does their success mean for India’s future doctors?
The Winners: Who Got the Top Ranks?
The NEET 2025 results, shared on neet.nta.nic.in, revealed the best performers. Mahesh Kumar from Rajasthan took first place, scoring 686 marks and a super-high percentile of 99.9999547. Right behind him was Utkarsh Awadhiya from Madhya Pradesh, who got second place with 682 marks and a 99.9999095 percentile. Krishang Joshi from Maharashtra came third with 681 marks and a 99.9998189 percentile, showing how close the competition was at the top.
Avika Aggarwal from Delhi was the top girl, landing fifth place with 680 marks and a 99.9996832 percentile. She was the only girl in the top 10, showing that more girls are doing well but still face tough competition. Other top scorers include Mrinal Jha from Karnataka (fourth place, 681 marks), Harsh Kedawat from Rajasthan (ninth place, 675 marks), and Aarav Agrawal from Gujarat (tenth place, 675 marks). Most top rankers were from the General Category, with 38 out of the top 50 in this group, while 11 were from OBC-NCL and one from EWS.
The Hard Work: How They Won
Getting a top rank in NEET 2025 was not easy. The exam, held on May 4, was challenging, especially the Physics section, which had tricky questions about topics like Modern Physics. Biology was easier for those who studied their NCERT books well, and Chemistry was a mix of hard and easy questions. “Last year’s paper leak made me nervous, but I worked hard every day,” said Krishang Joshi, who got third place. He focused on staying calm and practicing a lot.
Mahesh Kumar, the topper, said his success came from studying regularly and getting help from his coaching center, Allen Career Institute. “I kept revising my NCERT books and practiced old exam papers to handle the tough Physics questions,” he said in an interview. Avika Aggarwal, the top girl, said practicing with mock tests helped her finish the three-hour exam on time. These stories show that hard work, good planning, and staying focused were key to their big wins.
The Big Picture: NEET 2025 by the Numbers
NEET 2025 was huge, with about 23 lakh students signing up and 18.22 lakh taking the exam, mostly in English. Over 12 lakh students passed, including 7.22 lakh girls, 5.14 lakh boys, and six third-gender students. Girls did better in numbers, but boys and General Category students took most of the top spots. The passing score, or cut-off, was a bit lower this year because the exam was harder, which helped more students qualify.
Rajasthan had the most top rankers, followed by Maharashtra,Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, and Gujarat. The highest score was 686 by Mahesh Kumar, lower than last year’s perfect 720 scores, showing how tough the 2025 exam was. The scores for the top three were so close—just a few marks apart—proving every question mattered.
The Challenges: Tough Moments for Students
NEET 2025 had some problems. Many students said the Physics section was too hard, with complicated math questions. Some were upset about the exam’s fairness. The NTA also had technical issues, as too many students tried to check their results online at once, causing delays. After last year’s paper leak, the NTA used strict measures like AI tools and cameras to stop cheating. Students caught cheating had their results canceled, showing the NTA was serious about keeping things fair.
Another big issue is that not everyone who passed can get a seat in a government medical college. With only 56,000 government MBBS seats for over 12 lakh qualifiers, the competition is intense. Students from reserved categories, like SC, ST, and OBC, have lower passing scores but still find it hard to get into top colleges because there aren’t enough seats.
What’s Next: Getting into Medical Colleges
For the top rankers, this is just the start. They’ll now go through counseling, where they can pick colleges for MBBS, BDS, or other courses like Ayurveda or nursing. Mahesh Kumar and Utkarsh Awadhiya might get into top colleges like AIIMS Delhi. Students with scores above 650 have a good chance at government colleges, while those scoring 550–600 may look at state colleges or private ones. Some might even study abroad, though that can be expensive.
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and state groups will handle counseling for the 15% All India seats and 85% state seats. The NTA’s merit list will help decide who gets which college, with rules favoring students who score higher in Biology and Chemistry or make fewer mistakes.
A Bright Future for India’s Doctors
The NEET 2025 toppers are an inspiration for millions of students. Mahesh Kumar’s victory in Rajasthan, Avika Aggarwal’s success as the top girl, and the achievements of students from different states show India’s talent and hard work. Their wins are a big deal, but they also remind us of challenges like limited seats and fairness in the system. As these top students start their journey to become doctors, India looks forward to a healthier future, while hoping for a system that gives every dreamer a fair chance.
Sources: National Testing Agency (NTA) website, The Indian Express, Times of India, and posts on X. All information is based on data available as of June 14, 2025.