“Don't Have Courage To Take Exam Again…” NEET Aspirant Commits Suicide As Crisis Deepens in India’s Exam System

In a heart-wrenching incident that has intensified scrutiny over the conduct of competitive examinations in India, 18-year-old Akanksha Chaturvedi, a promising NEET aspirant from Magania village in Mauganj district of Madhya Pradesh, died by suicide in Nagpur on May 20. A suicide note left behind reportedly captured her despair, stating she no longer had the courage to face the exam again after the NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled amid allegations of a major paper leak.

Akanksha, who had scored an impressive 92% in her Class 12 board examinations, had been preparing rigorously for the medical entrance test with the dream of becoming a doctor. Her family, facing financial hardships, had made significant sacrifices to support her education. Her father, a small farmer who also worked as a cook in Nagpur, borrowed nearly ₹3 lakh through loans and support from relatives to fund her coaching. After appearing for the exam on May 3, Akanksha was optimistic, believing she had performed well enough to secure over 650 marks.

However, reports of widespread irregularities and a suspected paper leak soon emerged, leading to the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelling the examination on May 12. The move affected over 22 lakh aspirants nationwide and shattered Akanksha’s confidence. According to her family, she fell into deep depression, stopped eating properly, and expressed fears that her hard work had been undermined. In her note, she apologised to her parents, writing words that have since echoed across media reports: “Mom and Dad... I no longer have the courage to take the NEET exam again. I am sorry. I have ruined everything.”

The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 stems from allegations that a “guess paper” circulated in advance, particularly from Rajasthan, contained a significant number of questions that matched the actual exam. The case has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), with arrests made in connection to the leak. A re-examination is scheduled for June 21.

This is not the first time NEET has been embroiled in controversy. Similar allegations of paper leaks and irregularities surfaced in 2024 and even earlier in 2021, raising persistent questions about the credibility of the NTA and the examination process. The 2026 episode has coincided with separate issues plaguing the CBSE, including glitches in the on-screen marking system for Class 12 exams, which led to complaints of blurred answer sheets, missing pages, and technical failures affecting lakhs of students.

Amid mounting public anger, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him accountable for the repeated failures in the education system. The group has announced protests, including one planned for June 6 in Delhi, and launched a petition calling for greater accountability and systemic reforms.

Opposition leaders have also criticised the government, arguing that the future of millions of students is being jeopardised by institutional lapses. Student organisations like the NSUI have staged demonstrations, demanding transparency and an overhaul of the testing agencies.

Akanksha’s death is among several reported suicides linked to the intense pressure and uncertainty surrounding the NEET controversy. Her uncle described how the news of the leak devastated her, turning initial joy into profound distress. The incident has sparked wider discussions on the mental health toll of India’s hyper-competitive exam culture, where families often incur heavy debts and students face enormous expectations.

Education experts and mental health advocates are urging immediate interventions, including better counselling support for aspirants and long-term reforms to make entrance examinations more secure and less stressful. The NTA has promised improvements, such as transitioning to computer-based tests in the future, but many view these as insufficient without deeper structural changes.