Student Ditches Phone for a Year, Scores AIR 5 on NEET Exam

Shravani Kudale put her phone away for almost a year, stepped back from social media, and kept her eyes on one goal: becoming a doctor. That focus just earned her All India Rank 5 on India's toughest medical entrance exam.

The 17-year-old from Baramati, Maharashtra scored 710 out of 720 on the NEET UG 2026 exam, becoming the state topper and the highest-ranked female candidate nationwide. She's now set to pursue MBBS at AIIMS Delhi, one of India's most prestigious medical colleges.

Shravani's journey started at a Zilla Parishad government school in rural Gopalwadi. Both her parents teach at government schools, and her elder sister studies medicine at Government Medical College, Satara. Watching her sister pursue a medical career inspired Shravani to follow the same path.

The year leading up to the exam was intense. She spent seven hours at her coaching institute in Baramati, followed by six more hours of self-study at home. No scrolling, no notifications, no digital distractions.

"I never felt like I was missing out," she told reporters. "It was just one more step toward becoming a doctor."

When the original NEET exam got cancelled due to a paper leak, thousands of students faced uncertainty and stress. Shravani turned to meditation and leaned on her family and teachers to stay grounded during the waiting period.

Her parents cultivated her study habits early. They closely guided her education through primary school, then encouraged independent learning as she grew older. She focused on understanding concepts deeply rather than memorizing facts, a strategy that made complex biology and chemistry feel manageable.

Why This Inspires

Shravani's success shows what's possible when you protect your focus in a world designed to scatter it. She didn't come from an elite English-medium school or a wealthy family with private tutors. She had government school teachers for parents, a sister to look up to, and the discipline to shut out noise when it mattered.

Her advice to future medical aspirants is simple: stay consistent, understand the material instead of cramming, and don't rely on last-minute preparation. There are no shortcuts, she says, but there are smarter paths.

From a small village school to the top five in a nation of millions, Shravani proved that sometimes the old formula still works best: hard work, family support, and knowing when to put the phone down.