A 17-year-old NEET-UG aspirant died after falling from the sixth floor of a residential building in Ahmedabad's New Ranip area in the early hours of Thursday, 18 June, just three days before the rescheduled NEET-UG retest on 21 June. Sabarmati Police confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the death.

What Happened

The teenager, who was preparing for the national medical entrance examination, fell from the balcony area of a flat in Aristo Anandam Apartments in the New Ranip locality. Police received information about the incident at approximately 4.30 am and arrived at the scene to begin their inquiry.

An accidental death case has been registered under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita pending further investigation. The body was sent for post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.

What Police Said

Sabarmati Police Inspector Yuvrajsinh Vaghela said the fall occurred between 2 and 3 am. 'The incident occurred around 2-3 a.m. We received the information around 4.30 a.m. No suicide note has been recovered as of now. The cause cannot be ascertained at present, including whether the student was under stress. Investigation is going on,' he said.

Investigators are speaking with family members, friends, and others known to the student. Police have explicitly stated they have not linked the death to the upcoming examination, and no official conclusion has been drawn regarding the reason behind the incident.

Context: NEET-UG Retest and Student Pressure

The death comes amid heightened anxiety surrounding the rescheduled National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate), one of India's largest competitive examinations for admission to medical colleges. The National Testing Agency (NTA) had cancelled the original NEET-UG 2026 examination — conducted on 3 May — following allegations of a paper leak and procedural irregularities. The retest was subsequently approved by the Central government.

More than 22 lakh candidates were affected by the cancellation, triggering widespread uncertainty among students and families across the country. The disruption has added to the already intense pressure that NEET aspirants face in the months leading up to the examination.

Security Measures for June 21 Retest

Authorities have significantly stepped up preparations for the 21 June retest. The Indian Air Force has assisted in transporting question papers to multiple locations nationwide. The NTA has launched training programmes for examination staff and issued advisories cautioning students against misinformation and fake paper-leak claims circulating online.

The Supreme Court has been informed that strengthened safeguards are in place to protect the integrity of the re-examination. Additional security protocols have been introduced at examination centres across the country.

Investigation Ongoing

Sabarmati Police have made clear that the cause of the student's death remains undetermined and that no link to examination stress has been established. As the probe continues, authorities are expected to submit findings following the post-mortem report and witness statements.