NEET aspirant Anshika Pandey, 21, found dead in Delhi's Adarsh Nagar
Synopsis
Days after appearing in NEET UG and hours after the NTA ordered a re-examination of her paper, 21-year-old Anshika Pandey was found dead in Delhi's Adarsh Nagar — a suspected suicide her family links to mounting exam stress. The case resurfaces a pattern of psychological distress among medical entrance aspirants that India's mental health infrastructure is still struggling to address.
Key Takeaways
Anshika Pandey , 21 , was found dead in a suspected suicide by hanging at her home in Adarsh Nagar , north Delhi .
She had appeared in the NEET UG exam on 3 May and was preparing for her fourth attempt .
The NTA had ordered a re-examination of the paper she sat a day before her death was discovered.
The family attempted to cremate the body without reporting the death to police; cremation ground staff alerted authorities.
No suicide note was found; police are questioning the family and the post-mortem is underway.
Mental health helpline Tele MANAS is available at 14416 / 18008914416 (toll-free, 24x7).
A 21-year-old NEET aspirant, Anshika Pandey, was found dead in a suspected case of suicide by hanging at her residence in Adarsh Nagar, north Delhi, police confirmed. The incident came within days of her appearing in the NEET UG examination on 3 May, and has drawn fresh attention to the mental health pressures faced by medical entrance aspirants across India.
What Happened
According to police, Anshika's family attempted to conduct her last rites without informing law enforcement, transporting her body from their home in the Lal Bagh area near Azadpur to a crematorium in Keval Park on Thursday. Staff at the cremation ground grew suspicious of the hurried proceedings and alerted the police, who rushed to the spot and took custody of the body. The body was subsequently sent for post-mortem examination.
No suicide note was recovered from the scene. The family is currently being questioned by police as part of the ongoing investigation, and the exact circumstances of her death are yet to be formally established.
Family Cites Exam Stress and Cancellation Pressure
Anshika's maternal uncle, Muni Ji Pandey, said: '...The paper got cancelled. Everyone studies for their future. Her exam had gone well, and she was good in studies.' The family claimed she had been under significant stress — not only from the academic rigour of preparing for her fourth attempt at NEET UG, but also from the anxiety triggered by the National Testing Agency's (NTA) announcement of a re-examination for the paper in which she had appeared, issued a day before her death was discovered.
This comes amid a broader national conversation about the psychological toll of high-stakes competitive examinations on young aspirants. Anshika's case is one of several reported in recent years where NEET preparation pressure has been cited by families as a contributing factor.
NTA Re-Exam Order and Its Impact
The National Testing Agency had ordered a re-examination of the NEET UG paper on the day preceding the discovery of Anshika's death. For candidates who had invested years of preparation — Anshika was on her fourth attempt — such last-minute disruptions reportedly compound an already intense psychological burden.
Notably, the NEET UG examination has faced repeated controversies over alleged irregularities and paper cancellations in recent cycles, leaving lakhs of aspirants in prolonged uncertainty about their futures in medicine.
Mental Health Support Resources
The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the National Tele Mental Health Programme on 10 October 2022, aimed at improving access to quality mental health counselling nationwide. According to official data, more than 29.82 lakh calls have been handled by 53 Tele MANAS Cells as of 27 November 2025. Helpline numbers: 14416 and 18008914416.
The Central government also implements the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), with the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) component sanctioned for 767 districts, supported through the National Health Mission.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to Tele MANAS at 14416 or 18008914416 (toll-free, 24x7).
Point of View
Who have often sacrificed years and family resources on a single high-stakes gateway. The government's Tele MANAS programme, with nearly 30 lakh calls handled, signals demand — but awareness among exam-stressed youth remains limited. Until the system addresses both the structural unpredictability of NEET and the absence of embedded mental health support for aspirants, cases like Anshika's will keep repeating.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anshika Pandey and what happened to her?
Anshika Pandey was a 21-year-old NEET UG aspirant from the Lal Bagh area of north Delhi who was found dead in a suspected suicide by hanging at her home in Adarsh Nagar. The incident came within days of her appearing in the NEET UG exam on 3 May 2025.
Why did Anshika Pandey's family not report her death to police?
According to police, the family attempted to conduct her last rites hurriedly without informing law enforcement, transporting the body directly to a crematorium in Keval Park. Staff at the cremation ground grew suspicious and alerted the police, who took custody of the body. The family is currently being questioned.
What role did the NEET re-exam order play in this case?
The National Testing Agency had ordered a re-examination of the NEET UG paper in which Anshika had appeared, announced a day before her death was discovered. Her family claimed she was already under stress from the exam cancellation and years of academic pressure, having been on her fourth attempt.
What mental health resources are available for students under exam stress?
The government's Tele MANAS helpline — reachable at 14416 or 18008914416 (toll-free, 24x7) — provides free mental health counselling. Over 29.82 lakh calls have been handled by 53 Tele MANAS Cells as of November 2025. The National Mental Health Programme also operates through District Mental Health Programmes in 767 districts.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Police have taken custody of the body and sent it for post-mortem examination. No suicide note was recovered. The family is being questioned and the exact cause of death is yet to be formally established by authorities.
