NEET cancellation stress: Rajasthan aspirant Pradeep Mahich found dead in Sikar
Synopsis
A three-year NEET aspirant who reportedly expected to score over 650 marks died by alleged suicide in Sikar hours after the NEET-UG 2026 examination was cancelled. His family — dependent on farming and daily wages — had staked everything on his success. The death has put a human face on the national crisis triggered by the abrupt cancellation, and renewed urgent calls for student mental health support.
Key Takeaways
Pradeep Mahich , a NEET-UG 2026 aspirant from Jhunjhunu district , was found dead in his rented room in Sikar, Rajasthan on 15 May .
He had been preparing for NEET in Sikar for three years and was reportedly expecting to score over 650 marks .
Family members say he became severely distressed after the NEET-UG examination was cancelled .
His father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal , said Pradeep was the only son among four children and the family's sole hope.
The Udyog Nagar Police have registered a case and launched an investigation.
The incident has triggered grief and anger in Sikar , one of India's leading coaching destinations.
A NEET-UG 2026 aspirant, identified as Pradeep Mahich, was found dead in his rented room in the Jaldhari Nagar area of Piprali Road, Sikar, on Friday, 15 May, allegedly by suicide. Family members say he had been under severe mental stress ever since the NEET-UG examination was cancelled, and had grown increasingly withdrawn in the days leading up to his death. The incident has deepened the anguish already gripping India's coaching cities over the abrupt cancellation.
What Happened
Pradeep, a resident of Kanika Ki Dhani village in the Gudha Gorji area of Jhunjhunu district, had been preparing for NEET in Sikar for the past three years. He was reportedly expecting to score over 650 marks in NEET-UG 2026 and believed he had a strong chance of securing a seat in a government medical college this year.
According to police and family members, he was found hanging from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf in his fourth-floor rented tin-shed room. His elder sister, who was in the bathroom at the time, discovered him and immediately cut the scarf with scissors before alerting the landlord and police. He was rushed to SK Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His younger sister was at coaching classes when the incident occurred.
Family's Grief and Financial Background
Pradeep's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, said his son was the only boy among four children, and that the family had placed all its hopes on him. The family, which survives on farming and daily wage labour, is described by relatives as being in extremely difficult financial circumstances.
Outside the mortuary at SK Hospital, large numbers of grieving family members and community residents gathered. Relatives said Pradeep had become noticeably withdrawn and distressed in recent days following the exam cancellation. The family has raised serious questions about the government's examination management system.
Anger in Sikar's Coaching Hub
Sikar is one of India's prominent coaching destinations, drawing students from across the country who prepare for competitive examinations. The incident has triggered widespread grief and anger in the city. This comes amid a broader national crisis of confidence in the NEET-UG process, with students and parents demanding accountability from examination authorities.
Notably, mental health advocates have long flagged the extreme psychological pressure faced by NEET aspirants, many of whom spend multiple years and significant family resources preparing for the examination. Any abrupt disruption to the exam cycle can have catastrophic consequences for students already under severe stress.
Police Action
The Udyog Nagar Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation based on the family's report. The circumstances of the death are being examined, though police and family accounts align on the sequence of events. No suicide note has been reported by authorities.
As the investigation continues, the tragedy has intensified calls for both urgent mental health support for NEET aspirants and a transparent, time-bound resolution to the examination cancellation crisis.
Point of View
Leaving hundreds of thousands of aspirants — many from economically precarious families like Pradeep Mahich's — in a vacuum. Examination authorities have a duty of care that extends beyond logistics. The absence of any official mental health outreach following the cancellation is a failure that deserves as much scrutiny as the cancellation itself. Coaching cities like Sikar are pressure cookers; when the release valve is suddenly sealed, the consequences are predictable and preventable.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Pradeep Mahich?
Pradeep Mahich was a NEET-UG aspirant from Kanika Ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, who had been preparing for the medical entrance examination in Sikar for three years. He was reportedly expecting to score over 650 marks in NEET-UG 2026 and had hoped to secure a government medical college seat.
Why did the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation affect students so severely?
The NEET-UG 2026 cancellation left aspirants without a clear rescheduling date, upending years of preparation and family investment. For students like Pradeep, who had spent three years preparing and came from financially strained backgrounds, the cancellation effectively dismantled a carefully planned path to a medical career, causing acute psychological distress.
What action has the police taken?
The Udyog Nagar Police in Sikar have registered a case and initiated an investigation based on a report filed by the family. No suicide note has been reported by authorities, and the circumstances are being examined.
Who is affected by the NEET-UG cancellation?
Hundreds of thousands of medical aspirants across India are affected, particularly those who had invested multiple years and significant financial resources in preparation. Students from economically weaker backgrounds, who cannot easily afford to repeat a full preparation cycle, face the most severe consequences.
Where can NEET aspirants seek mental health support?
Students under stress can contact iCall at 9152987821 or Vandrevala Foundation's 24/7 helpline at 1860-2662-345. The government's NIMHANS helpline is also available at 080-46110007. If you or someone you know is in distress, please reach out immediately.
