A NEET-UG aspirant identified as Renu allegedly died by suicide at her residence in the Palam area of South-West Delhi on the evening of 13 June, just days before the re-examination scheduled for 21 June. The incident has intensified concern over the mental health of students caught in the prolonged uncertainty following the NEET-UG controversy and allegations of paper leaks.

What Happened in Delhi

According to police, Renu's father had left for his in-laws' residence in connection with a bereavement when the incident occurred, leaving her alone at home. She allegedly died by hanging. A suicide note recovered from the scene revealed acute emotional distress — she apologised to her parents and wrote that she had been unable to fulfil their aspirations. The family is originally from Rajasthan.

Renu had appeared for the NEET-UG examination on 3 May and had reportedly been suffering from depression after the exam was cancelled amid the paper-leak controversy.

Two More Deaths Linked to NEET Pressure

The Delhi case is not isolated. Earlier this week, a 22-year-old aspirant identified as Umesh Mali, a native of Nawalgarh in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, died by suicide in Sikar district while preparing for his third attempt at the examination. He had been residing in the Udyog Nagar police station area of Sikar with his mother, elder sister, and younger brother. His father works as a tile contractor in Mumbai. According to police, this was the second such death in Sikar linked to NEET pressure.

In a separate incident reported on Tuesday, a 23-year-old woman in Dehradun allegedly ended her life after reportedly struggling to clear the examination over an extended period. She left behind a note addressed to her parents reading, 'Mummy-Papa, I love you.' Preliminary findings by investigators suggest she had been preparing for NEET for a long time with the aspiration of pursuing a career in medicine.

NTA Assures Secure Re-Examination

National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Abhishek Singh on Tuesday addressed aspirants directly through a video message, assuring them that the re-examination on 21 June would be conducted in a secure and error-free manner. He explicitly stated there was 'no leaked paper for the re-exam' and warned candidates against fraudsters operating through Telegram channels who are allegedly selling fake 'leaked papers' for hefty sums.

Singh also noted that the temporary suspension of the Telegram application until 22 June was aimed at curbing misinformation and misleading claims related to the examination.

A Mental Health Crisis in Plain Sight

The deaths come amid growing alarm over the psychological toll of India's hyper-competitive medical entrance system. The NEET-UG controversy — centred on allegations of paper leaks following the 3 May examination — has left lakhs of students in prolonged limbo, compounding exam stress with institutional uncertainty. Mental health experts and student advocates have repeatedly flagged the need for structured counselling support during such disruptions, a gap that remains largely unaddressed.

With the re-examination now days away, authorities face pressure not only to ensure logistical integrity but also to visibly acknowledge the human cost of the crisis.