SRINAGAR: The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET-UG 2026 results on July 16, with Jammu and Kashmir registering one of its strongest performances as students from across the Union Territory secured impressive ranks in one of the country’s most competitive examinations.
Among the successful candidates is Gufran, a resident of Illahi Bagh in Srinagar, who qualified the NEET-UG 2026 examination on his second attempt, transforming last year’s disappointment into this year’s success.
Speaking to Kashmir Life, Gufran attributed his achievement to consistency and disciplined preparation.
“Consistency is the key,” he said, adding that instead of relying on shortcuts, he gradually increased his daily study hours from three to five hours and beyond.
Since childhood, Gufran has lived with several health issues, including weak eyesight and difficulty walking, making his academic journey particularly challenging. He said balancing his health with preparation for one of India’s toughest entrance examinations was difficult, but he remained determined not to let his condition stand in the way of his dream of becoming a doctor.
Gufran completed his early education at Snowland School before moving to Hill Top School. He later pursued his higher secondary education at Government Higher Secondary School, Soura, and prepared for NEET at Rise Institute.
He said his father, an Urdu teacher, had always hoped he would join the medical profession after losing his own father to alleged medical negligence. Having spent much of his childhood visiting hospitals because of his health issues, Gufran said he gradually developed a strong connection with the medical profession.
He credited his parents and teachers for their unwavering support throughout his academic journey.
“My parents have been my biggest support since childhood,” he said. “Every teacher, from the time I first held a pencil, has contributed to shaping my future.”
Despite being a high-performing student during his school years, Gufran admitted that adapting to the highly competitive environment of NEET preparation was emotionally challenging.
“I was a good student until my board examinations, but when I entered the competitive environment, it felt like I had to start from the beginning. It made me depressed,” he said.
Reflecting on his success, Gufran encouraged students who could not qualify this year not to lose hope. He also highlighted the limited number of medical seats, saying many deserving candidates miss out despite working hard.
“I couldn’t qualify last year, but today I have secured my place,” he said. “Believe in your destiny. God has written something better for everyone. If required, take another drop, work harder and come back stronger.”
He also appealed to the government to increase the number of medical seats to provide more opportunities for aspiring doctors.
Nationally, the NTA said more than 11.21 lakh candidates qualified the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination. The results were declared ahead of the counselling and admission process. The re-examination was conducted on June 21 after the original examination scheduled for May 3 was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak.
