Patna: National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the results of the NEET UG 2026 examination, with Bihar recording one of its strongest performances in recent years. Ayush Bhalotia from Warisaliganj in Nawada district emerged as the state’s highest-ranked candidate after securing All India Rank (AIR) 4 with 710 marks.
Riya Ranjan secured AIR 6, while Ravikant Dighwar and Aditya Kumar achieved AIR 55 and AIR 73, respectively. All four Bihar candidates scored above 690 marks and earned places among the country’s top 138 candidates.
Bihar Students Shine in National Merit List
Bihar’s performance stood out in this year’s examination, with four students featuring among the top 138 candidates nationwide. Ayush Bhalotia led the state’s contingent, followed closely by Riya Ranjan, Ravikant Dighwar and Aditya Kumar.
Nationally, Aryan Gupta of Punjab and Panshul Bansal of Haryana jointly topped the examination with 715 marks. No candidate secured a perfect score of 720 this year.
Ayush Credits Self-Study and Discipline
Ayush attributed his success to a disciplined study routine that balanced classroom learning with independent preparation.
“I focused on 5 to 7 hours of self-study and 6 hours of regular classes daily. This achievement was made possible through consistent hard work and the right strategy,” he said.
Ayush, the younger son of businessman Sunil Bhalotia, lives in the Kamaliya Mill area of Warisaliganj. His result made him Bihar’s highest scorer and the fourth-ranked candidate nationally.
Sharing more about his preparation, Ayush said he devoted five to seven hours daily to self-study alongside around six hours of coaching classes. Although he used his mobile phone for two to four hours a day, he limited its use to educational purposes and communicating with fellow students through YouTube, WhatsApp and Telegram. He said he stayed away from Instagram and other social media platforms to maintain focus on his studies.
Ayush completed his schooling at Vivekananda School in Nawada. A football enthusiast during his school years, he said he gave up the sport after Class 10 to concentrate on competitive examinations. He also credited his family’s academic environment for his achievement, noting that his elder brother is an IIT graduate currently working as an engineer abroad and that his parents provided constant support throughout his preparation.
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His achievement has been widely celebrated in Nawada district, with family members, relatives and local residents describing it as an inspiration for aspiring medical students.
Girls Lead Among Top Scorers
According to available data, girls accounted for nearly 58 per cent of the 138 candidates who scored above 690 marks, while boys made up the remaining 42 per cent.
The cut-off also increased this year. For the General and EWS categories, it rose from 144 to 213, while for OBC and SC/ST categories, it increased from 113 to 177.
Fewer Students Cross 700 Marks
Only 19 candidates scored above 700 marks in NEET UG 2026, considerably fewer than in previous years. No candidate achieved the maximum possible score of 720.
Educationist said the results suggest the examination was more challenging than in recent years.
He also noted that the top 138 candidates came from 66 cities across the country, reflecting the growing success of students from smaller towns and non-metropolitan regions. He said Bihar’s performance illustrated this broader trend, while attributing the higher cut-offs to changes in the examination pattern.
Counselling Process to Begin
With the results now declared, the counselling process for admissions to MBBS, BDS and other medical and paramedical courses will begin. Candidates will participate in counselling under both the All India Quota and State Quota based on their ranks and submit preferences for medical colleges.
The admission process for successful candidates from Bihar to government and private medical colleges is also expected to commence shortly.
Chief Minister Congratulates Ayush
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary congratulated Ayush Bhalotia in a post on X, describing his achievement as a reflection of hard work, discipline and dedication.
He expressed confidence that Ayush would contribute to the country and society through the medical profession and wished him success in his future career.
नीट-यूजी परीक्षा में बिहार के प्रतिभाशाली छात्र आयुष भालोटिया को राज्य में शीर्ष स्थान तथा अखिल भारतीय रैंक (AIR-4) प्राप्त करने पर हार्दिक बधाई।
आपकी यह उपलब्धि अथक परिश्रम, अनुशासन, समर्पण और उत्कृष्टता के प्रति आपकी प्रतिबद्धता का प्रेरणादायक उदाहरण है। मुझे विश्वास है कि आप… pic.twitter.com/ZKKPjaUgDj
— Samrat Choudhary (@samrat4bjp) July 17, 2026
