NEET UG 2026 AIR 20 topper Vaishnavi Das has revealed what helped him score 700 out of 720 in the clinical examination. In an interview with news agency ANI, Vaishnavi said she stopped Instagram when she entered class 11 as she found it a distraction during NEET preparation.The aspirant from Hyderabad said that consistency, regular mock tests, NCERT revision and positive attitude were some of the factors that made him successful. Sharing advice to future NEET aspirants, he said students should focus on achieving the goals they have set instead of counting the hours they study.• NEET UG 2026 drop-off soars, students fear govt seats may drop by even 600
‘I banned Instagram in Class 11 because it was distracting’
Recalling the time when he checked his NEET UG 2026 results, Vaishnavi said he was traveling with his parents during the Rath Yatra celebrations when the results were announced.“I was not at home when the results came out. I was in the car with my parents as it was Rath Yatra, and since I am an Odia, we had gone to see the festivities. We were just passing the temple when the results were released,” he told ANI.He said he immediately saw the results and informed his parents after seeing his status. “I yelled ’20’ to my parents. We stopped the car on the side of the road and just sat there. I cried, and the whole journey was unbelievable. It’s still sinking in,” she said.• Rickshaw puller’s grandson becomes first from Bihar village to crack NEET UG, advises consistency to aspirants.As for avoiding distractions during preparation, Vaishnavi said that he banned Instagram when he entered the 11th grade. “It was a distraction, nothing else,” he said, advising the aspirants to identify what influences their thoughts and manage them better.
Vaishnavi’s preparation method for NEET: Exam cheats, schedules and consistency
Vaishnavi said medical entrance exam The preparation started in Class 8 when he decided to pursue a doctorate. He later joined Chaitanya’s MPL program for candidates and continued his preparation with the school till Class 12.Talking about his exam practice, he said the full syllabus exam gradually increased during the preparation period. “We started with one syllabus test every day around December and gradually built it up. Towards the end, we were doing two tests every day,” he said.According to Vaishnavi, the standardized test helped him overcome the challenges associated with NEET. He said that although the test can be mentally difficult, good preparation and enjoyment of studying can help reduce the fear.
‘I have never counted the time to study; I focused on achieving my daily goals’
Sharing his time management strategy, Vaishnavi said that he did not measure his preparation based on the number of hours he studied.“I personally don’t count hours. For me, it was making a schedule every week for the whole week and accomplishing what was planned every day,” he said.He also said that completing the tasks assigned to him was the most important thing for him, regardless of the time. “If it’s 12 am or 1 am, it doesn’t matter. The main thing is to complete the tasks that I set out to complete for the day,” he said.Advising NEET aspirants, Vaishnavi said students should not lose hope in the long journey of preparation. “Two years is not a short time, but keep doing it. Trust yourself and the books you have around you. Keep revising your NCERTs – that’s the gold standard,” he said.He also emphasized the importance of maintaining good health in preparation. “Be as positive as you can because it requires you to have a lot of positivity, and don’t neglect your health. Sleep is very important,” he added.