NEET UG 2026 AIR 20 holder Vaishnavi Das has revealed the preparation habits that helped her secure a score of 700 out of 720 in the medical entrance examination. In an interview with news agency ANI, Vaishnavi said she deactivated Instagram when she entered Class 11 as she considered it a distraction during her NEET preparation.The Hyderabad-based aspirant said that consistency, regular mock tests, NCERT revision and a positive mindset were among the key factors behind her performance. Sharing advice for future NEET candidates, she said students should focus on completing their planned targets instead of only counting the number of hours they study.• NEET UG 2026 cutoff rises sharply, students fear government medical seats may slip away despite 600 marks
‘I deactivated Instagram in Class 11 because it was a distraction’
Recalling the moment she checked her NEET UG 2026 result, Vaishnavi said she was travelling with her parents during 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 Odia, we had gone to see the celebrations. We had just passed the temple when the results were released,” she told ANI.She said she immediately checked her result and informed her parents after seeing her rank. “I screamed ‘20’ to my parents. We stopped the car on the side of the road and just sat there. I cried, and the entire journey felt unbelievable. It is still sinking in,” she said.• Rickshaw puller’s grandson becomes first from Bihar village to crack NEET UG, advises consistency to aspirantsTalking about avoiding distractions during preparation, Vaishnavi said she deactivated Instagram after entering Class 11. “It was more of a distraction, nothing else,” she said, advising aspirants to identify activities that affect their focus and manage them effectively.
Vaishnavi’s NEET preparation strategy: Mock tests, schedules and consistency
Vaishnavi said her medical entrance exam preparation began in Class 8 when she decided to seriously pursue medicine. She later joined Chaitanya’s MPL programme for medical aspirants and continued her preparation with the institute until Class 12.Speaking about her mock test routine, she said full-syllabus tests were gradually increased during the preparation phase. “We started with one full-syllabus mock test a day around December and slowly built it up. Towards the end, we were attempting around two mock tests every day,” she said.According to Vaishnavi, the structured test practice helped her deal with the pressure associated with NEET. She said that while the exam can feel mentally challenging, becoming more prepared and enjoying the learning process can help reduce fear.
‘I never counted study hours; I focused on completing my daily targets’
Sharing her time management approach, Vaishnavi said she did not measure her preparation based on the number of hours spent studying.“I personally never counted the hours. For me, it was about creating a schedule every week for the entire week and completing what was planned for each day,” she said.She added that finishing the assigned tasks was her priority, regardless of the time it took. “If it is 12 am or 1 am, it does not really matter. The main thing is completing the tasks that I had decided to finish for the day,” she said.Advising NEET aspirants, Vaishnavi said students should not lose hope during the long preparation journey. “Two years is not a short time, but keep practising. Believe in yourself and the books you have around you. Keep revising your NCERTs — they are the gold standard,” she said.She also stressed the importance of maintaining health during preparation. “Stay as positive as you can because it requires a lot of positivity, and do not neglect your health. Sleep is just as important,” she added.
