Mahesh Kumar, a resident of Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, has created history by securing All India Rank 1 in NEET UG 2025, proving that success doesn’t always require coaching from big cities like Kota. Studying in the small town of Sikar, Mahesh achieved an astounding 99.9999547 percentile, surprising medical aspirants across the country. His success has challenged the long-standing belief that one must go to Kota to crack the NEET exam.
For years, Kota has been considered the hub for NEET preparation, attracting students from every corner of India. Many students spend years there, hoping to achieve success. While some make it to the top, many fall short. However, Mahesh Kumar’s journey from a modest coaching setup in Sikar to NEET UG 2025 Topper is a powerful testament to the idea that hard work, dedication, and self-belief are more important than location.
Kota in fact has been in news for all wrong reasons. The unabated students’ suicides, year after year, has raised many questions on the city and coaching centres here. Also, there have been reports coming in of students’ falling ill and eventually, with the passage of time, Sikar has emerged as another option for students who want to prepare for competitive exams.
NEET UG Result Declared
The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET UG 2025 results on its official website neet.nta.nic.in, putting an end to the anxious wait of lakhs of candidates. Mahesh Kumar’s exceptional result has brought immense pride to Rajasthan and especially to Hanumangarh, showcasing that talent can shine even from small towns.
Rajasthan Shines in NEET 2025
Alongside Mahesh, two other students from Rajasthan have secured places in the All India Top-10, taking the total to three students from the state in the elite list. This marks a proud moment for Rajasthan in the field of medical education.
Cutoff Drops Sharply This Year
Experts noted that the NEET 2025 exam was tougher compared to previous years, leading to a significant drop in cutoff marks. According to education analyst Dev Sharma, candidates scoring 144 marks out of 720 have been declared qualified for counseling. While these marks are not enough to secure a seat in government medical colleges, they may still be eligible for admission in private institutions.
Compared to 2024, the cutoff for General and EWS categories has declined by 18 marks, while the cutoff for OBC, SC, and ST categories has seen a drop of 14 marks. As per NTA data, 12,36,531 candidates have been declared qualified this year.
Admissions for 2.4 Lakh Seats Nationwide
This year, NEET UG 2025 will facilitate admissions to approximately 2.40 lakh seats across India. This includes 1.18 lakh MBBS seats, with the remaining for BDS (Dental), AYUSH courses (like BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, BSMS), and B.Sc Nursing. The counseling process will begin soon, with separate procedures for medical, dental, AYUSH, and nursing institutions.
Mahesh’s Message to Aspirants
Mahesh’s success is not just a personal victory—it’s an inspiration for thousands of aspirants preparing in non-metro towns. He has shown that with focused effort, discipline, and the right mentorship, even students from small towns can achieve big dreams. His journey is a reminder that Kota is not the only path to success—determination is.