Meet NEET UG topper who got 720 marks out of 720, cleared JEE with 99.9 percentile, not only by studying but..., name is...
Meet NEET UG topper who got 720 marks out of 720, cleared JEE with 99.9 percentile, not only by studying but..., name is...
It's not a cup of tea for anyone to crack the toughest entrance examination, especially NEET. Lakhs of students appear for the competitive examinations such as NEET, JEE, CUET to get admission in their desired colleges and institutions. After Class 12th, students who wish to pursue an engineering degree appear for the Joint Entrance Examination. At the same time, students aiming for an MBBS must qualify through the NEET examination. Have you ever heard of anyone who has cleared both JEE and NEET? Of course, yes, there have been a few exceptional students who have cleared both JEE and NEET, India's two toughest entrance exams for engineering and medical studies, respectively.
This Indian genius studied just 4 hours a day, scored a perfect 720 marks out of 720 in the NEET exam, cracked the JEE exam with 99.9 percentile, and he is…
Mrinal Kutteri, who hails from Hyderabad, spent his childhood there along with his parents, younger brother, and grandparents. Though his family hailed from Kerala, it is interesting to note that none of his close relatives are medical professionals.
Mrinal Kutteri developed an interest in biology and chemistry from Classes 8 and 9. His serious preparation for NEET commenced in Class 11 and continued for 3.5 years, with guidance from Aakash Institute. During an interview with India Today in 2021, the NEET topper revealed, 'I wanted to initially become an army doctor and live a life of medicine and adventure, but that gradually turned into an interest mainly in medicine. Also, the pandemic had an impact as it was inspiring to see doctors all across the world on the frontlines.
Mrinal Kutteri has been a passionate gamer since Class 8. Speaking of his educational qualification, Mrinal Kutteri has got 98.16% in his ICSE Class 10 boards and 88.6% in Class 12 boards. Though he wrote some Olympiads, SpellBees, and quizzes in Class 10, he devoted his major attention to NEET preparation from Classes 11-12.
The transition from offline to online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic affected many students' learning experience. But Mrinal enjoyed the change first. Mrinal remembered how, at first, he used to enjoy having much free time during the time of lockdown so that he could give more importance to his hobbies than to his studies. But later his studies went down, and ultimately, he had to experience some time of adjustment before getting back to his routine. Unlike most of the high scorers, he never followed a rigid study schedule. Mrinal admitted that he liked an open style of learning more than sticking to a routine. He felt that spending time creating and attempting to stick to a strict schedule, only to realize it was hard to keep up with, would be a waste of time.
In class 12, he had given KVPY and JEE Main without any other preparation apart from his NEET studies. In spite of that, he scored an impressive 99.9 percentile in his JEE Main exam. Hyderabad's Mrinal Kutteri was the NTA NEET 2021 entrance exam topper with All India Rank 1 and a score of 720 out of 720.
While speaking with India Today(2021), the NEET topper shared, 'So, I went for a free-form and flexible pattern. I set a goal for each day and how I achieved it was up to me. There were many days when I couldn't achieve the goal, but it was not about getting demotivated or discouraged. Being okay with this free form is what I think really helped me.'
Mrinal noted that his study hours fluctuated greatly from day to day. While there were times when he felt extremely productive, there were also days when he couldn't study at all. Despite the variations in his study pattern, Mrinal stated that on average, he studied for around 4 hours each day, and on especially productive days, he managed around 5 hours, in addition to his college duties. But he never went beyond that.
As per a Zee News report, Mrinal successfully balanced academics with leisure. To unwind and stay motivated, he often turned to comedy series on Netflix and Prime Video, using light-hearted entertainment as a way to relieve stress.
Music played a key role in Mrinal's daily routine, with artists like Taylor Swift and Linkin Park topping his playlist. Their songs served as both motivation and a tool to maintain focus during study sessions. A passionate gamer from Class 8, Mrinal had to pull back from playing during Classes 11 and 12 as he concentrated on his studies. But after NEET, he came back to his favourite pastime eagerly, immersing himself in games such as Rainbow Six and Battlefield on his PlayStation 5.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Govt forms empowered panel to set standards, certification for ropeways
NEW DELHI: THE Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has constituted an empowered committee to develop standards and certification systems for ropeways and allied components. The 'national framework for technical codes, certifications, commissioning and safety audits' of ropeways to be devised by the committee aims to provide a structured approach to managing risks, verifying adherence to standards and reglations, and preventing untoward incidents or failures. With the ropeway sector growing rapidly, officials said it is essential to create an institutional framework to coordinate technical standards and collaboration between state and Union territory governments; focusing primarily on ensuring public safety. The panel – Empowered Committee for Ropeways Technical Evaluation, Certification and Safety (EC-Rope-TECS) – will be headed by Director General (Road Development and Special Secretary) and comprise Chief Engineer, MoRTH, head of the department of the bureau of Indian standards dealing with ropeway systems and allied infrastructure, and technical representatives from states or UTs with significant experience in implementation of ropeway systems, as members.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Dealing with entrance exam pressure: Here's a survival guide for you
First attempt myth Prep burnout What toppers do differently Parenting through pressure Alternate roads Resilient systems, not routine You're not alone SHOULD YOU TAKE A DROP YEAR? Every year, over 10 lakh aspirants sit for the UPSC Civil Services exam . Over 2.5 lakh candidates try their luck with the CAT, chasing a few thousand seats at the IIMs. More than 2 lakh doctors compete in NEETPG to get into a handful of desirable MD/MS programs. Add to that state PSCs, GATE, CLAT, CUET, RBI Grade B, IBPS/ SBI, SSC, international exams including GRE/ GMAT/TOEFL and the massive funnel of CUET-UG, JEE, NEET-UG, and it becomes clear. India isn't just a nation of exam-takers, but is in the midst of an exam epidemic. You are competing not just with others, but with time, personal circumstances and limits. Here's your survival guide to this pressure media glorifies that 'first-attempt topper' with stories of those who cleared UPSC at 22 or got into AIIMS right after Class 12. However, behind the scenes, many successful aspirants in exams like NEET-PG , CAT, or GATE, are second- or third-time candidates. They didn't fail; they improved. This cultural obsession with cracking it in 'one clean shot' creates pressure and breeds fear. What's the truth? Persistence matters more than prestige. Equally successful is the candidate who jumps from 94 to 99 percentile in CAT in his second attempt, or one who shifts from a peripheral MD to a prestigious institution in NEET-PG after a drop year. Failure is just another is not a fancy word, but a lived-out reality. Consider GATE aspirants working in jobs, NEET-PG doctor aspirants fresh out of intense internships, or UPSC hopefuls deep into their third year of preparation. You may face chronic fatigue, anxiety, isolation, social comparison and even depression. Watch out for signs of irritability, emotional numbness, fear of falling behind, and an inability to enjoy other experiences. Advanced burnout stages may include social withdrawal and extreme swings between manic work and total shutdown. The first step to recovery is becoming self-aware and acknowledging that burnout isn't a weakness, but a warning. Structure breaks to reconnect with peers. Consider therapy or speak with your mentor. As parents, resist the urge to push when your child needs in UPSC, CAT, and GATE rely on time-tested systems. They analyse every mock test, tagging errors and noting improvement areas. They prioritise deep revision over acquiring new material every week. They create repeatable daily schedules and create peer groups for mutual accountability. They build small rituals like early morning walks, art breaks, or journaling to manage stress. One NEET-PG topper handwrote old question papers every weekend to build memory muscle. A UPSC AIR 12 capped study at seven focused hours a day because intensity matters more than duration. CAT toppers often peak by running three timed mocks a week, reviewing each like a professional athlete analyses game footage. The common secret? No panic. Only parents, the exam season becomes an invisible personal test. Your desire to help often turns into constant monitoring, comparisons with neighbours, worrying about coaching fees or your return on investment. This is counter-productive. Focus on effort, not ranks and scores. Praise consistency and resilience, not perfection. Be concerned about your child's well-being and his schedule. Offer a non-judgmental space where your child can safely vent without fear of conflict. Finally, look for red flags, including change in sleep, mood swings, social withdrawal, or excessive screen use, which could indicate breakdowns. Remind your child that worth is not tied to GATE candidate will not get into an IIT, nor will every NEET aspirant become a surgeon. Many will join public sector jobs, build careers in public policy, consulting, or academia after UPSC, GATE or RBI prep. Others will switch to management via CAT after NEET or engineering, or succeed in startups, freelancing, or content creation using the same self-discipline and focus. The transferable skills developed during preparation— grit, research ability and structured thinking—are solid assets for any career. Success in life is never linear and Plan A can evolve into a solid Plan candidates may differ in technique, but all have built resilient systems. Think beyond total hours and consider sustainability. Choose to sleep for a minimum of seven hours over all-night study marathons. Study in 90-minute focused periods, followed by a 10-15-minute break. Walk, cycle or stretch for at least 20 minutes each day to reset your brain. Maintain a digital boundary by either switching off devices or using apps like Forest or StayFocusd. Finally, build your identity beyond your exam and recognise that you are not just a 'future IAS officer' or 'future doctor'. Tying your self-image to a test result is dangerous and you're reading this and nodding in exhaustion, know this—you're not weak. You're part of a system that tests more than academic skills. It tests patience, perspective, and mental strength. You're not alone. Over 35 lakh aspirants across UPSC, NEET, CAT and other exams feel the same fear, the same hope. What matters is how you prepare, not just for the exam, but for life beyond year, thousands of aspirants wonder whether they should take a drop year and retake the exams. Question yourself: Are you taking a drop year because you know you can do better, or due to peer pressure, societal prestige, or sunk costs? An honest internal reason fuels your motivation across the long prep you fail in your attempt because of less effort or motivation, poor conceptual understanding, time mismanagement, or other distractions? A drop year makes sense only if you know why you failed and how to fix it. Otherwise, it is another 12 months down the your past strategies. Start with streamlining your material, scheduling mock tests, and planning revision cycles. Add buffer months before the exam dates. Whether you want to move from CAT 92 to 98 percentile or crack UPSC Mains, your planning is everything.A drop year is not free. Can you afford coaching, housing, or living expenses? Are you emotionally prepared to go through another high-pressure cycle? Discuss frankly with family and mentors to gauge their support, both financially and you create a parallel journey—through freelancing, part-time work, internships, or other certifications? This journey will hold up your confidence, build your CV, and generate future career alternatives. Make your drop year an investment, not a writer is a UPSC (NDA) AIR 1, a two-time CAT 100 percentiler and a mentor to competitive exam aspirants.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Dealing with entrance exam pressure: Here's a survival guide for you
Getty Images Over 2.5 lakh candidates try their luck with the CAT, chasing a few thousand seats at the IIMs. Every year, over 10 lakh aspirants sit for the UPSC Civil Services exam. Over 2.5 lakh candidates try their luck with the CAT, chasing a few thousand seats at the IIMs. More than 2 lakh doctors compete in NEETPG to get into a handful of desirable MD/MS programs. Add to that state PSCs, GATE, CLAT, CUET, RBI Grade B, IBPS/ SBI, SSC, international exams including GRE/ GMAT/TOEFL and the massive funnel of CUET-UG, JEE, NEET-UG, and it becomes clear. India isn't just a nation of exam-takers, but is in the midst of an exam epidemic. You are competing not just with others, but with time, personal circumstances and limits. Here's your survival guide to this pressure cooker. Popular media glorifies that 'first-attempt topper' with stories of those who cleared UPSC at 22 or got into AIIMS right after Class 12. However, behind the scenes, many successful aspirants in exams like NEET-PG, CAT, or GATE, are second- or third-time candidates. They didn't fail; they improved. This cultural obsession with cracking it in 'one clean shot' creates pressure and breeds fear. What's the truth? Persistence matters more than prestige. Equally successful is the candidate who jumps from 94 to 99 percentile in CAT in his second attempt, or one who shifts from a peripheral MD to a prestigious institution in NEET-PG after a drop year. Failure is just another hurdle. Prep burnout Burnout is not a fancy word, but a lived-out reality. Consider GATE aspirants working in jobs, NEET-PG doctor aspirants fresh out of intense internships, or UPSC hopefuls deep into their third year of preparation. You may face chronic fatigue, anxiety, isolation, social comparison and even depression. Watch out for signs of irritability, emotional numbness, fear of falling behind, and an inability to enjoy other experiences. Advanced burnout stages may include social withdrawal and extreme swings between manic work and total shutdown. The first step to recovery is becoming self-aware and acknowledging that burnout isn't a weakness, but a warning. Structure breaks to reconnect with peers. Consider therapy or speak with your mentor. As parents, resist the urge to push when your child needs recovery. What toppers do differently Toppers in UPSC, CAT, and GATE rely on time-tested systems. They analyse every mock test, tagging errors and noting improvement areas. They prioritise deep revision over acquiring new material every week. They create repeatable daily schedules and create peer groups for mutual accountability. They build small rituals like early morning walks, art breaks, or journaling to manage stress. One NEET-PG topper handwrote old question papers every weekend to build memory muscle. A UPSC AIR 12 capped study at seven focused hours a day because intensity matters more than duration. CAT toppers often peak by running three timed mocks a week, reviewing each like a professional athlete analyses game footage. The common secret? No panic. Only habits. Parenting through pressure For parents, the exam season becomes an invisible personal test. Your desire to help often turns into constant monitoring, comparisons with neighbours, worrying about coaching fees or your return on investment. This is counter-productive. Focus on effort, not ranks and scores. Praise consistency and resilience, not perfection. Be concerned about your child's well-being and his schedule. Offer a non-judgmental space where your child can safely vent without fear of conflict. Finally, look for red flags, including change in sleep, mood swings, social withdrawal, or excessive screen use, which could indicate breakdowns. Remind your child that worth is not tied to rank. Alternate roads Every GATE candidate will not get into an IIT, nor will every NEET aspirant become a surgeon. Many will join public sector jobs, build careers in public policy, consulting, or academia after UPSC, GATE or RBI prep. Others will switch to management via CAT after NEET or engineering, or succeed in startups, freelancing, or content creation using the same self-discipline and focus. The transferable skills developed during preparation— grit, research ability and structured thinking—are solid assets for any career. Success in life is never linear and Plan A can evolve into a solid Plan B. Resilient systems, not routine Successful candidates may differ in technique, but all have built resilient systems. Think beyond total hours and consider sustainability. Choose to sleep for a minimum of seven hours over all-night study marathons. Study in 90-minute focused periods, followed by a 10-15-minute break. Walk, cycle or stretch for at least 20 minutes each day to reset your brain. Maintain a digital boundary by either switching off devices or using apps like Forest or StayFocusd. Finally, build your identity beyond your exam and recognise that you are not just a 'future IAS officer' or 'future doctor'. Tying your self-image to a test result is dangerous and unnecessary. You're not alone If you're reading this and nodding in exhaustion, know this—you're not weak. You're part of a system that tests more than academic skills. It tests patience, perspective, and mental strength. You're not alone. Over 35 lakh aspirants across UPSC, NEET, CAT and other exams feel the same fear, the same hope. What matters is how you prepare, not just for the exam, but for life beyond it. 1. CHECK 'WHY'Every year, thousands of aspirants wonder whether they should take a drop year and retake the exams. Question yourself: Are you taking a drop year because you know you can do better, or due to peer pressure, societal prestige, or sunk costs? An honest internal reason fuels your motivation across the long prep cycle. 2. REFLECT ON MISTAKES Did you fail in your attempt because of less effort or motivation, poor conceptual understanding, time mismanagement, or other distractions? A drop year makes sense only if you know why you failed and how to fix it. Otherwise, it is another 12 months down the drain. 3. PLAN THE YEAR Avoid your past strategies. Start with streamlining your material, scheduling mock tests, and planning revision cycles. Add buffer months before the exam dates. Whether you want to move from CAT 92 to 98 percentile or crack UPSC Mains, your planning is everything. TIME, MONEY AND EMOTION A drop year is not free. Can you afford coaching, housing, or living expenses? Are you emotionally prepared to go through another high-pressure cycle? Discuss frankly with family and mentors to gauge their support, both financially and psychologically. 5.A LIFE OUTSIDE Can you create a parallel journey—through freelancing, part-time work, internships, or other certifications? This journey will hold up your confidence, build your CV, and generate future career alternatives. Make your drop year an investment, not a gamble. The writer is a UPSC (NDA) AIR 1, a two-time CAT 100 percentiler and a mentor to competitive exam aspirants. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of No trending terms available.
