Who Is Panshul Bansal? NEET AIR 2 Explains Why He Skipped the CJP Protest

Panshul Bansal, a student from Faridabad, Haryana, secured All India Rank (AIR) 2 in the NEET UG 2026 examination after scoring 715 out of 720 marks. Although he was among the highest scorers in the exam, he was placed second due to the NEET tie-breaking rules. Before his NEET success, Panshul had also scored an impressive 99.5 percentile in JEE Main 2026, highlighting his strong performance in both engineering and medical entrance examinations.

Recently, Panshul made headlines after explaining why he chose not to participate in the CJP (Citizens' Justice Platform) protest that followed the cancellation of the original NEET UG 2026 exam due to the alleged paper leak.

Why Did Panshul Bansal Skip the CJP Protest?

After the NEET paper leak controversy led to the cancellation of the May examination, thousands of aspirants joined protests across the country, including demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

However, Panshul decided to stay away from the protests. Explaining his decision, he said:

"Why protest when I could be studying at home?"

He stated that although he felt disappointed and frustrated by the cancellation, he believed the best way to respond was to focus on preparing for the re-examination rather than spending time protesting.

"Protest Is a Right, Reform Is the Answer"

In a later interview, Panshul clarified that he respects the right of students to protest and understands why many aspirants took to the streets. At the same time, he emphasized that meaningful reforms in the examination system are more important than prolonged demonstrations.

According to Panshul, while protests are a democratic right, improving the examination process through transparency and accountability is the long-term solution.

How Panshul Prepared for NEET UG 2026

Panshul credited his success to disciplined preparation and consistency. Some key aspects of his preparation include:

• Studied for around eight hours daily with a structured routine.
• Focused on building strong concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
• Chose Biology in senior secondary school because he had wanted to become a doctor since Class 8.
• Used the extra preparation time before the re-examination to improve his score from around 706 in the cancelled exam to 715 in the re-test.

Meeting with the Education Minister

Following the declaration of the NEET UG 2026 results, Panshul met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who congratulated him on his outstanding performance. The interaction drew attention because it came amid nationwide discussions on examination reforms after the NEET controversy.

Why His Statement Gained Attention

Panshul's remarks attracted widespread discussion because they offered a different perspective during a period of nationwide protests. While acknowledging the disappointment caused by the paper leak and supporting students' right to demonstrate, he said his personal choice was to devote his energy to preparing for the re-examination instead of joining the protests.

FAQs

Who is Panshul Bansal?

Panshul Bansal is a Faridabad-based student who secured AIR 2 in NEET UG 2026 with 715/720 marks. He also achieved a 99.5 percentile in JEE Main 2026.

Why did Panshul Bansal skip the CJP protest?

He said he chose to stay home and prepare for the re-examination, stating, "Why protest when I could be studying at home?"

Did Panshul oppose the protests?

No. He said students have the right to protest, but he believes that systemic reforms are the best long-term solution to issues in the examination system.

What was Panshul Bansal's NEET UG 2026 score?

He scored 715 out of 720 marks and secured AIR 2 under the NEET UG 2026 tie-breaking rules