Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
The family of Hyderabad-based medical aspirant Juveriya (18), who died by suicide in June this year, has come forward to speak about the circumstances surrounding her death, the pressure faced by medical aspirants, and the need for fundamental changes to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-based medical entrance system.
Juveriya's father Abdul Rehman and her mother Ruksana Begum, along with a group of student activists, journalists, and representatives associated with protests over the NEET paper-leaks, released a report on Wednesday, August 26. They appealed to civil society organisations, student groups, and political parties across the country to stand in solidarity with the family.
According to the statement, Juveriya and her younger sister Aisha had ambitions of pursuing medicine and were academically strong throughout their schooling.
Juveriya scored a 9.8 CGPA in class 10 in 2023 and secured 974 out of 1,000 in her Intermediate Biology, Physics and Chemistry (BiPC) examinations in 2025. In her first NEET attempt that year, she scored 336 marks. Although the score made her eligible for dental and management-quota seats, the family could not afford the high cost of management admissions. She consequently took a gap year to prepare for NEET again.
Her efforts resulted in a significant improvement in 2026, when she scored 580 marks in the May 3 examination. Aisha scored 560 in NEET and secured 984 out of 1,000 in the Intermediate exam, topping her district, according to the report.
Both sisters emerged as toppers at the Sri Chaitanya intermediate college and received merit scholarships of Rs 15,000 each from Life Insurance Corporation and State Bank of India.
However, after the NEET paper leaks were exposed, the results of the May 3 examination were considered invalid. A retest was then scheduled for June 21.
Events leading up to Juveriya’s demise
The report states that Juveriya took a practice test on the morning of June 15 using coaching material brought home by Aisha. She scored 680 marks. Her father, after seeing the result, encouraged her to maintain the performance in the main examination. He left the house around 9 am to drop Aisha at a NEET coaching centre before proceeding to work.
Later, Juveriya reportedly asked her mother to go to a market about 20 minutes away to purchase fruits. When her mother returned in the afternoon, she found the door to their rental home locked from inside and discovered Juveriya had died by suicide.
The family, with assistance from the house owner and neighbours, broke open the door and informed the police, the report said. Juveriya's family said they did not speak publicly in the immediate aftermath of her death because they were struggling to cope with the loss.
The report added that the family was also particularly concerned about Aisha, who had lost not only her elder sister but also her closest study companion. Her parents decided to keep her away from public attention and questioning while she dealt with the trauma.
The family said it was only after allowing Aisha time to grieve and coming to terms with their own loss that they felt ready to document what had happened. Aisha was unable to appear for the re-NEET examination scheduled for June 21, according to the report.
Father calls for abolition of NEET
Juveriya's father has blamed the centralised examination structure for creating an unhealthy and inequitable environment for medical aspirants and has demanded that NEET be scrapped in favour of state-level entrance examinations.
He described the existing system as "predatory" and "destructive" to students' mental well-being, arguing that the case of his daughter and the trauma suffered by Aisha demonstrate the broader pressures placed on aspirants and their families.
The family has called for an immediate overhaul of the medical admission process and urged political parties and civil society groups to take up the issue of examination-related stress, affordability, and student welfare.