‘It’s Tough’: NEET 2025 AIR 1 Mahesh Keswani Underlines Hindi Medium Challenges

Last Updated:June 17, 2025, 14:47 IST

Mahesh Keswani, the NEET UG 2025 topper and a Hindi-medium student, overcame language barriers to secure AIR 1.

NEET Topper Mahesh Keswani: Rajasthan’s Mahesh Keswani has topped the NEET UG 2025 examination, emerging as the All India Rank 1 holder. Mahesh, who studies in a Hindi-medium school, said, ‘When the result was announced, I wasn’t sure if I had secured Rank 1, but I was confident of getting a good rank.

He added that coming from a Hindi-medium background posed its own set of challenges.

“Most of the selected candidates and toppers are from English-medium schools. Naturally, Hindi-medium students face difficulties,” he said. However, Mahesh emphasised that his coaching institute provided full support in overcoming those barriers.

He joined coaching in Class 11 and said he simply followed whatever guidance and study materials were provided.

“I never had to think twice about what to do. Whatever notes, modules, or guidance I got from coaching, I stuck to it consistently,” Mahesh said.

He also credited his teachers for training him in time management and strategy, especially when it came to attempting the biology section in both Hindi and English.

Talking about the NEET paper this year, Mahesh said, “It was an unexpected paper. Naturally, my morale dipped after the exam. But once I calculated my score using the coaching institute’s answer key, I realised no one else had scored as high. That’s when I started hoping for a top rank.”

Despite the uncertainty, Mahesh stayed grounded and focused. Today, that discipline and belief have paid off. For his juniors, Mahesh shared a simple success mantra: trust your mentors and remain consistent in your preparation.

ALSO READ: ‘Wake Up At 5:30 AM, Study, Play, Repeat’: NEET AIR 2 Utkarsh’s Winning Formula

This year, the NEET-UG 2025 exam took place on May 4, and it was attended by more than 22.7 lakh aspirants. The medical exam was administered across 4,750 centres in 557 Indian cities and 14 overseas locations, making it the largest medical entrance examination in the country.

Archit Gupta

Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-…Read More

Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-… Read More

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