NEET: Madhubani boy secures AIR 19

PATNA: Madhubani boy Zeya Belal has made the state proud by securing 19th rank in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-2021 for admission to undergraduate medical courses. The results of NEET-2021 were announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Monday night.
Belal secured 715 marks out of 720. He scored 99.9 percentile in physics and chemistry and 99.4 in biology (botany and zoology).Belal had also cracked the Joint Entrance Examination-Advanced in his very first attempt and got admission in Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. However, he wishes to take admission at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Delhi.
“I appeared for the JEE as well because mathematics was my optional subject in Intermediate. My hard work enabled me to crack both the exams in first attempt. However, I would have secured more marks in biology. I had never followed any fixed routine while preparing for JEE and NEET,” Belal said.
The 17-year-old boy, a native of Pandaul block in Madhubani district, said he started preparing for competitive examinations soon after completing his matriculation from Pandaul High School in 2019. “After Class X, I moved to Patna for higher secondary and medical coaching classes. I took admission in Patna Muslim School and secured 90% in Intermediate this year. I also joined a coaching institution in Patna for JEE and NEET preparations,” he said.
Born to Ruhi Khatoon, a homemaker, Belal wants to become a cardiologist. “I want to give a good life to my mother as she struggled a lot to raise me and my brothers after my father passed away in 2010,” he said.
Darsh Kaustubh of Patna has secured the 50th rank by scoring 706 out of 720 marks in NEET. Darsh has secured 99.9964 percentile. Raman Balaji from Patna has secured AIR 103 by securing 705 marks. Shahla Tasnim has secured fifth rank in the reserved category of person with disabilities (PwD) for women candidates.