NEET 2026 AIR 23 Manasvi Kulshrestha Interview: Preparation Strategy, Study Plan & Success Tips

NEET 2026 AIR 23 Topper Interview

Careers360: Congratulations on your excellent performance. Could you briefly introduce yourself?

Manasvi Kulshrestha: Thank you. I am Manasvi Kulshrestha. I completed my Class 12 from Pragati Public School, Delhi, while I studied Class 10 at DAV School. I joined Aakash Institute in Class 11 to prepare for NEET. I scored 98.4% in Class 10 and 97.6% in Class 12.

Careers360: What inspired you to pursue medicine?

Manasvi: My grandfather inspired me the most. Since childhood, I have admired how doctors make a real difference in people's lives. That motivated me to choose medicine as my career.

Careers360: When did your NEET preparation begin?

Manasvi: My dedicated preparation started in Class 11. Although I studied beyond my syllabus during Classes 9 and 10, my focused NEET 2026 journey began in higher secondary school.

Careers360: What was your daily study schedule?

Manasvi: My schedule varied depending on coaching classes and tests. On regular days, I woke up around 8 AM because I studied late at night. After coaching, I devoted around 6 to 7 hours to self-study.

Careers360: Which subject was the most challenging for you?

Manasvi: Physics was initially my weakest subject. My teachers helped me understand concepts patiently whenever I faced difficulties.

Careers360: How did you improve your Physics?

Manasvi: I always pre-read the chapter before attending class. This made classroom learning much easier. After that, I solved a large number of questions to strengthen my understanding.

Careers360: Biology is considered your strongest subject. What strategy did you follow?

Manasvi: I read the NCERT textbook multiple times-at least four to five complete revisions before my first tests. I also revised my coaching notes thoroughly. I never felt the need to study additional books for Biology.

Careers360: Reading NCERT repeatedly can become monotonous. How did you overcome that?

Manasvi: After several normal readings, I started revising chapters in reverse order. This made revision more interesting and prevented boredom.

Careers360: What advice would you give for Chemistry preparation?

Manasvi: For Organic Chemistry, understand every reaction instead of memorising blindly. Create mnemonics wherever possible and practise questions regularly. For Physical Chemistry, solve a wide variety of numerical problems. For Inorganic Chemistry, NCERT should be your primary resource, especially for block chemistry.

Careers360: How did the cancelled NEET 2026 paper compare with the Re NEET examination?

Manasvi: The Re NEET paper was definitely more difficult. Physics involved lengthy conceptual questions compared to the direct formula-based questions in the cancelled exam. Biology remained mostly similar, while Chemistry had a few challenging NCERT-based questions.

Careers360: What was your reaction when the first NEET exam was cancelled?

Manasvi: Surprisingly, I was happy because I felt I had another opportunity to improve. I simply revised everything once again instead of changing my preparation strategy.

Careers360: Did the cancellation affect your motivation?

Manasvi: Not really. I considered it a second chance. Although studying continuously for two years was exhausting, I remained focused and continued revising calmly.

Careers360: How important was family support during your preparation?

Manasvi: My family played a huge role. They always understood when I needed breaks and helped me stay mentally refreshed throughout the preparation journey.

Careers360: How important is a positive friend circle during NEET preparation?

Manasvi: It is extremely important. My friends were hardworking and supportive. We studied together, motivated each other and maintained a healthy competitive environment.

Careers360: How did you deal with stress and demotivation?

Manasvi: I strongly believe in Lord Shiva. Whenever I felt stressed, I took a short walk and listened to Shiv Aarti. It helped me regain focus and remain calm.

Careers360: Do you think NEET should be conducted in CBT mode?

Manasvi: Students who have prepared on paper might initially face some difficulty. However, if CBT helps prevent unfair practices, then it could be beneficial overall.

Careers360: Should there be an age or attempt limit for NEET?

Manasvi: I think there should be some limit. Students should certainly work hard, but they should also remain open to exploring other career opportunities if things do not work out after multiple attempts.

Careers360: What three mistakes should NEET aspirants avoid?

Manasvi: Stay away from distractions like Instagram and YouTube, Never panic after a poor mock test, and Maintain a positive environment and don't hesitate to share notes or help others.

Careers360: What books did you use apart from NCERT?

Manasvi: I primarily followed Aakash study modules. For Biology and Chemistry practice, I solved MTG NCERT at Your Fingertips. For Physical Chemistry, I referred to Neeraj Kumar. My coaching material was sufficient for Physics.

Careers360: How should students manage school and coaching together?

Manasvi: Make productive use of school hours while also enjoying school life. Even if you study only four focused hours after coaching, make those hours distraction-free.

Careers360: What advice would you give to students entering Class 11?

Manasvi: Never hesitate to ask doubts. Hard work always beats talent. Even if concepts take longer to understand, consistent effort eventually pays off.

Careers360: How important are mock tests?

Manasvi: Mock tests are extremely important, but analysing them is even more important. Maintain a mistake notebook, revise your errors regularly and ensure you never repeat the same mistakes.

Careers360: What were your mock test scores before the examination?

Manasvi: During the final month, I consistently scored above 690, and most of the time my scores crossed 700.

Careers360: Did rumours about paper leaks affect your preparation?

Manasvi: No. I believed that worrying about rumours would only waste my time. My focus remained entirely on preparation.

Careers360: Which medical college are you aiming for?

Manasvi: AIIMS Delhi is my dream college. Apart from that, I also prefer Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and AFMC.

Careers360: What should students consider while selecting a medical college?

Manasvi: Patient inflow is one of the most important factors because greater clinical exposure helps students become better doctors.

Careers360: Finally, what message would you like to give NEET 2027 aspirants?

Manasvi: Believe in yourself, stay consistent and focus on your hard work. Success comes to those who remain disciplined and trust the process.