A 19-year-old medical aspirant, S. Anu Keerthana, reportedly died by suicide after consuming poison at her Kovaipudur residence. The tragedy has triggered widespread outrage and renewed intense scrutiny over the immense psychological toll of competitive examinations.
Keerthana, the elder daughter of CITU trade union leader Senthil Prabhu, had previously qualified for a BDS seat in 2025 but chose to drop a year to pursue her MBBS dream. After rigorously preparing for the May 3 NEET (UG) exam, her aspirations were derailed when the Union government cancelled the test following widespread paper leak allegations, scheduling a mandatory re-test for June 21, as per The Times Of India.
-
Indian Markets Turning Corner After Two Tough Years, Says Sandeep Tandon -
NDTV Profit Ignite 2026: Experts See Opportunity In Equities, Stay Bullish For Long-Term -
Buy Right, Sit Tight Does Not Work for Individual Stocks, Says Dinshaw Irani -
'Worst Is Behind': Quant MF Sees Market Bottom, Flags 'Extreme Euphoria' In Midcaps -
India's Mutual Fund Industry Could Become A $1 Trillion Opportunity, Say Fund Managers -
'Foreign Investors Are Baraatis': Raamdeo Agrawal's Take On LTCG Tax -
Stay Invested Through Market Cycles: Raamdeo Agrawal at NDTV Profit Ignite -
Ramesh Damani Remains Bullish On India For Next 20-30 Years, Sees Bargains Amid Market Weakness -
CAS Came After A Long Consultation Process: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFIT IGNITE -
Aim To Cut FPI Onboarding Time From Mth To Five Days: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFI
ALSO READ: India's Peak Power Consumption Eases Amid Monsoon Showers, Weak Cooling Demand
The sudden cancellation and the looming pressure of rewriting the high-stakes exam reportedly caused her severe mental distress. Before taking the drastic step, Keerthana sent a heartbreaking WhatsApp message to her paternal uncle, expressing deep anxiety over the recurring financial burden placed on her father. "I had taken the NEET exam and was waiting to join a medical college, but the exam was cancelled.
I am afraid to take the test again... I do not know how I can ever look him in the face again," the text read. Alarmed relatives rushed to her home and found her unconscious. She was moved to a private hospital, where she later succumbed, according to TOI.
Grieving family members initially refused to accept Keerthana's body, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. They relented late at night following talks with revenue officials.
The incident sparked massive demonstrations at the Government Medical College campus, demanding an immediate ban on the NEET system. The Kuniyamuthur police have registered a case, seized the victim's mobile phone, and initiated a formal inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.