MUMBAI, July 17 -- Maharashtra's NEET 2026 topper, Shravani Kudale from Pune district, who scored 710 out of 720 marks in the examination, said she stayed away from mobile phones and social media for nearly a year to remain focused on her studies.

Kudale secured an all-India rank (AIR) of fifth, emerging as the topper in Maharashtra as well as in the OBC category. She completed her primary education at the Zilla Parishad Primary School in Gopalwadi before moving to Shardabai Pawar Vidyaniketan in Malegaon to continue her studies.

Shravani told HT that studying in a Zilla Parishad school did not put her at a disadvantage.

"I never faced any problem in understanding English, even though I completed my primary education in a Zilla Parisha...