Arvind Kejriwal Visits Home Of Goa Teen Siddharth Hegde Who Died By Suicide After NEET UG Cancellation

After the cancellation of NEET UG 2026, the death of 17-year-old student Siddharth Hegde in Goa has triggered strong debate on exam stress and accountability. Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal met Siddharth’s family, questioned the current examination system, and asked who should be held responsible when such tragedies occur.

Police said Siddharth, a Class 12 science student from the Nesai area, had been preparing for medical entrance exams while also playing hockey at a serious level. A note recovered from the room mentioned intense academic pressure, mental fatigue and difficulty managing studies with sports over the last two years.

NEET UG 2026 exam stress and Arvind Kejriwal’s questions

Arvind Kejriwal visited the family home after the incident and described the loss of a 17-year-old as deeply distressing. Kejriwal said questions must now be raised about “who is responsible” when a young life is lost. Kejriwal also appealed to students not to take such steps, saying they represent the country’s future.

Kejriwal targeted those handling national examinations, saying action should follow in cases of paper leaks and cancelled tests. According to Kejriwal, accountability should not stop at lower levels. Kejriwal said that officials “sitting at the top” must also face consequences when large entrance exams like NEET UG 2026 get scrapped.

#WATCH | Goa | AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal says, "We just met the family members of Siddharth Hegde, who was 17 years old and died by suicide. I want to tell youngsters that taking such a step is not okay... I want to tell all youngsters that you are the hope of this… pic.twitter.com/oT4rfa20Hz — ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2026

NEET UG 2026 cancellation, police probe and suicide note details

The incident came to light around 11:15 pm on Tuesday, according to police. Family members informed officials that one room in the house was locked from inside. Before police arrived, relatives and neighbours opened the door using a spare key and found Siddharth lying unconscious in the room.

Siddharth was rushed to hospital immediately, but doctors declared Siddharth dead on arrival. During the initial inquiry, police recovered a suicide note. Reports said the note mentioned that constant study pressure for two years had become overwhelming and that balancing academics with hockey practice was increasingly difficult.

In the note, Siddharth reportedly wrote that there was no desire left to appear for any competitive exam. Police have said it would be premature to directly link the death to the cancellation of NEET UG 2026. However, officers indicated that news of the exam being scrapped might have added to existing mental stress.

Across India, the scrapping of NEET UG 2026 has already created anxiety among students and parents. Social media platforms are filled with posts about mental pressure linked to shifting exam schedules and frequent reports of paper leaks. Many commentators describe the unstable examination framework as a heavy psychological load on aspirants.

The case has renewed focus on student mental health and the support systems available during intense exam seasons. iCALL, a professional counselling helpline, has shared that help is accessible by phone. The iCALL mental health helpline number is 9152987821, and the service operates Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, with complete confidentiality promised.