From the city center of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, a young man’s success story of courage and perseverance has caught national headlines. Rohit Kumar, who is a street vendor selling mobile phone covers, has topped the highly competitive NEET-UG exam with a score of 549 and an All India Rank (AIR) of 12,484 in the 2025 results.
In spite of financial struggles and individual hardships, Rohit insisted on pursuing his desire to be a doctor. In an interview, given in a now-famous video, he explained, “I would work the entire day selling phone cases and study until 3 am. And then, again, I would wake up at 7 AM and work.” His passion and sacrifices went straight into the hearts of internet viewers.
Rohit was also a part of the Ummeed Batch, an initiative by Physics Wallah aimed at helping underprivileged aspirants. His life became widely recognized after Physics Wallah’s founder and CEO, Alakh Pandey, stopped by his roadside stall to congratulate him. In the video, Pandey hugs Rohit affectionately and appreciates his tireless efforts. Rohit shares how he did his work in the mornings and spent his nights studying.
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In another heart-warming clip, Pandey presents Rohit with a white doctor’s coat, wishing him well in realizing his dream of becoming a doctor.
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The emotionally charged exchange has been shared extensively on social media, with people praising Rohit for his determination. “You make us proud,” a user tweeted, while another had to say, “This is the real inspiration.
Rohit’s path was modest. His father was employed in a vegetable shop, and Rohit had to leave college after passing his Class 12 board exams to pursue NEET preparation. He started working at a medical shop during the lockdown for COVID-19, a job which inspired him to become a part of the healthcare sector.
NEET UG 2025 was held on May 4, and the results were announced on June 14 through the NTA’s official website. Mahesh Kumar of Rajasthan led the exam, whereas Utkarsh Awadhiya of Madhya Pradesh was placed second and Krishang Joshi was placed third. Avika Aggarwal of Delhi was the female topper.
Rohit Kumar’s tale is a strong assertion of the fact that passion and determination are all it takes to make even the most difficult dreams come true.