Hyderabad’s Mrinal Kutteri made headlines in 2021 when he achieved a perfect score of 720/720 in the NEET-UG exam, securing All India Rank 1. But what’s even more remarkable is that he also cleared the highly competitive IIT-JEE with an astonishing 99.9 percentile—all without following a rigid study schedule.
A Different Kind of Topper
Unlike the stereotype of toppers who study relentlessly with strict timetables, Mrinal took a more relaxed and mindful approach:
Preferred a free-form, goal-oriented routine rather than a fixed schedule
Believed in daily goals over long study hours
Often binge-watched Netflix and Prime to unwind
Studied for an average of 4–5 hours a day, never more
Inspired by the Pandemic
Mrinal’s initial dream was to become an army doctor. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, witnessing the dedication of frontline healthcare workers inspired him to pursue medicine wholeheartedly.
“I wanted to live a life of medicine and adventure, but that gradually turned into a full-fledged interest in medicine,” he told India Today.
From Hyderabad to History
Hails from Hyderabad with roots in Kerala
Comes from a non-medical family background
Excelled in Biology and Chemistry from an early age
Faced academic setbacks during the COVID-19 lockdown but quickly adapted
Despite challenges, Mrinal emerged as a dual success story in NEET and JEE, proving that passion, strategy, and self-discipline can outperform pressure and rigid planning.
Mrinal Kutteri’s story is a motivation for countless aspirants across India. His approach proves that it’s not about how many hours you study, but how well you understand and adapt your learning to your strengths.
