Satvik Bhardwaj, a resident of Sector 6, Panchkula, has emerged as the medical stream topper in the Tricity, securing 98.4 per cent in the Class 12 CBSE results declared Wednesday morning. However, the celebration is bittersweet for the teenager, who is currently grappling with the news of the NEET exam paper leak.

A student of Shishu Niketan Senior Secondary School, Sector 22-D, Satvik’s triumph comes at a time of national turmoil for medical aspirants. The son of a doctor father and an IAS mother, Satvik was confident after appearing for the NEET exam.

“He was expecting a very good score in NEET, but he was heartbroken when he heard about the leak,” his father Dr Uday Bhan Bhardwaj told The Indian Express. “He told us the night before that his momentum was lost and he would have to pick it all up again. We are happy that this result has given him a much-needed boost.”

Despite the uncertainty, he is currently attending a Science Olympiad; while many of his peers left the camp midway to deal with the NEET crisis, Satvik chose to stay and complete the programme.

For Satvik, becoming a doctor was a natural choice, driven by an interest in biology and a desire to follow in his father’s footsteps, a kidney specialist with the Railways. His mother, Hema Sharma, is a senior IAS officer.

His family said he dedicated 8 to 10 hours daily to his studies. Satvik never owned a personal phone, using his parents’ devices only when strictly necessary. He turned to daily prayers and cricket matches with his elder brother to stay grounded.using

Interestingly, it will be a “double NEET” year for the household, as Satvik’s elder brother is also reappearing for the medical entrance exam.

Celebrating the achievement, school principal Aarti Malhotra credited Satvik’s consistency and the school’s supportive ecosystem. “This success is a moment of pride for the entire school family. We deeply acknowledge the efforts of our teaching faculty and his parents, whose support played a vital role. We wish him greater heights in all future endeavours,” she said.