Retired SBI officer cracked NEET at 64 in 2020. Now, he is an MBBS student in VIMSAR, Odisha

A retired State Bank of India (SBI) officer from Odisha defied all odds and showed that age is just a number when it comes to chasing your dreams. At the age of 64, Jaya Kishore Pradhan successfully cracked the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in 2020 after retiring from his office of four decades.

Now, at 68, Pradhan is pursuing his MBBS degree from Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Sambalpur.

Pradhan’s journey stands in stark contrast to the typical image of NEET aspirants, usually dominated by teenagers and young adults. After retiring as a deputy manager with 40 years of service at SBI, he decided to do something drastic.

Unlike most retirees who opt for a life of leisure, Pradhan decided to reignite an old passion—becoming a doctor. After passing his intermediate exams decades ago, Pradhan had once appeared for the medical entrance but had failed to qualify. The dream, however, never died. It was rekindled when he saw his twin daughters preparing for NEET, motivating him to give it another shot.
Pradhan's pursuit of a medical degree was further facilitated by a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that lifted the upper age limit for NEET aspirants. This decision opened the door for him to take the exam without any age restrictions.

Pradhan enrolled in an online coaching program, just like thousands of other students, to help him navigate the rigorous syllabus. It was not easy, Pradhan said at the time, balancing studies and family.