Soft by name, steadfast by choice: Air Force doctor secures AIR 2 in NEET PG 2026

LUCKNOW: When the NEET PG 2026 results were declared on Sept 24, congratulations poured in for Sqn Ldr Pallakshi Prasad, a 28 year old medical officer posted at Air Force Station Kanpur, after she secured All India Rank 2. Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja congratulated the AFMC alumni of the C3 Batch, calling it a proud achievement for the Armed Forces Medical Services.For Pallakshi, whose name means soft, the journey has been anything but easy. It has been defined by years of disciplined study, military service and an unwavering commitment to learning."I always knew I wanted to become a doctor," Pallakshi said. "Even though both my parents are engineers, they never said no to my dream. They simply supported me."Born in Ranchi and raised in Hyderabad, Pallakshi studied at Delhi Public School before cracking NEET UG 2016 with an All India Rank of 1,312, without taking a drop year. Admission rules in her home state narrowed her options, but an application to the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), encouraged by her mother, changed her life. Her mother, Shyamli Prasad, is a senior software engineer with Infosys.She entered AFMC after securing Girls Merit Rank 3 in the selection process and graduated sixth in overall merit in her batch. "I fell in love with the AFMC campus and everything it stood for. By the time I graduated, I didn't feel like an outsider to the uniform anymore. Taking permanent commission was a natural decision," she recalled.Commissioned into the Indian Navy on May 15, 2021, she spent nearly two and a half years as a medical officer aboard a warship before moving to the Indian Air Force in 2025. Ship service, she says, shaped both her personality and professional outlook.Preparing for one of India's toughest postgraduate medical entrance examinations while serving in uniform demanded extraordinary discipline."I used to study whenever time permitted. Between patients, after duty hours, through books and online platforms. It wasn't about long hours every day, but about being consistent," she said. Guided by mentor Dr Vineet Behera, a serving military doctor, she also presented a research paper on chronic kidney disease at the Bombay Medical Congress during her internship.She is now considering radiology, internal medicine and dermatology for specialisation.Her father, Chandra Kishore Prasad, Principal Chief Safety Officer (PCSO), Central Railway and co author of the book KAVACH: Cab Signalling & Automatic Train Protection System for Digital Railways, says the signs of determination appeared early."She always had commitment and focus. She was head girl at DPS Hyderabad and even secured second place in an international English Olympiad. When she told us she wanted to study medicine, I reminded her that becoming a doctor meant studying throughout life. Her answer was simple: 'I want to become a doctor.' We told her we would support her in whatever she chose," he said.Pallakshi says the overwhelming response after the result has been deeply moving."I've received so much love from my family, the AFMC community and the Armed Forces fraternity. I think whatever I am today is because of what AFMC and military life have shaped me into," she said.Pallakshi is married to a serving IAF doctor, and she has been posted in Kanpur since 2025.While her parents and younger brother, Prageeth Prasad, all pursued engineering and technology, Pallakshi became the family's outlier. She followed her childhood dream of becoming a doctor and later became the first in the family to serve in the Armed Forces. Her brother is a computer science graduate from Hyderabad.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in LucknowStay updated with the latest Lucknow news. Download the TOI App.