No, coaching is not mandatory to crack NEET UG. Many students successfully qualify and secure good ranks through self-study, especially by focusing on NCERT textbooks for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. However, coaching institutes can provide structured study plans, regular mock tests, doubt-solving sessions, and guidance that some students find helpful. Ultimately, success in NEET depends on consistent preparation, conceptual clarity, regular practice of objective questions, and effective time management.