Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta is a Ph.D. holder in Genetics & Plant Breeding, a CSIR-NET qualifier, and a seasoned educator with over 24 years of teaching experience. He combines academic excellence with practical coaching insights to empower medical aspirants.
The Literature Times: What motivated you to write a practice book focused exclusively on NCERT-based zoology?
Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta: Over the years, I observed that students often struggle to extract the right kind of questions from NCERT, especially for Zoology. NEET is heavily NCERT-centric, and yet many books either overshoot or undershoot the required level. I wanted to create a resource that respects the boundaries of NCERT while training students to think critically and apply concepts effectively.
The Literature Times: How did your years of teaching and research influence the structure and content of this book?
Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta: My teaching experience gave me insight into student psychology and their common conceptual gaps, while my research background trained me to look for precision. I structured the book with different levels of questions—ranging from basic recall to complex assertion-reason types—so that students can gradually build their competence while staying rooted in the NCERT text.
The Literature Times: What are the biggest mistakes students make while preparing for NEET, and how does this book help avoid them?
Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta: One major mistake is relying too much on reference books and underestimating NCERT. Another is neglecting practice in a structured way. This book avoids both by aligning strictly with NCERT and presenting questions in formats exactly like NEET—statement-based, assertion-reason, column matching, and MCQs—so that students get exam-ready practice with every chapter.
The Literature Times: Can you explain the importance of Assertion and Reason-type questions in today’s NEET pattern?
Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta: Assertion and Reason-type questions test not just knowledge, but understanding. They evaluate whether a student can connect cause and effect, and think logically. NEET has been increasingly moving toward such higher-order thinking. My book includes a solid set of A&R questions in every chapter to prepare students for this shift.
The Literature Times: How did you ensure the balance between board-level content and competitive-level preparation?
Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta: The foundation of every question in the book is the NCERT text, which serves both board and NEET purposes. However, I categorized the questions by difficulty level—Easy, Medium, and Difficult—so that students can start with board-level understanding and then transition smoothly to the NEET level.
The Literature Times: Why did you decide to include List 1/List 2 and Statement-based questions in every chapter?
Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta: Because NEET has been diversifying its question patterns. Matching types and multi-statement questions force students to read NCERT line-by-line and think comparatively. Including them in every chapter helps students get familiar with these formats early and improves their analytical skills.
The Literature Times: What role does critical thinking play in mastering NEET zoology, and how does this book nurture it?
Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta: NEET isn’t about rote learning anymore—it rewards application, interpretation, and integration of concepts. Critical thinking is the bridge between knowing and solving. This book challenges students with carefully crafted questions that push them to analyze, not just memorize.
The Literature Times: Which chapters in the NCERT syllabus do you think students struggle with the most, and why?
Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta: Chapters like “Animal Kingdom,” “Structural Organisation in Animals,” and “Evolution” are often tough because they’re content-heavy and involve classification, structures. My book breaks these chapters into manageable parts with focused question sets to aid retention and understanding.
The Literature Times: How should a student ideally use this book over the course of their Class XI and XII journey?
Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta: Start using it right after completing each NCERT chapter. Don’t wait for revision. Practice questions topic-wise while your memory is fresh, then revisit the questions during revision. Also, attempt mixed question papers provided at the end to simulate NEET conditions.
The Literature Times: What advice would you give to first-time NEET aspirants to build confidence and clarity in Zoology?
Dr. Laxmi Kant Gupta: Stick to NCERT, master it thoroughly, and practice daily. Don’t chase multiple books. Instead, choose one solid NCERT-based practice book—like this one—and stay consistent. Most importantly, believe in yourself. With clarity, discipline, and the right tools, success is inevitable.
