The announcement of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2025 results by IIT Kanpur, the organising institute for this year's examination, this Monday morning, brought with it a familiar story of perseverance, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. Among the 1.8 lakh candidates who appeared for the gruelling engineering entrance exam, two young talents emerged distinctly — Rajit Gupta, the All India Rank 1 from the IIT Delhi zone, and Devdutta Majhi, the highest-ranking female candidate from the IIT Kharagpur zone.
Rajit Gupta’s 332 out of 360 marks in the Common Rank List (CRL) not only secured him the coveted top spot but also underscored the power of early preparation. The 18-year-old from Kota, a coaching powerhouse for aspirants, embarked on his JEE journey at the tender age of 11, enrolled by his parents in specialised coaching classes. Reflecting on those formative years, Rajit said, “Starting JEE coaching at such a young age helped me build a strong foundation. Initially, my parents hoped I’d pursue medicine, and I wasn’t entirely sure about my career path either. But those extra classes gave me clarity, and by the time I reached Class 9, I was confident about my goal.”
This clarity was nurtured in an academically accomplished household. Rajit’s mother, Dr Shruti Agarwal, a university topper herself, is a professor of Home Science, while his father, an NIT Allahabad alumnus, serves as a Sub-Divisional Engineer at BSNL. Despite the intellectual environment, Rajit insists he never felt undue pressure. “My parents have always been supportive and guided me throughout my journey,” he said. Rajit’s consistent academic excellence shines through his Class 10 results where he secured a perfect score in Mathematics and an overall 96.8% in Science.
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Rajit’s ambitions now centre on IIT Bombay’s Computer Science stream, a goal he has been gradually narrowing down. “Currently, I am not focusing on which IIT and which branch I have to pick, as my main focus right now is to prepare for JEE Advanced. I am not sure if I will appear for the second session exam in April, but I have started preparing for the JEE Advanced exam,” he revealed. True to the family tradition of academic dedication, his 11-year-old sister has also begun coaching, aiming to build her own foundation.
On the other part of the country, from West Bengal's Katwa, Purba Bardhaman, 17-year-old Devdutta Majhi has carved her path with equal resolve. From topping the West Bengal Madhyamik examinations in 2023 to securing a perfect 100 percentile in the second session of JEE Main 2025, her journey has been marked by consistent high achievement. Her latest feat — scoring 312 out of 360 marks to become the female topper in the IIT Kharagpur zone and ranking 16th overall — adds another glittering chapter.
“I have been preparing for this for the last two years, so seeing my hard work and dedication bear fruit, and seeing the result, I'm extremely happy!” Devdutta said. She pays tribute to her mother’s vital support: “My parents are elated, and mainly my mother, who has been an integral part of this journey and has helped me prepare.”
Unlike the coaching-intensive path of many aspirants, Devdutta largely relied on self-study, augmented by virtual doubt-clearing sessions with educators based in Kolkata and Delhi. “In the last two years, I have bought a lot of books and prepared diligently at home. I planned my studies in phases — focusing on theory first, then moving to problem-solving. That strategy helped me a lot,” she explained.
Balancing intense study schedules, often spanning 10-11 hours daily, Devdutta found solace in nature and compassion through caring for stray animals near her home. This emotional balance, coupled with her mother’s steady encouragement, proved instrumental. “If someone focuses on JEE Advanced and cracking it, then it’s inevitable their JEE Mains would go well,” she advised aspirants, highlighting the importance of setting ambitious targets.
Devdutta’s aspirations extend beyond IIT admission. She intends to pursue a BTech from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, with a vision of researching Artificial Intelligence and Robotics — fields poised to shape India’s technological future. Her advice to fellow aspirants is clear and heartfelt: “Study well and put in a lot of hard work and dedication. Stay away from distractions — at least while you’re preparing. Don’t waste time, and try to love what you’re studying. Always keep your end goal in mind.”
This year’s results also reflect a broader trend. Of the 54,378 candidates who qualified, over 9,000 are female — an encouraging sign of increasing participation and success of women in one of the country’s most challenging examinations.
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