Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Chatting with parents and teachers, watching sitcoms and listening to English and Hindi songs were among the stress-busters of toppers in the JEE Advanced 2025. The results were announced by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur on Monday.
The young achievers told the Free Press that it was their first attempt. Hard work, consistency and self-confidence are their success mantras. They want to graduate in computer science and electrical engineering from IIT Bombay.
Majid Husain
Wasn’t chasing rank
It was my first attempt. In JEE Main, my AIR was 30 and I was expecting around AIR 20- 25 this time. However, third all-India rank was a real surprise. In any case, I was not chasing any rank. I began preparing for JEE when I was promoted to Class 11. I joined a residential school that runs an integrated IIT coaching programme.
I self-studied for 6-8 hours daily. My success mantra was hard work and consistency. As for stress, I managed it by chatting with parents as well as teachers and staff of the school. I was not on social media as we were allowed to use a mobile only for one hour every day. My father, Mujahid Husain is a professor of civil engineering at SSBT’s College of Engineering and Technology in Jalgaon (Maharashtra) and my mother, Sakina Hussain, is an assistant professor in the MBA department of the same college. I want to graduate in computer science from IIT Bombay as I have always been interested in computers.
- Majid Husain, Burhanpur (AIR 3)
Arush Navkar
Focused on basic concepts
I want to join IIT Bombay and study electrical engineering. My exam strategy was focused on clearing the basic concepts because clarity on basic concepts is crucial for success in JEE Advanced. I studied for about 11-12 hours every day. I was not on social media.
I only used WhatsApp and that too, for sharing study material with my friends and others. When I felt stressed, I used to listen to Hindi or English songs that make you feel calm and happy. I also watched sitcoms to unwind. My mother, Dr Deepa Nakar, is a cardiac anaesthesiologist at Bansal Hospital in Bhopal. Self-confidence is my success mantra.
- Arush Navkar, Bhopal (AIR 427)
