For 18-year-old Kushagra Gupta, it’s always been about taking one step at a time. That simple mantra has helped the Bengaluru-based student clinch an incredible All India Rank of 24 in the highly competitive JEE Main 2025.
A student at Narayana Co Kaveri Bhavan, Kasavanahalli, Kushagra scored a perfect 100 percentile in Session 1 Paper 1 with a stellar 286 marks. Not stopping there, he pushed through to attempt Session 2 despite feeling underprepared — and still managed an impressive 99.93 percentile with a score of 251.
“The second session was tough, especially the maths paper — I wasn’t able to finish it. But I knew I had to give it my best shot regardless,” he shared.
Daily Tests, 12-Hour Study Schedules, and Unwavering Focus
Kushagra credits his consistent performance to relentless practice and rigorous mock tests at his coaching institute. “We had exams almost every day at Narayana, which made me comfortable with the exam environment. It helped me understand the kind of pressure to expect,” he said.
On a typical day, Kushagra put in about 12 to 13 hours of study, focusing on strengthening weak areas and revising core concepts. “The result was better than what I had hoped for — it felt great to see all that effort pay off,” he added.
The Road Ahead: IIT Dreams and JEE Advanced Prep
Now, his sights are set on one of India’s most coveted engineering programs: Computer Science at either IIT-Bombay or IIT-Madras. “I know the race gets tougher with JEE Advanced, but instead of worrying about the competition, I’m focusing on bettering myself. That’s the only thing in my control,” he said.
A Supportive Family
Kushagra comes from a family of achievers. His father, Amit Gupta, heads a department at Alstom Transport India, while his mother, Madhumita Gupta, is a senior scientist with Philips Healthcare. Their constant support, Kushagra says, has been a vital source of motivation throughout his journey.
24 Perfect Scores Across India
As per the JEE Main 2025 results announced on April 18, 24 students secured a perfect 100 NTA score in Paper 1 Session 2. Rajasthan led the tally with seven toppers, while Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh had three each. West Bengal, Gujarat, and Delhi recorded two each, and Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh had one topper each.
A Bigger Battle Awaits
Even as Kushagra basks in this success, he’s fully aware that the real test lies ahead. “I’ve already started adding another layer of preparation for JEE Advanced,” he said.
And knowing his drive, you can bet he’ll be ready when the time comes.
Leave a Reply