The results of JEE Advanced 2025 have been announced by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, and Kota city has hogged the limelight yet again. Rajit Gupta of Mahavir Nagar in Kota topped the elite engineering entrance test by achieving All India Rank (AIR) 1 with a score of 332 out of 360 marks.
Rajit’s tale is remarkable not only by virtue of his rank but also by the unconventional way he approached preparation. While most candidates follow rigid routines and excessive study time, Rajit opted for flexibility.
“I studied only when I felt like it. But whenever I did, I made sure to give it my best,” Rajit tells us, exuding a tranquil and concentrated mental state that aided him in scoring better than 1.9 lakh candidates.
Mentorship and Atmosphere Made the Difference
Rajit Gupta studied at Allen Career Institute in Kota, which he feels was instrumental in his success. “Allen gave me everything I needed—from structured material to mentorship—so I never had to look elsewhere,” he says.
He scored 96.8% in Class 10, got 100 percentile in JEE Main 2025 January session, and is now the JEE Advanced 2025 topper.
Rajit’s brilliance goes well beyond JEE. A science buff, Rajit was even India’s representative at the Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) 2024, held in Malaysia, where he won a bronze medal. He was chosen thrice for the highly regarded OCSC camps in Junior Science, Astronomy, and Physics.
Rather than pursuing high scores, Rajit focused on knowing his weaknesses. “I always paid attention to not repeating my mistakes. It helped me build a stronger foundation in every subject,” he explains. He did not memorize but rather went for deep conceptual understanding.
He did not just verify the answer key, but even after the JEE Main. “My father asked me to, but I just said, ‘Papa, don’t worry. I’ll clear Advanced,” he adds with a smile.
Balance, Joy, and Simplicity Define His Life
Rajit feels that a cheerful attitude has been the major factor behind his achievements. “I stay happy in all situations. That’s the biggest factor that helped me do well,” he points out.
He did not distance himself from the small joys of life either. “I play with the kids in my colony when I get time,” he says. He employed WhatsApp solely for educational activities and adopted a simple approach, “Just keep practising. That’s the best way to manage time and improve.”
Family Support and NCERT-Based Learning
Rajit’s parents have been his strength pillars. His father, Deepak Gupta, is a sub-divisional engineer at BSNL, while his mother, Dr. Shruti Agarwal, is a home science professor at JDB College, Kota.
“Their belief in me made all the difference,” Rajit points out. He also emphasizes establishing fundamentals, “NCERT is a must for Chemistry. It clears the concepts from the ground up.”
