Chitraang Murdia, who got AIR 1 in JEE Advanced exam, made a tough decision to leave BTech Computer Science course at IIT Bombay. Read about his journey below.
JEE Advanced Topper Who Left IIT Bombay for MIT: Chitraang Murdia's Journey of Choosing Passion Over Interest
Chitraang Murdia was JEE Advanced topper in the year 2014 with All India Rank of 1. He took admission to Bachelor of Technology in computer science course at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. Despite his success in this field, Chitraang realised that while he was interested in computer science, his true passion lay in physics and the pure sciences. In an interview with shiksha.com back in 2014, he shared insights about his journey preparing for the JEE Advanced exam and the tough choice he made to leave IIT Bombay to pursue what he loved.
Also Read: JEE Advanced Rank Needed for IIT Bombay CSE Admission
- Chitraang Murdia's JEE Preparation Tips
- What Happened After Joining IIT B and Why Did He Quit?
- What is IIT JEE Topper Chitraang Murdia Doing Now?
- Who is a Postdoctoral Researcher?
Chitraang Murdia's JEE Preparation Tips
Chitrang has shared that:
- He took coaching classes at Allen in Kota.
- He signed up for weekend programs also.
- He traced his progress after each test.
- He used to study 15 hours a day.
- He achieved 335 out of 360 in JEE Mains and 334 out of 360 in JEE Advanced.
For those preparing for the JEE Advanced exam, he offered some valuable advice:
Work hard, focus, avoid distractions, and consider joining a coaching institute if you can.
Commonly asked questions
The JEE Advanced 2026 cutoff will be released with the results of JEE Advanced 2026. Until then, candidates can check below the JEE Advanced cutoff from the previous years:
The JEE Advanced 2025 cutoff of the common rank list is 20.56%; 18.50% for the GEN-EWS rank list and OBC-NCL rank list; 10.28% for SC, ST, and PwD rank lists across all categories; and 5.14% for Preparatory course rank lists.
All those candidates who score above the cutoff marks in their respective categories can register for JoSAA counselling to participate in the IIT seat allotment process. Note that qualifying the JEE Advaced cutoff will not guarantee a seat in the IITs. Various factors are at play while allotting seats in the IITs. These factors include the demand for a course and IIT, the number of seats on offer, the reservation criteria, etc.
The minimum marks in JEE Mains to qualify for JEE Advanced change year after year. NTA published the JEE Main marks needed to pass for JEE Advanced with the JEE Main session two result. Check below the previous year minimum marks in JEE Mains to qualify for JEE Advanced:
| Category | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 93.1023262 | 93.2362181 | 90.7788642 |
| OBC-NCL | 80.3830119 | 79.6757881 | 73.6114227 |
| SC | 79.4313582 | 60.0923182 | 51.9776027 |
| ST | 61.1526933 | 46.6975840 | 37.2348772 |
| GEN-EWS | 47.9026465 | 81.3266412 | 75.6229025 |
| Gen-PwD | 0.0079349 | 0.0018700 | 0.0013527 |
To get a JEE Advanced AIR below 5000, candidates must score around 145 marks out of 360 as per the 2025 data.
What Happened After Joining IIT B and Why Did He Quit?
In a 2014 interview with Shiksha.com, Chitraang Murdia shared that he felt IIT did not match his expectations in the long run. He was not sure about the research facilities at the IITs at the UG level.
Chitrang was confused about his decision to leave IIT after 1 year. He discussed with many people about his situation and desires.
Finally, after many thoughts he applied for a transfer to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and successfully got in. By transferring instead of starting fresh, he ensured that his year at IIT Bombay was still valuable and not wasted.
What is IIT JEE Topper Chitraang Murdia Doing Now?
Murdia shared his passion for research during a 2014 interview with shiksha.com. He is now working as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. Before this role, he obtained his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, after earning his Bachelor's degree in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
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Who is a Postdoctoral Researcher?
A postdoctoral fellow, also called a postdoc, is someone who conducts research after completing their PhD, which is the highest level of academic study. This phase of research can be supported by a paid position or a grant that provides financial assistance. Postdocs usually work under the guidance of an experienced researcher known as a principal investigator.
In India, colleges like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) also offer postdoctoral positions with stipends ranging from INR 65,000 to INR 80,000, along with additional benefits.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
The highest rank acceptable is 29025 for the General female category students under the All India quota. Hence, students need to attain a rank of at least 29025 to qualify for admission. Students can check the table below to know the last round closing rank for different UG-level courses.
| Course | IIT Dhanbad cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|
| B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 8539 |
| B.Tech. in Mathematics and Computing | 10628 |
| B.Tech. in Electronics and Communication Engineering | 12818 |
| B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering | 15221 |
| B.Tech. in Engineering Physics | 19315 |
| B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | 20007 |
| B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering | 20265 |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | 24253 |
| B.Tech. in Mineral and Metallurgical Engineering | 25774 |
| B.Tech. in Petroleum Engineering | 26417 |
| B.Tech. in Mining Engineering | 26813 |
| B.Tech. in Environmental Engineering | 27032 |
| B.Tech. in Geophysical Technology | 27317 |
| Integrated B.Sc. + M.Sc in Physical Science | 27720 |
| Integrated B.Sc. + M.Sc in Chemical Science | 28062 |
| B.Tech. in Mining Machinery Engineering | 28531 |
| B.Tech. in Geological Engineering | 28726 |
| Integrated B.Tech Mining Engineering + MBA in Logistic and Supply Chain Management (IIM Mumbai) | 29025 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
IIT Dhanbad petroleum engineering cutoff 2026 ranged from 12554 in the first round to 13921 in the last round for the General AI category. Hence, a rank of at least 13921 is needed for admission to the petroleum engineering course. To know the highest rank acceptable for other categories under the A
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
IIT Dhanbad JEE Advanced cutoff 2026 has been released for admission to the BTech course and its various branches. For the General AI category, the last round cutoff ranged from 4167 to 18977. As per this range, BTech CSE (4167), followed by BTech in Mathematics and Computing (4938) and BTech in Ele
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
IIT Dhanbad CSE cutoff 2026 ranged from 3994 to 4167 for the General AI category. Hence, students need a rank of at least 4167 to qualify for admission. Students can check the table below to know the BTech CSE Round 1 and last-round closing ranks for various other All India categories.
| Category | Round 1 Cutoff 2026 | Last Round Cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| General | 3994 | 4167 |
| OBC | 1292 | 1334 |
| SC | 780 | 780 |
| ST | 306 | 336 |
| EWS | 536 | 567 |
| PWD | 148 | 153 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
IIT Dhanbad JEE Advanced cutoff 2026 for the SC AI category cutoff ranged from 780 (BTech CSE) to 3392 (Integrated BSc + MSc in Chemical Science) in the last round. On the other hand, for the ST AI category, the last round cutoff ranged from 336 (BTech CSE) to 1592 (Integrated BSc + MSc in Physical
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
The needed rank would differ based on the category, course and branch. For the General AI category, the overall IIT Kharagpur cutoff 2026 ranged from 509 (BTech CSE) in the first round to 24582 (Bachelor of Architecture (BArch Hons) in the last round. Hence, overall, a rank below 24582 could help yo
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
As per the IIT Kharagpur cutoff 2026 for the OBC AI category, the closing ranks ranged from 241 (CSE) in the first round to 7973 (BArch Hons) in the last round. Students can check the table below to see the round 1 and last round closing ranks for various branches.
| Course | Round 1 (Closing Rank) | Last Round (Closing Rank) |
|---|---|---|
| B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering | 2347 | 2423 |
| B.Tech. in Agricultural and Food Engineering | 4467 | 4671 |
| B.Tech. in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering | 3842 | 3928 |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | 3102 | 3271 |
| B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering | 2442 | 2501 |
| B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 241 | 258 |
| B.Tech. in Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering | 703 | 735 |
| B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering | 941 | 946 |
| B.Tech. in Instrumentation Engineering | 1259 | 1348 |
| B.Tech. in Industrial Engineering | 2268 | 2278 |
| B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | 1840 | 1875 |
| B.Tech. in Manufacturing Science and Engineering | 3173 | 3361 |
| B.Tech. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering | 3316 | 3584 |
| B.Tech. in Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture | 4018 | 4173 |
| B.Tech. in Mining Engineering | 3881 | 4047 |
| Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch. Hons.) | 7444 | 7973 |
| B.S. in Chemistry | 5504 | 5798 |
| B.S. in Economics | 3207 | 3213 |
| B.S. in Physics | 4755 | 5182 |
| B.S. in Mathematics and Computing | 709 | 709 |
| B.Sc. in Applied Geology | 5275 | 5803 |
| B.S. in Exploration Geophysics | 5210 | 5548 |
| B.Tech. in Artificial Intelligence | 427 | 432 |
| B.Tech. in Biomedical Engineering | 4057 | 4171 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
IIT Kharagpur JEE Advanced cutoff 2026 ranged between 4182 and 4588 for the Mechanical Engineering branch. This the cutoff range for the General AI category. For the other categories cutoff range, students can check the table below.
| Category | IIT Kharagpur JEE Advanced cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|
| General | 4182 - 4588 |
| OBC | 1840 - 1875 |
| SC | 1037 - 1052 |
| ST | 567 - 595 |
| EWS | 733 - 733 |
| PWD | 277 - 297 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, only IIT Bombay requires JEE Advanced for admission. Other reputed colleges like ICT Mumbai and VJTI Mumbai accept MHT-CET or JEE Main scores instead, which are comparatively easier state and national-level exams. This gives students multiple pathways into top-quality institutes, so even if you
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, JEE Advanced is compulsory for B.Tech admission at IIT Bhubaneswar, just like every other IIT. JEE Main alone will not get you a seat here. If you clear JEE Main but not Advanced, IIIT Bhubaneswar and NITs are worth checking instead. Some Diploma and PG courses at IIT Bhubaneswar do use separate
T
Contributor-Level 10
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