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 2 weeks ago
You are not eligible for JEE (Advanced) 2027 because your first appearance for Class 12 was in 2025. For JEE (Advanced) 2027 candidates must have taken their Class 12 (or equivalent) examination for the first time in either 2026 or 2027. Since your first appearance was in 2025 you fall outside this
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, Indian students can apply for TU Munich Admissions directly after Class 12th, provided they meet the minimum qualifying JEE Advanced score requirement and other program-specific entry requirements.
Students without a JEE Advanced score, will either have to enroll in the Studienkolleg or complete
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Technical University of Munich generally accepts a JEE Advanced score only for the immediate academic intake to the year the exam was passed (usually within one year).
Universities like TU Munich assess students based on current admission rules, and hence using a scorecard older than admission year i
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, the Technical University of Munich does not accept JEE Advanced scores for Master's programs. For entry to PG programs, students need to have completed a UG degree from a recognised Indian college or university, submit relevant documents, and meet the program-specific criteria.
Check TU Munich Ad
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
While evaluating opening and closing rank trends, JEE Advanced cutoffs, and branch allocation dynamics for civil engineering at IIT Bhubaneswar provides a helpful baseline for your academic planning, Lovely Professional University (LPU) serves as an excellent alternative to elevate your engineering
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
The IIT GANDHINAGAR JEE Advanced closing ranksfor the General (open) female only category in 2026 ranked from roughly 5,437 for computer Science and engineering up to 20270 for civil engineering.
m
Beginner-Level 1
Answered a month ago
IIT BHU CSE cutoff 2026 ranged from 1436 in the first round to 1439 in the last round for the General category under the All India quota. Hence, a rank of at least 1439 is needed to qualify for admission to the CSE course. Check the table below to know the overall cutoff range for other categories.
| Category | IIT BHU CSE cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|
| General | 1436 - 1439 |
| OBC | 601 - 601 (R1) |
| SC | 313 - 373 |
| ST | 161 - 170 |
| EWS | 245 - 245 (R1) |
| PWD | 66 - 66 (R1) |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
IIT BHU JEE Advanced cutoff 2026 ranged from 601 to 7870 in the first round for the OBC AI category. In the last round, the closing cutoff ranged from 601 to 9002 for the aforementioned category. Check the table below to know the Round 1 and last round closing cutoffs for different courses.
| Course | Round 1 Cutoff 2026 | Last Round Cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 601 | 601 |
| B.Tech. in Mathematics and Computing | 826 | 845 |
| B.Tech. in Electronics Engineering | 1167 | 1189 |
| B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering | 1497 | 1529 |
| B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | 2760 | 3175 |
| B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering | 3394 | 3609 |
| B.Tech. in Engineering Physics | 3490 | 3620 |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | 3834 | 3980 |
| B.Tech. in Materials Science and Technology | 3886 | 4257 |
| B.Tech. in Metallurgical Engineering | 4269 | 4494 |
| B.Tech. in Industrial Chemistry | 4389 | 4681 |
| B.Tech. in Biomedical Engineering | 4798 | 5067 |
| B.Tech. in Biochemical Engineering | 4877 | 5156 |
| B.Tech. in Ceramic Engineering | 4899 | 5245 |
| B.Tech. in Mining Engineering | 5031 | 5329 |
| B.Tech. in Pharmaceutics Engineering and Technology | 5424 | 5776 |
| Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) | 7870 | 9002 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
IIT Gandhinagar JEE Advanced cutoff 2026 for the General AI female category ranged from 5437 (CSE) to 20270 (Civil Engineering). Students can check the table below to know the last round cutoff range for other female categories.
| Category | IIT Gandhinagar JEE Advanced cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|
| General | 5437 - 20270 |
| OBC | 2700 - 9008 |
| EWS | 981 - 3973 |
| ST | 369 - 1941 |
| SC | 802 - 4390 |
| PWD | 225 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
IIT Bombay cutoff 2026 for the Electrical and Aerospace Engineering courses for the General AI category in the last round was 411 and 2638, respectively. To know the last round closing ranks for other categories, see the table below.
| Category | Electrical Engineering | Aerospace Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| General | 411 | 2638 |
| OBC | 281 | 1546 |
| SC | 130 | 731 |
| ST | 90 | 458 |
| EWS | 110 | 589 |
| PWD | 7 | 103 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
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