JEE Main 2025 Topper Arka Banerjee (AIR 403) Eyes IIT Bombay CSE, Scores 99.90 Percentile
With a dream of joining IIT Bombay’s coveted Computer Science Engineering (CSE) programme, Arka is now gearing up for the JEE Advanced.
From Burdwan to a national rank under 500, Arka Banerjee’s single-minded focus and disciplined preparation have earned him an impressive 99.908 percentile in JEE Main 2025. With a dream of joining IIT Bombay’s coveted Computer Science Engineering (CSE) programme, Arka is now gearing up for the JEE Advanced. In this interview, he opens up about his journey, academic routine, and advice for future aspirants.
🗣️ Interview with Arka Banerjee – JEE Main 2025 Topper (AIR 403)
Q. Congratulations on your stellar result! What was your initial reaction when you saw your JEE Main score?
Arka Banerjee: I felt happy, but at the same time, I reminded myself to stay focused on JEE Advanced to secure an even better rank.
Q. At what point did you decide to pursue engineering and target the IITs?
Arka Banerjee: When I was in Class 8, I decided to pursue engineering. I’ve always believed engineering offers innovative solutions to everyday problems, and that challenge really attracted me.
Q. Could you tell us about your academic background and your family’s role in your journey?
Arka Banerjee: I'm from Burdwan, West Bengal. I studied at Burdwan Municipal High School (State Board). My father is an administrative officer, currently posted as AGM (HR) at SgTPP. My mother is a school teacher, and my elder sister is a final-year medical student. Their constant support was a big part of my journey.
Q. When did you start preparing seriously for JEE, and how did you structure your study routine?
Arka Banerjee: I began exploring JEE-related topics in Class 9, but my intensive preparation truly started in Class 11. From then on, I followed a structured approach guided by my coaching institute.
Q. What were your strong and weak areas during the JEE preparation? How did you work on them?
Arka Banerjee: Physics was always my strength. Initially, I neglected Chemistry a bit, but I later balanced all three subjects. I also used to make a lot of calculation errors, which I worked hard to correct by improving my temperament during practice.
Q. Which study materials and books proved most helpful in your preparation?
Arka Banerjee: I primarily followed study modules and assignments from ALLEN Online. I also used standard reference books like H.C. Verma, Irodov, and Sameer Bansal—but I recommend consulting with teachers before picking up additional books.
IIT Bombay is an renowned institute worldwide which offers BTech courses based on JEE Advanced exam scores. It provides admission for various BTech and Integrated courses including CSE, ECE, and Civil Engineering programs. In 2024, IIT Bombay has released the JEE Advanced cutoff 2024. In connection to it, the CSE cutoff stood at 68 for the General AI category candidates.
Candidates can check out the five-year CSE cutoff trend from the table below for the General AI category:
| Years | CSE Cutoff |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 68 |
| 2023 | 67 |
| 2022 | 61 |
| 2021 | 67 |
| 2020 | 66 |
While analysing the data, a fluctuating trend over the period of five years was witnessed in the IIT Bombay cutoffs.
Q. How did you balance your school board exams with JEE preparation?
Arka Banerjee: I believe good JEE preparation covers board syllabus as well. I focused on JEE throughout the year and shifted focus to board exams only about 10–15 days prior.
Q. What was your strategy while attempting the JEE Main exam?
Arka Banerjee: I started with Physics, which was my strength, followed by Chemistry. I attempted Maths last, since it's more calculation-intensive and time-consuming.
Q. How did you handle stress and stay motivated during intense preparation phases?
Arka Banerjee: I listened to music and watched cricket and football to de-stress. And whenever I felt low, my mother was always there to uplift my spirits.
Q. What is your dream college and course, and why?
Arka Banerjee: IIT Bombay, Computer Science Engineering. It has been my dream for a long time.
Q. Do you have any specific plans for the future after completing your B.Tech?
Arka Banerjee: I want to explore the field of Artificial Intelligence and use it to contribute to societal well-being.
Q. What advice would you give to future JEE aspirants preparing for this competitive exam?
Arka Banerjee: Stay motivated and work hard without overthinking results. Consistency throughout your preparation is key.
Read More:
Follow Shiksha.com for latest education news in detail on Exam Results, Dates, Admit Cards, & Schedules, Colleges & Universities news related to Admissions & Courses, Board exams, Scholarships, Careers, Education Events, New education policies & Regulations.
To get in touch with Shiksha news team, please write to us at news@shiksha.com
Related News
Latest News
Next Story
Yes, GATE score is required to get admission to IIT Bombay course. However, aspirants who have not qualified GATE can also get admission based on written test conducted by the institute. The shortlisted candidates are further called for a personal interview round. In order to be eligible to apply for the course, an aspirant must have a BE/ BTech/ BSc/ Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Planning/ MSc/ MCA/ MBBS/ MPharm/ BPharm/ BDS/ degree recognised equivalent to BE/ BTech with a minimum of 60% aggregate (55% aggregate for SC/ ST/ PwD category) earned through Associate Membership Examinations conducted by recognised professional bodies to apply for MTech course.