JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Toppers Live: Shreyas Mishra, Bhavesh Patra, Arnav Gautam Score 100, Interview & Prep Strategy

Swathi, the female topper in JEE Mains session 1 exam, shares her daily study routine. On school days, she would attend classes and then study for around three hours after coming home. In the first year, it was slightly less, but in the second year, she studied consistently for three hours after school. She was a regular classroom student at Deeksha Vedantu, which is a PU College with integrated coaching for JEE / NEET / KCET / CA / CS and other competitive exams.

In an exclusive interview with Shiksha, JEE Mains 2026 female topper, Swati Subramanya (99.60 percentile), shared her subject-wise strategy on the exam day.

• Physics: It felt logical and straightforward to me.
• Mathematics: It required a lot of practice because each question needs a different approach.
• Chemistry: It involved a lot of memorisation, so I revised frequently.

Bharath, who obtained 99.87 percentile in JEE Main 2026, is now preparing for JEE Advanced. He aspires to get admission to IIT Madras ECE.

The following table highlights the names of the JEE Main topper 2026 with NTA scores

JEE Main 2026 toppers advise aspirants to start preparation early with confidence. Thorough practice will ensure JEE Mains aspirants perform well under pressure. Moreover, students must maintain a balanced preparation across all three subjects.

Swathi Subramanya, a regular classroom student at Deeksha Vedantu, has obtained a stellar percentile of 99.60 in the JEE Mains 2026 session 1 exam. She appeared in the JEE Mains Jan 23 shift 2 exam, which is considered the toughest. In an exclusive conversation with us, she emphasised practising PYQs and mock tests. Moreover, her observation was that studying from the NCERTs benefitted here.

Shubham Kumar, who obtained a 100 Percentile in JEE Main 2026 said he took a two-day break after JEE Main session 1 got over; he spent time playing and relaxing to refresh his mind. He has now resumed his preparation for JEE Advanced.

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Bharath Madhusudhan Gudi (99.87 percentile holder),a student of Deeksha Vedantu, said that balancing board exam preparation alongside entrance exam studies helps systematically prepare for both exams. He said that the board syllabus overlaps with JEE topics, so attempting focused mock tests is his strategy.

Ashi Grewal has become the JEE Main Female Topper in the JEE Main 2026 result. She secured the highest position among girls in one of India’s toughest engineering entrance exams. With an outstanding score of 99.9969766, she has also secured a place in the prestigious JEE Main Topper List.

Out of the 12 candidates nationwide who achieved a perfect 100 NTA Score, the state-wise distribution is as follows:

CRL stands for the Common Rank List. NTA releases the cutoff in several categories one of which is CRL. Basically, CRL means unreserved category. Candidates belonging to unreserved category need to have JEE Main cutoff equal to or more than the CRL cutoff. The other categories for which cutoff is released are Gen-EWS, Open-PwD, OBC-NCL, SC and ST.

9 questions have been dropped out of the final answer key across all 10 shifts. Moreover, as many as 3 questions have been dropped from a single shift, students will get +4 marks for every dropped question in that shift. The highest number of dropped questions is seen in the January 22 shift 2.

The following details are given on JEE Main 2026 result.

• Candidate’s Name
• Application Number
• Roll Number
• Date of Birth
• Category
• State of Eligibility
• Subject-wise NTA Scores (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)
• Total NTA Score (Percentile)

Note that the cutoff and AIR is not be mentioned on the JEE Mains result. 

The expected cutoff JEE Main 2026 is 93.3 percentile for the general (UR) category, 81.4 for the EWS category, 61.3 percentile for SC, 48.2 percentile for ST and 80.74 percentile for the OBC-NCL category.

After the JEE Main session 1 result is out, candidates have to analyse their performance. Based on that, candidates can take the following measures:

• Apply for JEE Main Session 2 if you have not scored well in JEE Result Session 1.
• If your JEE Main session 1 score is anywhere above 95 percentile, then you might surely pass the JEE Mains cutoff for JEE Advanced. You can start preparing for the Advanced exam.
• All other candidates who score 99.99 percentile and above can either prepare for JEE Advanced for IIT admission, or strategise for NIT/IIIT/GFTI admissions based on JEE Mains scores.

Check below the list of 100 percentilers in JEE Mains over the years -

A total of 8,87,476 male candidates registered for the exam and 8,55,085 took the test. On the other hand, 4,67,817 female candidates registered for the examination. Out of those registered, 4,49,568 female candidates actually appeared for the exam. 

Shubham Kumar hails from Bihar and has secured 100 percentile in JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam. As a JEE Main topper 2026, Shubham went on to share his personal experience, his preparation strategy and how he coped with pre-exam anxiety and nervousness. 

Read complete interview here: JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Topper Interview Shubham Kumar

Make good friends. Do not stay isolated, especially if you are away from home. Friends help you relax and reduce stress. It is important to take breaks, talk, and even play sports. I enjoy playing football and badminton. Constant study without relaxation can lead to burnout.- Kabeer Chillar, JEE Main 2026 session 1 topper

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Topper Arnav says, "Students who have secured 200 marks in JEE Mains should not bother, as they have already cleared Mains. Instead, they should focus and prepare consistently for JEE Advanced and Boards."

All 12 toppers are males. No female with 100 percentile in JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam.

Many toppers started serious preparation as early as Class 9 or 10. This helped them build their foundation and understand advanced concepts easily.

NTA score reflects percentile performance, not raw marks alone. Students must understand normalisation before comparing scores.

"For physics do both easy and tough questions together. Easy questions build concepts, while tough ones improve thinking ability. In chemistry, do not leave it for the end. Practice regularly and revise the NCERTs thoroughly. For JEE Main, every line of NCERT is important. I re-read it many times before the exam. Write down points that you tend to forget. Focus on maths from the beginning. Practice a wide variety of questions. Maths is more about solving and practising than just reading theory.

Kabeer: For physics do both easy and tough questions together. Easy questions build concepts, while tough ones improve thinking ability. In chemistry, do not leave it for the end. Practice regularly and revise the NCERTs thoroughly. For JEE Main, every line of NCERT is important. I re-read it many times before the exam. Write down points that you tend to forget. Focus on maths from the beginning. Practice a wide variety of questions. Maths is more about solving and practising than just reading theory.

Read complete interview here: JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Topper Interview Kabeer Chhillar: “Take Mock Tests Seriously”

Kabeer: Mock tests are extremely important. They help you understand your level. If you score low, it motivates you to work harder. They also improve your exam temperament and focus. I always analysed my mistakes carefully after every test.

Upon being asked about the study environment at Kota, JEE Mains topper, Kabeer replied, "Kota feels different. You see students studying everywhere. It motivates you automatically. I also attended events where seniors’ JEE Advanced results were celebrated. That gave me confidence that I was in the right place."

When asked this question, JEE Mains 2026 session 1 topper from Delhi, Shreyas Mishra, replied, "Whenever I faced difficult questions in JEE Main exam, I did not hesitate to skip them for the time being. I believe that rather than spending time on a question I have difficulty solving, it is better to attempt easier questions. This helps to build my confidence and manage my time."

Shreyas Mishra has been named as one of the students who have secured 100 percentile in JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exam. As a JEE Main topper 2026, Shreyas has mentioned in one of his interviews that he focused on correcting his mistakes made during preparation so that he could do better in the exam. 

Check complete interview: JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Topper Interview Shreyas Mishra: "Classify Your Mistakes and Correct It"

A message which is common among all toppers is to stay consistent, analyse mistakes, sleep well, and trust the preparation process. Mock test and PYQs are also essential for preparation.

As shared by Arnav, giving Olympiads improves analytical thinking and removes the fear of competitive exams.

Many toppers started serious preparation as early as Class 9 or 10. Early foundation building helped them understand advanced concepts easily.

JEE Main 2026 toppers say NCERTs is a very important resource, especially for Chemistry. Short notes for revision and focusing on PYQs (previous year questions) are common strategies. Toppers also recommended equal time to all subjects in the beginning. As preparation advances, more time should be given to weaker areas.

Family support has been a strong pillar for JEE Mains toppers 2026. Many credited their parents for motivation during low mock test scores and thanked them for the constant support.

JEE Main 2026 toppers say NCERTs is a very important resource, especially for Chemistry. Short notes for revision and focusing on PYQs (previous year questions) are common strategies. Toppers also recommended equal time to all subjects in the beginning. As preparation advances, more time should be given to weaker areas.

Managing boards and JEE preparation together is another challenge. Bhavesh and Arnav both mentioned balancing board preparation along with JEE Advanced preparation after JEE Main 2026 session 1 results.

Also check: Students Face High-Pressure as JEE Mains Results 2026 Come Amid CBSE Class 12 Board Exams

This year’s statistics show high participation in Session 1. With 12 candidates scoring perfect percentile, this indicates that the exam difficulty level has risen over the past years, and so has the competition in the JEE Main exam. For session 1 in particular, in 2022, there were 14 candidates scoring a perfect 100th percentile. In 2023, 20 candidates got 100 percentile, in 2024, there were 23 students, and in 2025, there were 14 perfect scorers.

AIR 1 will be officially declared after the session 2 results. The JEE Mains 2026 session 1 percentile does not determine the final All India Rank. Students must wait for the April session for final ranking. The JEE Mains session 2 result date is April 20.

Bhavesh Patra shared that if a question seems difficult, it is likely difficult for everyone. His strategy was to mentally plan attempts and move ahead instead of wasting time. Smart time management helped him maximise attempts.

JEE Mains 2026 toppers have repeatedly stressed the importance of analysing silly mistakes. These include calculation errors, misreading questions and incorrect option selection. Arnav mentioned that avoiding calculators during preparation improved his calculation speed and reduced errors.

Purohit shared that analysing mock tests carefully helped him improve steadily. After every test, he reviewed mistakes and worked on weak topics. He dedicated around 6-7 hours daily for self-study and ensured conceptual clarity. His preparation approach focused on strong fundamentals in all three subjects.

When asked about daily study hours, Arnav said he studied around 10 hours daily. However, he ensured balance and avoided burnout. He maintained a clear strategy for attempting subjects during the exam, starting with Chemistry, then Physics, followed by Mathematics.

Arnav Gautam also highlighted the importance of Olympiads in building analytical skills. He started participating in Olympiads from a young age. He believes such exams reduce fear and improve performance in major competitive exams like JEE Main. Regular exposure to competitive questions helped him gain confidence.

Another 100 percentile scorer, Arnav Gautam, shared that physical activity helped him stay fresh during preparation. He used to play cricket daily for 30 minutes. According to him, small breaks improve focus and reduce monotony. Arnav believes that maintaining mental and physical health is equally important during JEE preparation.

Talking about exam-day strategy, Bhavesh shared that he avoided last-minute stress. A day before the exam, he focused on light revision and ensured 8-9 hours of sleep. He believes that a calm mind performs better in competitive exams. His advice to aspirants is to stay confident and avoid overthinking difficult questions.

Bhavesh Patra prepared for JEE Main at Allen Kota. In his interview, he mentioned that regular mock tests helped him understand his weak areas. He emphasised analysing mistakes after every test. According to him, consistency and discipline played a major role in his success. He also balanced his preparation with proper sleep and stress management.

Check complete interview here: JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Topper Interview Bhavesh Patra: Consistency is Key for Preparation

Among the top scorers, Bhavesh Patra from Odisha has emerged as one of the standout performers with a 100 percentile. He is the only candidate from Odisha to secure a perfect score in Session 1. His preparation journey highlights the importance of revision, mock tests, and consistency. Bhavesh credited his parents and teachers for constant support during his preparation phase.

Purohit Nimay from Gujarat also secured 100 percentile in Session 1. He prepared at Allen Rajkot and focused on understanding concepts instead of memorising them. He believes studying smart is more important than studying endlessly. His strategy included revising topics on the same day they were taught.

Complete interview here: JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Topper Interview Purohit Nimay; Know his Preparation Strategy, Success Tips

The National Testing Agency has officially declared the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result at jeemain.nta.nic.in. Along with the results, NTA has released details of candidates who secured a perfect 100 percentile. This year, 12 candidates achieved the top score, making headlines across the country. Students can now check their NTA scorecards and percentile details online. Interviews of toppers are also being shared, giving insights into their preparation journey.

Candidates can check the PwBD topper and their details below.

Candidates can check the complete list of general category toppers and their NTA scores below:

The Gen-EWS Category topper and the NTA score for Paper 1 is given below:

Bhavesh: If you are at the beginning stage of preparation, then give equal time to all subjects. As you progress, start focusing on your weak areas and give them more time. To improve your weak topics, solving mock tests regularly really helps. Also, try to clear your doubts by yourself. If you are still not able to solve it, then you should approach your teachers. After every mock test, it is important to analyse your performance and review it with your teachers. If you focus on mistakes, then you will automatically be able to raise your scores.

The OBC-NCL Category topper and the NTA Score for JEE Mains 2026 session 1 are as under:

The SC Category topper and the NTA Score for Paper 1 (B.E. / Tech.) is as under:

ST Category topper and the NTA Score for Paper 1 (B.E. / Tech.):

While I was preparing for JEE Main, I made sure that I still got a good sleep. I prepared a routine so I was able to sleep for at least 7 hours every day. The rest of my day was spent on studying and preparing topics from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Listed among the top 12 students, Bhavesh Patra of Odisha has scored 100 percentile in JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exam. He is the only student from Odisha who has secured 100 percentile score in JEE Main 2026 result.

Read: Bhavesh Patra Topper Interview

NTA Scores are normalised scores across multi-shift papers and are based on the relative performance of all those who appeared for the examination in one shift. The marks obtained are transformed into a scale ranging from 100 to 0 for each shift of examinees. NTA score is not the same as the percentage of marks obtained. The NTA Score of a Candidate has been calculated as follows:

100 x Number of candidates apneared in the 'Shift' with raw score EOUAL TO OR LESS than the score of the candidate in the Shift

Total number of candidates who appeared in the 'Shift'

When asked if there is any different strategy that you adopted during the final month of preparation for JEE Mains?, Pasala answers, "I prepared for the JEE Main and board examinations simultaneously, as there is not much difference in the syllabus."

Total 13,04,653 candidates appeared in the exam out of which 12 candidates have secured 100 percentile in the exam.

👉JEE Main 2026 Results: 100 Percentilers Hit 4-Year Low; Is the Competition Getting Harder?

Note that students with the same raw marks can have different percentiles. JEE Main is conducted in multiple shifts, and each shift can have a different difficulty level. Some shifts may be slightly easier, while others may be tougher. Because of this, NTA uses a normalisation process to calculate the percentile. This ensures that no student is at a disadvantage because of a tougher paper. So, two students with the same marks from different shifts may have different percentiles. This is completely normal.

When asked, 'Any word of advice to future JEE Main aspirants?', Pasala said: Try to focus on errors, and silly mistakes should be avoided. Practice time management and be prepared for the unexpected.

NTA announces the toppers with the JEE Main 2026 result. The toppers are the candidates who score 100 percentile in the exam. NTA also releases JEE Main toppers in the following categories:

1. All India toppers
2. State-wise toppers
3. Category wise toppers
4. Gender-wise toppers

In a conversation with Shiksha experts, Pasala M. said, Yes. They help a lot. I attempted a lot of mock tests and sample papers at my coaching institute, which helped me get prepared for JEE Main 2026 January session.

In case two or more candidates have the same NTA score, then the listed tie-breaking guidelines will be followed in given order to allot ranks.

• NTA score in Mathematics
• NTA score in Physics
• NTA score in Chemistry
• Candidate with less proportion of number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the test
• Candidate with less proportion of number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Mathematics in the test
• Candidate with less proportion of number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Physics in the test
• Candidate with less proportion of number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Chemistry in the test
• If there is a tie even after this, candidates will be assigned the same rank.

Candidates can check the expected JEE Mains 2026 marks vs percentile vs rank below.

While NTA does not release JEE Main 2026 topper marks out of 300, they do announce session-wise topper names. Candidates can check list of JEE Main toppers 2026 through an official notification, which has been released at jeemain.nta.nic.in. Along with overall toppers, NTA has also released state-wise and category-wise toppers list.

As per the final answer key, Arnav Gautam, P Mohith, Kabeer Chhillar, Shubham Kumar, Bhavesh Patra, Anay Jain, Nimy Purohit and Chiranjin Kaur have obtained 300/300 marks in JEE Mains 2026 session 1 exam.

Not all 100 percentile holders have a perfect score of 300-300. It is possible that students have marks less than 300 but the highest marks in their shift.

Pasala Mohith (100 percentiler): I was always interested in Maths and Physics and developed a liking towards engineering. I am aiming for computer science at IIT Bombay.

Candidates can check the expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff for advanced.

Candidates who are not satisfied with their score in the session 1 exam can apply for the April attempt. JEE Main Session 2 registration 2026 is open until February 25.

Read more: Not Satisfied with JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Result? Registration for April Session 2 Now Open- Tips to Boost Your Score

The toppers list for JEE Mains 2026 of Male candidates and their NTA Score (in ascending order of Application ) for Paper 1 (B.E. / B.Tech.) are as under:

Based on the official NTA press release, a total of 13,55,293 candidates registered for the JEE (Main) 2026 Session 1 Paper 1 (B.E. / B. Tech.). Here is the category-wise breakdown of the registered candidates:

• General: 4,73,633 candidates registered.
• OBC-NCL (Central List): 5,33,971 candidates registered.
• Gen-EWS: 1,64,260 candidates registered.
• SC: 1,37,207 candidates registered.
• ST: 46,222 candidates registered.

The JEE Mains expected cutoff 2026 percentile is given here. The actual cutoff will be announced along with Session 2 JEE Main result 2026.

In a big achievement this year, Ashi Grewal has become the JEE Main Female Topper in the JEE Main 2026 result. She secured the highest position among girls in one of India’s toughest engineering entrance exams. With an outstanding score of 99.9969766, she has also secured a place in the prestigious JEE Main Topper List.

Check below the names of the candidates who have scored 100 percentile in JEE Mains January session:

Check the category-wise and gender wise number of candidates who appeared and registered for JEE Main 2026 session 1 below:

Candidates can check their JEE Main ranks with their JEE Main session 2 scorecard. To check their ranks, candidates have to download the scorecard from their respective logins.

NTA does not release the JEE Main 2026 rank list for all candidates separately. The ranks are mentioned individually on the respective JEE Main scorecards of the candidates, which candidates can access from the login using their application number and password.

The All India Rank (AIR) in JEE Main 2026 is allotted to all candidates via their session 2 scorecard. NTA will release the JEE Main session 2 result online on the official website - jeemain.nta.nic.in by April 20.

Note that NTA do not release the raw marks of the students out of 300 via the results. The topper's scores out of 300 are based on the calculation of raw marks using the answer keys released by the NTA. Therefore, knowing the exact scores out of 300 of all the JEE Main toppers who have scored 100 percentile is not always possible. 

All 100 percentile scorers are now strong contenders for JEE Advanced 2026. Their next challenge will be maintaining consistency in the advanced-level paper, where the competition narrows further.

Rajasthan has emerged as one of the strongest performers in Session 1, with more than one candidate securing a 100 NTA score. The state’s repeated presence in the perfect percentile list signals sustained exam preparation standards and strong competition this year.

A total of 12 candidates have secured a perfect 100 NTA score in JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Paper 1, according to the official NTA press release. The 100 percentile club includes candidates from Delhi, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Telangana, Gujarat and Odisha. 

Kabeer Chhillar from Rajasthan has scored a perfect 100.0000000 NTA score in Session 1. Rajasthan has multiple candidates in the 100 percentile list, and Kabeer is one of them. His achievement reflects the intense competition and preparation level seen in this year’s exam.

Andhra Pradesh has delivered multiple top scorers in JEE Main 2026 Session 1. With at least two candidates, NARENDRABABU GARI MAHITH & PASALA MOHITH, scoring 100 percentile, the state continues its strong record in engineering entrance exams. 

Rajasthan has emerged as one of the strongest performers in Session 1, with more than one candidate securing a 100 NTA score. The state’s repeated presence in the perfect percentile list signals sustained exam preparation standards and strong competition this year.

Narendrababu Gari Mahith from Andhra Pradesh has also achieved a perfect 100.0000000 NTA score in JEE Main 2026 Session 1. He is listed among the top scorers nationally. His result reflects outstanding consistency across shifts.

Shreyas Mishra from Delhi (NCT) has secured a perfect 100.0000000 NTA score in JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech). His name appears at the top of the official list released by NTA. Scoring 100 percentile in a national-level engineering entrance exam places him among the highest achievers this session.

JEE Main 2026 toppers aiming for IITs are now preparing for JEE Advanced. They plan to shift focus to advanced-level problem solving and conceptual depth.

State-wise data shows JEE Main 2026 toppers come from cities like Kota, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai. Coaching hubs once again produced multiple high scorers. Among the list is Pasala Mohith, who, according to Sri Chaitanya, the prestigious IIT JEE coaching has a perfect score of 300/300 as per the final answer key.

Shiksha.com got in touch with Pasala Mohith to understand how he achieved this feat despite a difficult exam this year. Pasala Mohith, who secured 100 percentile in JEE Mains 2026, said that he joined the classroom program of Sri Chaitanya, Hyderabad centre and has been preparing for JEE Main and JEE Advanced. During the interview, he advised future aspirants to focus on errors, and avoid silly mistakes. Also, practice time management and stay prepared for the unexpected.

Candidates can download their scorecard using the following steps -

• Go to officia website
• Click on the link that says "Result of JEE (Main)" or "View Scorecard" on the home page and click on it.
• Enter Credentials: Application Number and Password.
• Enter Security Pin: Type the security code shown on the screen.
• Submit: Click the "Submit" button.
• View & Download: Your JEE Main scorecard will appear; download it and take a printout for future reference.