Gaya/Patna: Shubham Kumar, a student from Gaya district, has secured All India Rank (AIR) One in the JEE Advanced 2026 examination, scoring 330 out of 360 marks.
The result follows his strong performance in JEE Main, where he achieved a 100 percentile score in both the January and April sessions. Shubham now plans to join IIT Bombay, his preferred institution for undergraduate studies.
Student from Gaya Tops National Examination
Shubham is a resident of Nadaraganj Brahmani Ghat locality in Gaya city. Following the announcement of the results, celebrations were reported among family members and at his coaching institute in Kota, Rajasthan, where he has been preparing for the examination.
According to his father, Shiv Kumar, Shubham was among the candidates who secured 100 percentile in both JEE Main sessions this year.
Strong Academic Record
Apart from his entrance examination success, Shubham also performed well in the CBSE Class 12 board examinations, scoring 96.8% marks in the science stream.
He said he relied heavily on self-study during his school years and did not take private tuition until after Class X. According to Shubham, developing a strong understanding of concepts at an early stage helped him in competitive examinations later.
Preparation in Kota
Shubham has spent the past two years in Kota preparing for engineering entrance examinations.
He said he gradually increased his study hours over the years, studying around 10 hours a day during secondary school and longer during his senior secondary and JEE preparation period. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining balance through breaks and social interaction.
Shubham initially prepared through online coaching programmes before moving to Kota for classroom coaching. He later received a scholarship through a talent-based selection programme conducted by a coaching institute.
Family Background
Shubham comes from a business family. His father runs a hardware business in Gaya, while his elder sister, Priya Kumari, is pursuing a B.Tech. degree in Computer Science at IIT Patna.
Speaking about her brother’s achievement, Priya said he had consistently performed well academically and remained focused on his goals throughout his education.
Plans for IIT Bombay
Shubham said he has long aspired to study at IIT Bombay and sees engineering as a field that offers opportunities across multiple disciplines.
Beyond completing his degree, he said he hopes to contribute through innovation and research during his time at the institute.
Message for Aspirants
Addressing students who did not achieve their desired results this year, Shubham encouraged them to remain persistent and continue working towards their goals.
He advised aspirants considering another attempt to use the time constructively and focus on improving their performance rather than becoming discouraged by setbacks.
His achievement has drawn attention across Bihar, with educators and local residents hailing the success of a student who has topped both JEE Main and JEE Advanced examinations at the national level.
