Gaya: Bihar’s Shubham Kumar has secured the All India Rank 1 in JEE Advanced 2026, marking a significant achievement for the state and adding to an already impressive academic record. The student from Gaya scored 330 out of 360 marks in the highly competitive engineering entrance examination and is now preparing to pursue his studies at IIT Bombay.
The result has sparked celebrations in his hometown and among family members, teachers and well-wishers. Shubham belongs to the Nadarganj-Brahmani Ghat locality in Ward No. 38 of Gaya. He is currently in Kota, Rajasthan, where he has been undergoing coaching for the examination.
Consistent Performance Across National Exams
Shubham’s success in JEE Advanced follows his strong performance in JEE Main 2026, where he secured a perfect 100 percentile in both the January and April sessions.
According to his father, Shiv Kumar, Shubham was among the top-performing students in both sessions of JEE Main. While 12 students secured 100 percentile in the January session and 26 achieved the feat in April, Shubham featured in both lists.
His academic achievements were not limited to entrance examinations. In the CBSE Class 12 board examinations, he scored 96.8 per cent in the Science stream.
Self-Study Played a Key Role
Shubham attributes much of his success to self-study and disciplined preparation. He said he did not attend private tuition classes until Class 10 and largely relied on independent learning after receiving early academic guidance from his mother.
According to him, studying on his own helped him develop a stronger understanding of concepts and improved his confidence when tackling complex subjects.
Rigorous Study Schedule
Speaking about his preparation strategy, Shubham said he had been living in Kota for the past two years and followed a demanding study routine.
He studied around 10 hours daily during his Class 10 preparation and increased the duration to more than 12 hours a day by Class 12. During the peak phase of JEE preparation, he often devoted up to 15 hours a day to studies.
At the same time, he emphasised the importance of maintaining balance and avoiding mental fatigue. He said regular breaks and interactions with friends helped him stay motivated throughout the preparation period.
Journey From Online Learning to Kota
Shubham began preparing for engineering entrance examinations shortly after completing his Class 10 board examinations. Initially, he attended online classes offered by coaching institutes for a year.
Later, he appeared for a scholarship examination conducted by a coaching institute in Kota and secured financial support based on his academic performance. In 2025, he moved to Kota to continue his preparation through offline classroom programmes.
His efforts culminated in a perfect score in both JEE Main sessions and the top rank in JEE Advanced 2026.
Family Background and Support
Shubham comes from a business family in Gaya. His father runs a hardware business on Ramna Road in the city.
His elder sister, Priya Kumari, is pursuing a B.Tech degree in Computer Science at Indian Institute of Technology Patna. She said her brother had consistently ranked among the top students since his school years and remained focused on his academic goals.
Family members said financial constraints never affected the education of the children, allowing them to pursue their ambitions without interruption.
Aspiration to Study at IIT Bombay
Shubham said securing admission to Indian Institute of Technology Bombay had been a long-standing goal.
He expressed a strong interest in engineering and innovation, stating that he hopes not only to complete his degree but also contribute meaningful innovations during his academic journey.
His father described him as a focused and dedicated student who has maintained a strong commitment to academics from an early age.
Message for Future Aspirants
Following the announcement of the results, Shubham offered words of encouragement to students who may not have achieved their desired scores this year.
He advised aspirants not to be discouraged by setbacks and to continue working towards their goals. Students considering a gap year, he said, should use the time productively and prepare with determination for future examinations.
His achievement has been widely celebrated in Gaya, with residents and educators hailing it as a moment of pride for Bihar and an inspiration for students across the state.
