Hyderabad/Visakhapatnam: Three students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have secured positions in the top 10 ranks of the JEE Advanced 2026 examination, the results of which were announced on Monday. The toppers include Mohit Shekher Shukla (All India Rank 4) and Kuchi Sandeep (All India Rank 5) from Telangana, and Medisetti Naga Saharsha (All India Rank 9) from Andhra Pradesh. Notably, all three students from the IIT Madras zone—which encompasses Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry—who featured in the top 10 are from the two Telugu states.
A total of 14,294 students qualified from the IIT Madras zone, the highest among all IIT zones in the country in what is considered one of the most competitive entrance examinations globally. This strong performance is largely attributed to the overwhelming number of aspirants from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who appear for the JEE every year. Students from the IIT Madras zone accounted for a significant share of the top ranks, with 35 students in the top 100, 73 in the top 200, and 174 in the top 500. Students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana took a lion's share of these top ranks.
Toppers' Journeys and Aspirations
Mohit Shekher Shukla (AIR 4)
Mohit expressed his thrill at his hard work paying off. "Balancing intermediate studies with JEE Advanced preparation was challenging, but the support of my family kept me focused. Research and problem-solving have fascinated me since childhood. I want to pursue computer science at IIT Bombay, like my elder brother who also studied there," he told TOI. His long-term dream is to work in research and contribute to the country through science and technology, inspired by his grandfather, a former DRDO scientist, and his parents, who work at ISRO.
Kuchi Sandeep (AIR 5)
Sandeep started his preparation seriously in classes 9 and 10, and consistent effort helped him stay on track. "My father, who works in finance, and my family constantly encouraged me throughout this journey," said Sandeep, who earlier won a gold medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2025 and is set to represent India again at the International Chemistry Olympiad 2026 in Uzbekistan. He hopes to work in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and other new-age technologies in the future.
Medisetti Naga Saharsha (AIR 9)
A native of Pendurthi in Visakhapatnam, Saharsha aspires to pursue computer science engineering at IIT Bombay and launch a start-up in the future. Coming from a humble background, he focused closely on textbooks and core concepts while ensuring that he did not repeat mistakes during preparation. "Introspection helped me overcome challenges, as it enabled me to avoid repeating mistakes in subsequent examinations," said Saharsha, a student of Chaitanya Educational Institutions. His father, Apparao, works in a private organisation, while his mother is a homemaker.
Veldurthi Harishith (AIR 15)
Harishith shared suggestions for aspirants preparing for competitive examinations. Despite an intensive study schedule, he ensured that he remained physically active by cycling to and from college and spending nearly half an hour daily on activities such as push-ups, pull-ups, yoga, and meditation. He comes from an interesting academic background: although both his parents are doctors, he chose engineering because of his strong interest in mathematics. His father is a neurosurgeon, while his mother is an anaesthesiologist, both serving at different government hospitals in Tirupati. "I always visualised myself securing a place in the top 10 and maintained calmness and composure throughout the preparation. That mindset helped me both during preparation and in the examination," said Harishith, a student of Narayana Educational Institutions, Tirupati.
Other Toppers from Andhra Pradesh
Other high achievers from Andhra Pradesh include Pasala Mohith (AIR 26), B Chandra Sekhar Reddy (AIR 38), Chinni Pawan Teja (AIR 56), and Naidu Tejal (AIR 87).
Overall Examination Statistics
Of the 1,87,389 candidates who registered for the examination nationwide, 1,79,694 appeared and 56,880 qualified. The number of candidates qualifying increased by 8,632 compared to last year, marking a nearly 18% rise. Academics attributed the performance to sustained conceptual preparation and structured mentoring. "Conceptual mastery, continuous practice, and regular performance analysis are important in preparing for highly competitive examinations like JEE Advanced," said Dr P Sindhura, director of Narayana Educational Institutions.
Toppers' Quotes
- Mohit Shekher Shukla (AIR 4): "My long-term dream is to work in research and contribute to the country through science and technology. With my grandfather having worked as a DRDO scientist and both my parents working at ISRO, I have always been inspired to aim high."
- Kuchi Sandeep (AIR 5): "My strong foundation in school-level academics, along with focused JEE preparation, played a key role in helping me secure this rank. I hope to work in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and other new-age technologies in the future."
- Medisetti Naga Saharsha (AIR 9): "I want to pursue computer science engineering at IIT Bombay and eventually launch a start-up. During my preparation, I focused closely on textbooks and concepts while ensuring that I did not repeat the same mistakes. Introspection helped me overcome challenges and improve with every examination."
- Veldurthi Harishith (AIR 15): "I always visualised myself securing a place in the top 10 and maintained calmness and composure throughout my preparation. Along with studies, I ensured that I stayed physically active through cycling, yoga, meditation, and workouts, which helped me remain focused during the examination."
