In a heartwarming tale of sibling bond, Maharuf Ahmed Khan, who secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 32 in the JEE Advanced 2026 examination, chose to forgo his opportunity to study Computer Science Engineering (CSE) at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) to stay with his twin brother, Masroor Ahmed Khan, who ranked AIR 169. The brothers will now likely pursue CSE together at IIT Madras.
Sacrifice for Sibling Unity
Maharuf's decision came after he realized that his brother Masroor, older by two minutes, would only get a seat at IIT Madras due to his rank. Despite having a better rank, Maharuf opted to give up his chance at IIT Bombay to ensure the twins could study together. Their father, Dr. Mansoor Ahmad Khan, an MD in medicine and in-charge of a dispensary at IIT Bhubaneswar, revealed that the family did not pressure Maharuf into this decision. "We had asked Maharuf to join IIT Bombay, but he declined and said he preferred to study with his brother," Dr. Khan told PTI.
Family Support and Sacrifice
The twins' mother, Dr. Zeenat Begum, an MS in Gynaecology, quit her job at an Odisha government-run hospital to stay with her sons in Kota, Rajasthan, for three years during their JEE preparation. She now plans to join a private hospital or open her own clinic. Dr. Khan stayed back in Bhubaneswar for work. "We hope both our sons will now get a seat each in Computer Science Engineering at IIT Madras," he added.
Academic Journey and Preparation
Both brothers studied at DAV Public School, Unit-8, Bhubaneswar, and attended coaching in Kota. They maintained a healthy competition, discussing topics and solving problems together. Their daily routine included five hours of coaching classes and six hours of self-study, with badminton as their recreational activity. Interestingly, both secured identical marks of 285 and a 99.99 percentile in JEE (Main) 2026.
This story highlights the deep bond between the twins and the sacrifices made by their family for their education. Maharuf's choice to prioritize his brother's company over a top-tier institute underscores the values of family and togetherness.
