Maharashtra JEE Topper Madhav Viradiya's Inspiring Journey to 100 Percentile
When Madhav Viradiya relocated from Vadodara to Mumbai two years ago to prepare for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), his goal was modest: secure a good rank through dedicated training, a path familiar to countless engineering aspirants across India. However, the release of the JEE (Main) 2026 answer key unveiled an extraordinary outcome. Madhav scored 286 out of 300, and a bonus awarded for an incorrect question elevated his total to 291, clinching a perfect 100 percentile and the coveted top rank in Maharashtra.
JEE Main 2026 Results: A National Overview of Top Performers
The JEE (Main) 2026 results, announced on Monday, highlighted 12 candidates who achieved the prestigious 100 percentile. Rajasthan emerged as the leader with three toppers, followed by Andhra Pradesh with two. Other states contributing one topper each included Bihar, Telangana, Odisha, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, and Maharashtra, showcasing a diverse geographical spread of academic excellence.
Madhav's Background and Preparation Strategy
For Madhav, pursuing engineering was a natural choice, influenced by his father, an engineer, and his elder brother, who studies at IIT Jodhpur. He moved to Mumbai with his mother and enrolled at Narayana e-Techno School, an institution that has now produced Maharashtra's 100 percentiler for the third consecutive year. Siddhesh Naik, dean (academics), remarked, "This is the third consecutive year we have a 100 percentile and the state topper from the same campus."
Madhav began his JEE preparation in Class 10, intensifying efforts after Class 11. Alongside rigorous JEE training, he also participated in astronomy Olympiads during Classes XI and XII. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, "Preparing for JEE is tough. I sacrificed a lot — meeting friends rarely, very little time for fun. Initially it felt punishing, but I got used to it. I studied around 10 to 12 hours a day."
Exam Statistics and Demographic Trends
Madhav's achievement stands out against a massive national backdrop. Over 13.55 lakh candidates registered for Paper 1 (BE/BTech), though only 13.04 lakh appeared, indicating a typical drop between registration and attendance. Demographic data revealed that men continued to dominate the candidate pool, with 8.87 lakh male registrations compared to 4.67 lakh female candidates. This pattern persisted across all categories: General, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST. The OBC-NCL category formed the largest group of candidates, followed by the General category, while Scheduled Tribe candidates remained the smallest segment.
