Premium

JEE Advanced Results 2025 | ‘Solving mathematical puzzles was not just a hobby, it helped me unwind’ Mumbai boy who secured AIR 4

Nashik boy secures AIR 7, another Mumbai boy is AIR 11

(L-R) Parth Vartak; Arnav Nigam; and Sahil Deo

A student from Mumbai and another from Nashik have made it to the top 10 rankings of JEE Advanced 2025, results of which were announced on Monday. Parth Vartak from Mumbai’s Vile Parle has secured All India Rank (AIR) 4, while Sahil Deo from Nashik has secured AIR 7. Another Mumbai boy, Arnav Nigam, has secured AIR 11.

All three are looking forward to join the coveted Computer Science Engineering (CSE) programme at IIT Bombay.

JEE Advanced Rank Predictor | JEE Advanced Result 2025 Updates

Parth, whose father is an engineer and mother a practicing ayurvedic doctor, said he is passionate about mathematics. “Solving mathematical puzzles with my father was not just a hobby, it helped me unwind even during intense preparations,” said the 17-year-old Parth, who prepared for the JEE Advanced at Narayana E-Techno School in Marol.

The weekly mock-tests at Narayana School, which replicate the JEE-Advanced exam, helped Parth prepare well with smaller goals. “Every weekend I would get a thorough evaluation of my strengths and weaknesses,” he said.

Although their residence in Vile Parle is not far from Marol where Parth’s coaching centre is located, the family relocated temporarily to Andheri to cut down on commute time to the coaching centre.

Though delighted by Sahil’s impressive rank, it wasn’t unexpected for the Deo family, which shifted from Nashik to Mumbai just so that Sahil could prepare well for the JEE. Sahil too prepared for the test at Narayana E-Techno School, a coaching centre in Marol. According to Sahil, setting up small goals and working toward achieving them was his strategy for success. “Every weekly test was a checkpoint. I used the feedback to fine-tune my preparation for the next one,” he said. His elder brother, Vedant — an IIT Delhi graduate in CSE — has been a great support for him.

The family shifted to Andheri in Mumbai two years ago to ensure Sahil received the best JEE coaching. “It was a small move for a big dream,” said his father Mukesh Deo, a mechanical engineer. Sahil, who gave up his FIDE-rated chess pursuits to fully dedicate his time for studies, used to watch science documentaries on YouTube to unwind.

Story continues below this ad

A resident of Juhu, Andheri, Arnav’s interest in science began early through his participation in the Homi Bhabha Balvaidnyanik (Junior Scientist) competition during Class 6 and 9. “Physics and Mathematics became my favourite subjects since then, and that led me to prepare for JEE,” Arnav said. He prepared for the JEE Advanced at Sri Chaitanya Integrated Coaching Centre in Andheri. He too is looking forward to joining CSE at IIT Bombay.

According to Arnav, consistency and following guidelines by teachers is key to success. “After attending classes for nearly seven hours, I made it a point to dedicate time to self-study, which is important for revision,” he said, adding that he stayed away from social media to ensure complete focus on studies.

Among candidates who have cleared JEE Advanced, there are a total 11,226 students from IIT Bombay zone, which comprises Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Karnataka. Even as the IIT Bombay zone ranks third among a total seven zones in number of qualified candidates, it tops the chart in terms of top 500 candidates with 145 candidates featuring in that bracket.

Pallavi Smart

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More