While many students dream of making it to the IITs, few overcome the challenges Inderjeet faced along the way. Born to a poor family of an e-rickshaw driver father and a housewife mother, Inderjeet, who hails from Pathanwala, a small village in Rajasthan, has secured OBC NCL rank 1040 and CRL 4861 in JEE Advanced 2026.
The achievement is particularly significant given his family’s modest background. With his father earning a livelihood by driving an e-rickshaw and having an annual income below 1 lakh rupees, access to resources and coaching opportunities was limited. Yet, Inderjeet remained focused on his goal, balancing rigorous preparation with the realities of economic hardship.
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Inderjeet, speaking to HT Digital, opens up about his struggles, daily routine, working with minimal resources, and future ambitions.
1. Can you tell us about your journey from Pathanwala village to passing the JEE Advanced exam?
I am from a small village in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, where even basic facilities like water, healthcare, and even well-functioning sewage systems are hard to come by. Here, nobody really knows about JEE and NEET and I didn’t either till I overheard some senior mention it.
At the time I had access to a smart phone so I went home and searched “what is JEE” and “what is IIT”. That is when I found out about the exam and how students have to go to Kota or Sikar to prepare. When I found out about the fees, I dropped the idea but then later I saw an ad for PhysicsWallah’s online course. While the fee was much lower than going to Kota, it was still a lot for my family but I managed to convince my parents. I cleared JEE in 2025 too and secured a rank around 27,000 but knew I could do better. So I took a drop year and focused on preparation. Even though it was difficult and taking the exam in the heat wasn’t easy either, I’m happy with my performance this time around.
2. Coming from a family with limited financial resources, what were the biggest challenges you faced during your preparation, and how did you overcome them?
With my family’s financial situation, I knew it wouldn’t be possible to join the offline coaching centres. Online was more accessible but for that also I needed a smartphone, which fortunately I had. I later realised my existing data plan wouldn’t be sufficient for the classes I wanted to take, plus there were so many power cuts. That is when my father told me to join the local library in a nearby village and study there. It had free internet, table, chair, and no electricity issues – so that was the ideal situation for me. There were a lot of ups and downs but my parents’ support really helped me through.
3. When did you first dream of studying at an IIT, and what motivated you to pursue that goal despite the obstacles?
I have always wanted to fulfill my parents’ dreams and make them proud. After I found out about JEE from my seniors, I researched about IIT and realised how it could help me build a financially rewarding career. Since I had always been interested in Maths, this seemed like the right path for me. All of this really motivated me to pursue this goal, so I can do better for my family. I know it’s one of the toughest exams but that doesn’t stop me because i really want to make my parents proud.
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4. What did a typical day in your life look like during your JEE preparation? Could you walk us through your daily study routine?
During this year of preparation I would wake up early, do some stretching and start studying by 6am. I would solve maths questions for an hour before getting ready and heading to the library around 8am. I would revise the concepts I studied the previous day and then attend that day’s classes. I studied physics, maths and chemistry everyday. I would take a short nap in the afternoon and then do my homework at the library till 6:30 before coming home. I’d make sure I’d be asleep by 9 to keep up with my schedule.
5. Since you relied on affordable online resources, which platforms, teachers, or study materials helped you the most, and how did you use them effectively?
I studied completely online from PhysicsWallah. Their online courses had quality content and gave me conceptual clarity. The teachers were amazing and they guided me during my preparation. The teachers’ efforts help students like me achieve their dreams without even spending lakhs of money. I think these resources are enough to bring me to a good IIT.
6. What are the three most important preparation tips you would give to JEE aspirants, especially those who cannot afford expensive coaching?
The most important thing is consistency and dedication towards your goals. Whatever is happening in your family, irrespective of if the situation worsens, don’t let it affect your studies at all.
Don’t waste your time on social media or watching too many movies and shortform content. It’s very easy to get distracted when studying online so it is important to be focused on the goal. It can seem difficult but daily hard work makes it easier.
7. How did your family react when they learned about your result, and what does becoming the first IITian from your village mean to you and your community?
My family was very happy when I told them the result. I teared up then because it felt like I’d made it. Not many people in my village or community know about my results since there isn’t much awareness about the exam. If it was a government job, they’d be happy.
8. Looking ahead, which IIT and branch are you aiming for, and what are your long-term ambitions after graduating from IIT?
Honestly, my dream IIT is IIT ROORKEE. I am considering Mathematics and Computing, or AI and Data Science, seeing how fast AI is growing and the opportunities available in this field.
