Nagpur: Kovid Boob from the city was ranked first in the country in the Scheduled Caste (SC) category in JEE Advanced 2026, results of which were declared on Monday. Kovid, with CRL 82, is one of the two students from the city who made it to top 100 list. Kovid’s classmate Madhav Notani, All India Rank (AIR) 25, is also the probable state topper among students who took coaching in Nagpur itself, rather than Kota. JEE-Advanced is the gateway to the prestigious IITs across the country. Notani, who aspires to study at IIT Bombay, said he sometimes felt incompetent. “Often during preparations I felt other students were able to grasp concepts and details far more easily than me. There were times when I struggled to focus and questioned whether I was capable of cracking one of the country’s toughest examinations. What kept him going, he said, was the resolve to return to his hometown Gondia only after accomplishing something significant.Kovid attributed his success to three years of disciplined preparation, consistent effort and guidance of his elder sister Laher, who studied at IIT Guwahati and now works with Infosys.Coming from a middle-class family, Notani credited his success largely to the support of his parents. His father works as a civil engineer in a private company, and the family stood firmly behind him throughout his preparation. “My parents never let me lose hope,” he said. Notani maintained a disciplined routine, attending around five hours of coaching daily and completing all his coursework.Kovid said watching his sister’s journey convinced him that success can be achieved through dedication and persistence. “She not only inspired me but also shared valuable tips and strategies that helped me stay focused,” he said.Having always enjoyed mathematics, Kovid viewed engineering and the JEE route as a natural career choice from an early stage. He participated in several Olympiads during his preparation, which helped sharpen his analytical skills and strengthen his concepts.Chemistry was particularly challenging for Kovid. He recalled making several avoidable mistakes in mock tests but worked steadily to improve his accuracy. While Kovid is excited about joining an IIT, he is also exploring long-term goals. “I have not yet finalised plans. For now, I want to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead,” he said.Nationally, 1,79,694 students appeared in both papers. Out of them, 56,880 students qualified. Shubham Kumar of IIT-Delhi zone topped with 330 out of 360. Arohi Deshpande, also from IIT Delhi zone, was the highest-ranked female candidate with 280 out of 360 (CRL 77). In IIT-Bombay zone, which covers Maharashtra, 12,389 candidates qualified with 120 of them in the top 500.
