Latest news with #Kota-based
New Indian Express
02-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
JEE Advanced 2025 results out, Rajit Gupta from Kota tops the exam
JAIPUR: The results of the JEE Advanced 2025 examination have been announced. The examination was conducted by IIT Kanpur on May 18 in two shifts for 17,740 seats across 23 IITs in the country. Approximately 2.5 lakh students, who qualified JEE Main were eligible to appear for the Advanced examination. Once again, Kota has reaffirmed its reputation as the hub of engineering exam preparation. Rajit Gupta, who prepared in Kota, has secured All India Rank (AIR) 1, emerging as the national topper. Three other students from Kota have also made it to the top 10. Saksham Jindal secured AIR 2, Akshat bagged AIR 6, and Devesh achieved AIR 8. Many other candidates also featured in the top 50 and top 100 ranks. Clearly, despite the student suicides often upsetting the city in recent times, Kota retains its legacy in training aspirants to crack the prestigious IIT exams. All India topper Rajit Gupta is a resident of Mahavir Nagar-III in Kota. His father, Deepak Gupta, is an engineer with the BSNL department and his mother, Dr. Shruti Agarwal, is a professor at JDB Girls College in Kota. This marks the second consecutive year that a Kota-based student has topped JEE Advanced. In 2024, Ved Lahoti, also from Kota, had achieved this feat. Rajit had earlier scored 100 percentile in the JEE Main January session and secured AIR 16 in the April session. 'Happiness is the key to success", Rajit Gupta said following the results. Rajit said, 'During my preparation, my main focus was on not repeating my past mistakes. Correcting errors strengthens your foundation in the subject. I believe happiness is the key to success. I try to stay happy in every situation. Even now, whenever I get time, I play with children in the colony.'
Hans India
02-06-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Set daily goals, didn't use any shortcuts: JEE Advanced 2025 topper shares his success mantra
Kota: The results for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2025 were officially announced on Monday. Kota-based Rajit Gupta secured top rank in the highly competitive examinations and scored a remarkable 332 out of total 360 marks. Having emerged as All India Rank 1 topper, Rajit Gupta was approached by media persons, who enquired about his daily routine, mantra for success and also the ambition that he has for future. Earlier, Rajit had achieved 100 percentile in both sessions of JEE Main 2025. With him securing AIR 1 rank, he has cemented his status as one of the brightest young minds in the country. Rajit speaking to IANS said, 'I was fully dedicated to cracking JEE Advanced. I used to set daily goals to complete a specific portion of the syllabus and prepared with full sincerity. Every topper follows this approach, and that's the key—consistent effort.' When asked about the secret to his success, Rajit said, 'You just need to stay dedicated and complete your homework on time. There are no shortcuts. With discipline and consistency, success will follow.' He also revealed his plans to pursue 'Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay', a popular choice among top rankers. On how to handle the pressure of preparation, Rajit advised aspirants to balance studies with activities that bring joy. 'Spend time with your parents, travel occasionally, talk to friends, and engage in sports. These things help reduce stress and keep you mentally refreshed.' Sharing details of his study routine, Rajit explained, 'I kept my schedule flexible but made sure to study at least seven hours a day. I divided my time equally among Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics to maintain balance across all subjects.' Offering encouragement to future aspirants, he said, 'I began my preparation in Class 6. If I could do it, so can you. But remember—hard work is non-negotiable. There is no escape from it.' Meanwhile, candidates who appeared for the JEE Advanced 2025 can now access their scorecards and final answer keys at This year's exam, held on May 18 in a computer-based test (CBT) format, involved two papers carrying 180 marks each. The final rank list was based on the combined scores in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, with subject-wise and overall qualifying marks determining eligibility for the Common Rank List (CRL).
India Today
02-06-2025
- Science
- India Today
Rajit Gupta tops JEE Advanced 2025 after 100 percentile in both JEE Main sessions
The results of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2025 have been declared by IIT Kanpur, the organising institute, this year. Once again, Kota has proved to be the cradle of engineering talent in India. Rajit Gupta, a resident of Mahavir Nagar in Kota, Rajasthan, has topped the prestigious exam by securing All India Rank (AIR) 1 with 332 marks out of makes Rajit's journey inspiring isn't just the rank, but the path he chose to get there. Unlike many aspirants who swear by rigid schedules and intense study hours, Rajit followed an unconventional mantra: no fixed study routine.'I studied only when I felt like it. But whenever I did, I made sure to give it my best,' he says, reflecting a calm confidence that defines his RAJIT GUPTA TOPS JEE ADVANCED 2025 This isn't the first time a Kota-based student has clinched the top spot. In 2024, Ved Lahoti, another student from Kota, secured AIR 1. Rajit, who prepared under the mentorship of the Allen Career Institute, attributes his success to the right environment, guidance, and mindset. 'Allen gave me everything I needed—from structured material to mentorship—so I never had to look elsewhere,' he academic track record speaks volumes: a 96.8% in Class 10, 100 percentiles in JEE Main 2025 (January session), and now the JEE Advanced excellence goes beyond JEE. A science enthusiast, he has represented India at the Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) 2024 in Malaysia, bagging a bronze medal. He has also been selected thrice for the prestigious Orientation-Cum-Selection Camps (OCSC) in Junior Science, Astronomy, and the real secret to his success? 'Happiness,' he says with a smile. 'I stay happy in all situations. That's the biggest factor that helped me do well.'MISTAKES, NOT MARKS, WERE HIS FOCUSInstead of obsessing over marks, Rajit focused on eliminating his errors."I always paid attention to not repeating my mistakes. It helped me build a stronger foundation in every subject,' he explains. He ensured he understood each concept thoroughly before moving on, often saying no to rote memorisation in favour of deep Rajit didn't even check the answer key after JEE Main.'My father asked me to, but I just said, 'Papa, don't worry. I'll clear Advanced.''A BALANCED LIFEUnlike the stereotype of JEE aspirants sacrificing all leisure, Rajit made sure he didn't miss out on the simple joys. 'I play with the kids in my colony when I get time,' he says. He also used WhatsApp, but strictly for study-related approach to time management is refreshingly simple: 'Just keep practising. That's the best way to manage time and improve.'FAMILY BACKGROUNDRajit's success is deeply rooted in his family's support. His father, Deepak Gupta, works as a sub-divisional engineer at BSNL, while his mother, Dr. Shruti Agarwal, is a professor of home science at JDB College in Kota. 'Their belief in me made all the difference,' Rajit also believes in the basics: 'NCERT is a must for Chemistry. It clears the concepts from the ground up.'WHAT'S NEXT?Now that the results are out, all eyes are on the JoSAA 2025 counselling process, which begins on June 3. Qualified candidates will compete for coveted seats in IITs, NITs, IIITs and other government-funded technical institutions (GFTIs).---Interestingly, the minimum qualifying marks for General category students dropped significantly to 74 marks (20.56%), compared to 109 in 2024. Subject-wise, the cut-offs also dipped, with only 7 marks needed in each subject (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics), compared to 10 last Gupta's story is a timely reminder that success in competitive exams isn't always about sleepless nights and robotic routines. Sometimes, all it takes is clarity, calmness, and a little joy in the journey.
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Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Unacademy CEO Gaurav Munjal steps down; Sumit Jain takes charge
Unacademy cofounder Gaurav Munjal is stepping down as CEO, with board member Sumit Jain set to take over, according to a report by The Economic Times. The leadership change comes amid broader organisational shifts, a failed acquisition deal, and a new focus on the company's standalone language-learning platform, AirLearn. Fellow cofounder Roman Saini is also exiting day-to-day operations, marking the end of an era for Unacademy's founding trio. The third cofounder, Hemesh Singh, had already left in June 2024. The three had originally launched Unacademy as a YouTube channel nearly a decade ago. Challenges in pivot to offline coaching Unacademy has been gradually moving away from its online test prep roots towards a more capital-intensive offline coaching model. However, the transition has been complex, with India's edtech sector grappling with a post-pandemic downturn. Munjal reportedly did not want to lead an offline coaching business, leading to a board-level consensus on his exit. Sumit Jain to lead Unacademy's next chapter Incoming CEO Sumit Jain, who joined Unacademy in 2020 after it acquired his startup Opentalk, brings deep entrepreneurial experience. He previously founded real estate platform Commonfloor, which Quikr acquired in 2016. Unacademy's board includes high-profile names such as SoftBank and General Atlantic, Zeta's Bhavin Turakhia, and Udaan cofounder Sujeet Kumar, alongside Munjal and Saini. According to Tracxn, Munjal and Saini each hold 3.4 per cent of Unacademy, while Singh owns 2.2 per cent. Among institutional investors, Nexus Venture Partners and Peak XV Partners each hold nearly 14 per cent, with SoftBank at 12 per cent and General Atlantic at 11 per cent. AirLearn emerges as new focus Munjal's departure comes as he shifts his focus to AirLearn, formerly Unacademy Languages. Positioned as a standalone entity and a competitor to Duolingo, AirLearn is reportedly exploring talks with investors and may see support from some Unacademy shareholders. At a recent town hall, Munjal described AirLearn as Unacademy's 'fastest-growing product', noting it had 70,000 daily active users and a $2 million annualised revenue run rate. He also said the company had cut its annual cash burn from over ₹1,000 crore to under ₹200 crore and still had ₹1,200 crore in reserves. Failed acquisition and financial snapshot The leadership shake-up comes as a potential acquisition deal with Kota-based Allen Career Institute fell through. Talks had valued Unacademy at around $800 million—down sharply from its $3.4 billion peak—but ultimately failed over valuation disagreements. Unacademy has raised a total of $880 million, with its last funding round of $440 million in August 2021 led by Temasek and backed by Tiger Global, Mirae Asset, and Dragoneer.
Economic Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Exclusive: Unacademy founders Munjal, Saini set to exit, shift focus to AirLearn
ETtech (L-R) Roman Saini and Gaurav Munjal, cofounders, Unacademy Unacademy cofounder Gaurav Munjal is stepping down from his role as CEO and handing over the reins to Sumit Jain, amid a broader reset at the Bengaluru-based edtech company, a failed acquisition deal, and growing focus on its language learning app AirLearn, people familiar with the matter told ET. Roman Saini, fellow cofounder, is also moving out of an active role at the firm, these people added on the condition of anonymity. Munjal and Saini — along with Hemesh Singh, who left the startup in June 2024 — had cofounded Unacademy a decade ago as a YouTube departure of all three founders follows prolonged internal discussions between the company's shareholders and Munjal over Unacademy's future, amid struggles in its online exit comes as Unacademy continues to pivot away from its once-dominant online test prep model to a more capital-intensive offline strategy centred on physical coaching centres—a move that has proven challenging in the post-pandemic edtech downturn. Unacademy's board includes representatives from SoftBank and General Atlantic as well as Zeta founder Bhavin Turakhia and Udaan cofounder Sujeet Kumar besides Munjal and Saini. Incoming CEO Jain, who is also on the board, joined Unacademy in 2020 when he sold his startup Opentalk to the edtech company. Jain had founded real estate listing portal Commonfloor and sold it to Quikr, an online classifieds operator, in 2016.'Over the past year or more, the Unacademy board has been in talks with Munjal about his potential exit as he is not inclined on running an offline coaching centre,' said one of the persons cited. 'Now it has come to the point where they are all aligned and discussing the final terms of the founders leaving... The two of them will be handed a cash payout, but will likely continue to hold their shares in the firm.'According to data platform Tracxn, Munjal and Saini each hold a 3.4% stake in Unacademy. Singh, the third cofounder, owns 2.2%. Nexus Venture Partners and Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India) own nearly 14% each, while SoftBank holds 12%, followed by General Atlantic with around 11%.Unacademy's founders and board members did not respond to the change has long been in the works, it also coincides with Munjal's growing focus on AirLearn, formerly known as Unacademy Languages, which is being developed as a standalone company. The shift has stirred a debate within the board, with some directors initially opposing the idea of raising fresh capital for a spinout while the core business remained under pressure. Shifting goalposts AirLearn has held preliminary talks with potential investors and may see participation from some of Unacademy's existing shareholders, one person said. ET had reported on December 4 last year that Unacademy was in talks with Kota-based Allen Career Institute for a potential acquisition, valuing the company at around $800 million, a steep cut of over 75% from its peak valuation of $3.4 billion. The deal talks failed over differences in valuation. Unacademy has raised a total $880 million in funding. It last raised $440 million in an August 2021 round led by Singapore's Temasek with participation from Tiger Global, Dragoneer Investment Group, Mirae Asset Venture and other existing investors. Business under pressure Unacademy started life as a YouTube channel in 2015 after Munjal and Singh sold their earlier startup Flatchat to the test-prep segment, it competes with the likes of Byju's-owned Aakash Institute, and WestBridge Capital-backed PhysicsWallah, which has confidentially filed draft papers for an initial public offering at a Rs 35,000-40,000 crore Unacademy's online business declined in the post-pandemic period, the company pivoted toward expanding its offline presence, leading to multiple layoffs and significant reluctance to lead the physical coaching centre model contributed to senior management churn, adding to the uncertainty over the company's future, ET reported December operating officer Vivek Sinha resigned in August 2023. Chief financial officer Subramanian Ramachandran quit in October that increasing involvement in AirLearn — a consumer-facing app positioned as a competitor to Duolingo — reflects a broader shift in focus, amid growing headwinds for Unacademy's core business. The slowdown in India's edtech sector has led to a funding crunch, consolidation, and the collapse of the largest player, Byju's, which went FY24, Unacademy reported an operating revenue of Rs 840 crore, down 7% from the previous year. Its net loss narrowed to Rs 631 crore, a 62% reduction from FY23, helped by a series of cost-cutting measures and a recent townhall, Munjal told employees that over the past three years, Unacademy's cash burn had reduced from over Rs 1,000 crore annually to under Rs 200 crore. He said AirLearn was the 'fastest-growing product' within the group, hitting around 70,000 daily active users and an annualised revenue run rate of $2 million. AirLearn is housed under Unacademy Inc, the group's Delaware, US-incorporated entity. Munjal also said that the company had Rs 1,200 crore ($140-150 million) in the bank.
