Devdutta Majhi tops JEE Advanced female category, wants to specialise in AI and Robotics from IISc Bangalore

Indian Express

02-06-2025

Devdutta Majhi from West Bengal has topped the girls' category in the JEE Advanced 2025. She scored 312 out of 360 and got an India rank (AIR) 16. Notably, she is the only girl in the top 20 ranks this year and had earlier scored 100 percentile in both sessions of JEE Main 2025.
Rajit Gupta has secured All India Rank (AIR) 1. It is estimated that more than 1.8 lakh students appeared for the pan India entrance exam that serves as a gateway to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). In addition to the results, IIT Kanpur also announced the names of candidates securing the top ranks in what is considered to be one of the toughest exams in the country.
JEE Advanced Rank Predictor | JEE Advanced Result Live | AIR 1 Rajit Gupta | AIR 2 Saksham Jindal | AIR 4 Parth Vartak | AIR 5 Ujjwal Kesari | AIR 7 Sahil Deo | JEE Advanced Topper List | JoSAA Counselling Explained
What makes her achievement more remarkable is that she also secured the 6th rank in West Bengal Class 12 board exams (492 out of 500). A student from a state-run school, Katwa DDC Girls High School, Devdutta's love for Math and Physics and her disciplined, self-directed learning reflect her deep academic commitment and clarity of purpose.
Devdutta prepared for the JEE while managing her board exam commitments. Speaking to the indianexpress.com, she shared that she studied at a local all-girls school in the Katwa area. Despite minimal school attendance, 'I only went for practical classes', she relied heavily on self-study. 'I studied for 10-11 hours daily,' she shared. On weekdays, she followed her own schedule and attended coaching only on Saturdays and Sundays in the initial stages of preparation.
Relied on self-study over school
Devdutta began her JEE journey in Class 11, making a conscious choice to stay focused from the outset. She says she never felt tired during her long study hours, highlighting that she never required external motivation but rather that her motivation to a structured routine and support from her mother helped her succeed. She said, 'My mom used to guide me, and I always had a love for studying, so I never had to worry about losing motivation.
Her strategy included NCERT for Chemistry and other theory books for Math and Physics. 'I studied the syllabus and NCERT together,' she added.
No social media, no distractions
In an age where distractions abound, Devdutta's commitment stood out. She stayed off social media completely and had a simple way to relax, 'I used to stay at home or talk to my mom. That's all.'
Upon asking what she loved doing apart from studies, she shared that before her JEE preparation, she played the violin. 'I haven't played the violin in two years, but now that I am done with my JEE Advanced exam, I've started again.'
Advice to aspirants: 'Don't Waste Time'
Sharing her key tips for future aspirants, she said success is rooted in discipline: 'Don't waste time', 'Do a lot of hard work', 'Follow the teacher's guidance'. She emphasised the importance of routine, focus, and sincerity: 'You need to study well and stay consistent.'
While most top rankers set their sights on IITs, Devdutta has a different plan. She shares, 'I don't want to study at an IIT. I want to join IISc Bangalore for Math and Computing (BTech).' When asked what she plans to do after her BTech degrees at the IISc, she wants to specialise in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.