Pune Student Arohi Deshpande Emerges as Top Girl in JEE Advanced 2026
MUMBAI — Pune student Arohi Deshpande has emerged as the country’s highest-ranked female candidate in the JEE (Advanced) 2026 examinations, securing All India Rank (AIR) 77. The achievement has brought her within reach of her long-held ambition to study Computer Science at IIT Bombay in Mumbai, following a dedicated four-year journey that involved her entire family relocating to Kota to support her education.
The family's transition began in 2022 when Deshpande, then a Class 9 student, left Pune for India’s coaching capital in Rajasthan. To prevent her from spending these critical preparatory years alone, her parents and grandmother uprooted their lives to move with her.
Her father, Prasad Deshpande, adjusted his work to operate remotely, which enabled him to spend long stretches of time in Kota. Her mother, Amita, managed her professional commitments in Gurgaon while ensuring she was largely present in Kota to support her daughter.
The family gathered around the screen late at night when the results were declared, confirming her top rank. Reflecting on the experience, Prasad Deshpande cautioned that the environment in the coaching hub is highly demanding. He stated that Kota is not for everyone, as the city operates on a relentless cycle of classes, tests, and preparation that requires immense discipline and energy.
He also noted that the move came with trade-offs, as cities like Pune and Hyderabad offer a more well-rounded childhood with opportunities for sports, music, and other activities. However, because Arohi genuinely loved academics, Kota provided the specific environment she needed to thrive.
Arohi traced her interest in engineering back to Class 7, when she began exploring Olympiads and studying from higher-grade textbooks. When mentors recommended Kota as the next step, her parents agreed to the move and decided to accompany her.
Arohi credited her family's presence as the key factor that helped her navigate the setbacks of preparing for the competitive exam, noting that their encouragement helped her bounce back on days when she did not perform well. Following her success, the family has now relocated to Hyderabad.
