Surprising it may sound, but most IIT-JEE toppers have at least one of their siblings or a relative in the IITs, and IIT Bombay seems to the preferred destination for majority toppers this year.
The all India 5th ranker R. Nishanth's sister is pursuing dual degree course in IIT Bombay and he too prefers the same institution given its global name and quality of teaching.
Nishanth, who hails from Kamareddy in Nizamabad district, is fulfilling his father's dream, who was a gold medallist from the Osmania University College of Engineering and presently working as Superintendent Engineer in the Warangal Municipal Corporation. The 9th ranker Bharat Kumar's brother is also in IIT and he seems to have been the inspiration for the success.
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Similarly, the 12th ranker Sai Krishna Deepak's brother Maheedhar is also an IITian pursuing his course in IIT Delhi. Sai Krishna is perhaps the youngest to have been selected for the IIT from the State.
Liberal policy
He is just 16-years-old and was promoted to 10th class from 8th class directly given his academic credentials. However, his age will not be an impediment for his admission as the IITs have liberal admission policy.
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The toppers don't have any hesitation in stating that IIT Bombay is their destination and computer science is the preferred choice of subject. The reason is the academic quality and the research achievements of the IIT Mumbai. More so, it has also been the choice of toppers from the State over the years.
Prime factor
Unlike previous years, most of the good performers have been academically good students right through their schooling, and they have come from urban areas. A very few from rural areas figured in the top ranks. And they had the dream of making into IIT right from school days. Parents' guidance and teachers support, they say was the prime factor in their success.
But at the same time, majority feel one should have the desire to excel and colleges play the perfect supplementary role.