Bhubaneswar: Odisha is basking in pride following the declaration of JEE (Main) 2026 Session-1 results by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on February 16, as the state produced its first-ever perfect scorer in the prestigious engineering entrance exam alongside a remarkable achievement by twin brothers securing identical marks.
Bhavesh Patra from Odisha emerged as the state topper, joining an elite group of just 12 candidates nationwide who achieved a perfect 100th percentile in Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech). This marks a historic milestone, with reports confirming Patra as the first Odia student to attain this flawless score in JEE Main.
Adding to the state’s double delight, twin brothers Mahroof Ahmed Khan and Masroor Ahmed Khan from Bhubaneswar made headlines by securing identical score of 99.98 percentile in the highly competitive test.
In an exam taken by over 13 lakh aspirants, their matching results stand out as a rare feat of synchronised excellence. The brothers, who have studied together since childhood, prepared rigorously in Kota, India’s renowned coaching hub for engineering entrances. They credited their success to consistent effort, strong teacher guidance, and mutual support over the years. “I have been in Kota since Class 10 and have been following coaching materials for the last 3 years under the guidance of a teacher… I have always been motivated. That’s why I earned good marks in JEE Main… We studied together. We have a same study time… Both of us motivated each other. We learned a lot from each other. This led to healthy competition and improved performance… My mother currently lives with us. She left her job only to come to live with us… I now aim to crack JEE Advanced and then aim to pursue computer science at IIT Bombay. Lastly, I am planning to become an IAS,” Mahroof Ahmed Khan told ANI, adding that “a lot of hard work has gone into it”.
The other twin noted overcoming occasional minor setbacks by relying on family encouragement, NCERT fundamentals, and focused improvements. “I had difficulty; sometimes I got low marks because of silly mistakes. Studying NCERT is good for JEE. I would like to give credit to Allen, my parents, my family, and my hard work as well,” Masroor Ahmed Khan added.
Meanwhile, Bhavesh shared practical advice for future aspirants, urging them to prioritise clear goals over mere study hours. He maintained a steady routine of about 10 hours of daily study, ensuring balanced coverage of physics, chemistry, and mathematics every day.
On Monday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated students who have successfully cleared the JEE Main examination, praising their hard work, dedication and perseverance. “The results are a reflection of the students’ consistent effort and commitment,” he wrote, emphasising that the results are only a stepping stone in life, and that self-confidence is the greatest strength for achieving success in every field.
