Achieving success in JEE Main and Advanced and pursuing engineering at IITs is the aspiration of numerous students across this nation. However, some students choose to stray from the norm and take an alternative route while keeping their interests and objectives in mind. Promising Assamese student Dhritishman Dutta is one such student. JEE Main and JEE Advanced were both won by Dhritishman. In JEE Main, he scored an outstanding 99.875 percentile, and in JEE Advanced, he achieved an impressive All India rank of 1,422. With this rank, he could easily gain admission to one or more of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
In addition to his stellar performance in the engineering entrance exams, Dhritishman also excelled in the NEET UG medical entrance exam, receiving 625 out of 720 points. These grades are sufficient to enrol in any private medical school or even secure a place in a government medical college to pursue an MBBS. Despite these impressive accomplishments, Dhritishman has chosen a different path for his higher education.
Rather than pursuing an engineering degree from an IIT or an MBBS from a medical school, Dhritishman has made the decision to enroll at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc Bengaluru), the top research institute in the nation. After taking the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Aptitude Test (IAT) 2024, Dhritishman Dutta achieved the All India Fourth Rank. The results were revealed on June 25th.
Admission to research degree programmes at seven research institutes in the nation, including IISER, IISc Bangalore, and IIT Madras, is possible through the IISER IAT entrance exam. This exam allows students to gain admission to both four-year BS degree programmes and five-year BS-MS dual degree programmes. According to the government’s NIRF ranking, IISc Bengaluru is the nation’s top research institute and takes second place overall.
At just 18 years old, Dhritishman has already accumulated an impressive list of academic achievements. In the Assam Board 10th examination, he received 94.2 percent of the possible points, placing him ninth overall in the state. The Dibrugarh student with an inquisitive mind and a drive for research told The Indian Express that he hopes to spend his first year at the institute exploring more options before making a decision regarding his future research direction.
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Dhritishman attempted the IAT for the first time, and this was his first attempt. Additionally, he appeared for the National Eligibility and Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG), JEE Main 2024, and JEE Advanced sessions. With his JEE Advanced rank of 1,422, he could have been admitted to highly regarded departments like Electrical and Electronics Engineering or Communication Engineering at IIT Roorkee, IIT Kanpur, or IIT Kharagpur. His NEET UG score also qualifies him for a state quota seat in government medical colleges.
When asked about his noticeable shift in focus towards research over traditional engineering or medical routes, Dhritishman explained, “I started my preparation after class 10th keeping JEE Main in mind. However, my interest in research and the IISER Aptitude Test gradually directed my preparation towards IAT. I took PCMB coaching at Aakash. My school teachers significantly contributed to my success in preparing for the IAT 2024 exam.”
On delving deeper into his preparation strategy, Dhritishman revealed that he relied extensively on NCERT textbooks taught in school and the notes provided by his coaching centre. He shared, “After my school was over between 1 and 3 pm, I would take some rest and then complete my school homework. I did online coaching from 7 pm to 10 pm.”
He further added, “I structured my study schedule in such a way that my online coaching did not interfere with my board exam preparation and regular school routine. I do not think CBSE students get any advantage in national level exams. The core syllabus remains the same, whether it is the state board, CBSE, or CISCE.”
When asked about his study routine following the board exams, Dhritishman disclosed that he had set daily goals, which he admitted he hardly ever met. He had dedicated entire days to reviewing and studying the PCMB courses. He explained, “I paid less attention to Biology for IAT than to PCM, even though it had 25 percent weightage.”
Dhritishman’s story is a remarkable example of a student who, while possessing the credentials to excel in traditional fields, has chosen a path less traveled to pursue his passion for research. His journey reflects the diversity of opportunities available to bright minds willing to follow their interests and objectives, even if that means taking an unconventional route.
