Pune, June 2: In a historic achievement, over 10,000 girls have qualified for the JEE Advanced 2026, marking the highest number of female candidates to qualify for admission into the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). This year, nearly one in four girls who took the exam succeeded, reflecting a significant increase in female participation in STEM education.
The success rate for girls has surged by 89% since the introduction of supernumerary seats in 2019 aimed at increasing female representation in IITs. The number of girls qualifying for IITs rose from 5,356 in 2019 to 10,107 in 2026. Additionally, the total number of girls participating in the JEE Advanced exam increased from 33,249 to 40,562, representing a growth of approximately 22%.
A total of 187,389 candidates registered for JEE Advanced 2026, with 179,694 appearing for the exam. Out of these, 56,880 candidates passed. Candidates can check their scores using their roll number or mobile number along with their date of birth.
Pune’s Arohi Deshpande has emerged as the top girl candidate in JEE Advanced 2026, securing an All India Rank of 77. Her family relocated to Kota for her IIT preparation, where she attended Allen Institute. Arohi previously achieved an All India Rank of 99 in JEE Mains. Her parents, Prasad Deshpande, an IT professional, and Amita Deshpande, an environmental engineer, supported her studies through remote work arrangements. Arohi stated that her focus was solely on achieving good marks rather than ranking.