Every year, thousands of students compete in the highly competitive JEE Advanced exam for admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Securing the All India Rank 1 (AIR-1) is an extraordinary achievement that places a student among India’s brightest minds. But what happens to these toppers after their stellar academic performance? Where are they now? What paths have they taken?
In this article, we take a close look at some of the recent IIT JEE AIR-1 toppers, their educational journeys, and their career trajectories—showcasing inspiring stories of success, innovation, and global impact.
1. Pranav Goyal (AIR-1, 2018) — From IIT Bombay to Quantitative Trading at Jane Street, Hong Kong
Pranav Goyal, hailing from Panchkula, secured the JEE Advanced AIR-1 in 2018. He chose to pursue a B.Tech in Computer Science at IIT Bombay, one of the premier engineering institutes in India.
Alongside his studies, Pranav ventured into the world of finance and trading. Currently, he is working as a Quantitative Trader intern at Jane Street in Hong Kong — a leading global trading firm known for its focus on quantitative strategies and technology-driven trading.
His journey reflects a blend of strong technical education and practical application in global financial markets, showcasing how IIT toppers are making their mark internationally.
2. Sarvesh Mehtani (AIR-1, 2017) — IIT Bombay Graduate & Quantitative Trader at Optiver, Amsterdam
Sarvesh Mehtani, originally from Chandigarh, was the JEE Advanced AIR-1 in 2017 with an impressive score of 339 out of 366. Like Pranav, he pursued Computer Science at IIT Bombay.
Post-graduation, Sarvesh took his talents to Europe and is currently working as a Quantitative Trader at Optiver in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Optiver is one of the world’s leading proprietary trading firms, where Sarvesh applies his analytical and programming skills to trading strategies in a fast-paced global market.
3. Aman Bansal (AIR-1, 2016) — IIT Bombay Alum & Entrepreneur
Aman Bansal, from Jaipur, topped the JEE Advanced in 2016. After completing his B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay, Aman chose an entrepreneurial route.
He is involved with WisdomAI, a company focused on leveraging artificial intelligence for business solutions. Aman’s career path exemplifies how IIT toppers often channel their technical expertise into innovative startups, driving technological progress and creating new ventures.
4. Satvat Jagwani (AIR-1, 2015) — From IIT Bombay to MIT and Tech Innovation
Satvat Jagwani, from Madhya Pradesh, topped JEE Advanced in 2015 with 469 marks out of 504. He initially enrolled for Computer Science at IIT Bombay but decided to broaden his horizons and moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA.
Satvat is currently a Founding Machine Learning Engineer at WisdomAI, where he works on cutting-edge AI technologies. He also has experience as a Software Development Engineer at Cadence Design Systems in San Jose, California.
His academic and professional journey is a powerful example of how IIT toppers pursue global education and contribute to the technology sector worldwide.
5. Chitraang Murdia (AIR-1, 2014) — From IIT Mumbai to PhD at UC Berkeley and Postdoctoral Research at UPenn
Chitraang Murdia topped JEE Advanced in 2014 but took a non-traditional route by dropping out from IIT Mumbai. He pursued physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is currently a doctoral student at the University of California, Berkeley.
As of September 2023, Chitraang is working as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. His career showcases how IIT toppers can excel in pure research and academia, making impactful contributions to science.
6. Pallerla Sai Sandeep Reddy (AIR-1, 2013) — Robotics Expert and Tech Leader at Microsoft
Sandeep Reddy, from Hyderabad, was the JEE Advanced topper in 2013 with a score of 332/360. Interested in robotics from early on, he completed his B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay and pursued a PhD in Computer Science at MIT.
Sandeep has worked at American Express and is currently a part of Microsoft, contributing to advanced research and development projects. His journey highlights how IIT toppers integrate deep research with industry-leading tech roles.
7. Arpit Agarwal (AIR-1, 2012) — IIT Delhi Grad and Quantitative Trader at Tower Research Capital
Arpit Agarwal secured AIR-1 in 2012 with a score of 385/401 and completed his B.Tech in Computer Science (Honours) from IIT Delhi.
He has built a successful career in quantitative trading, working at Tower Research Capital since 2015, progressing from a Summer Financial Analyst to Strategist, and now Quantitative Trader. Arpit’s path shows how IIT toppers find lucrative and challenging roles in the finance sector
The career journeys of IIT JEE AIR-1 toppers reveal one powerful truth — there is no single path to success. While some toppers stay in India to contribute to startups and tech innovation, many pursue global opportunities in finance, research, and entrepreneurship. Others dive deep into academic research, making breakthrough contributions to science and technology.
