JEE Advanced Toppers Choose MIT Over IIT – What It Means for India’s Future

A growing trend has prevailed for years. The country's geniuses have consistently opted for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) over the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). One reason that has emerged for this inclination is research opportunities. This raises a pertinent question: When will the country's 23 IITs have research facilities comparable to those of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) so that they can retain the country's best geniuses?

The presence of brilliant minds who were raised and educated in India, but ultimately chose to emigrate, is a trend worth reflecting on. The top students in the JEE Advanced have gone to the MITs one after another each year. This trend is said to have begun in 2006, when Raghu Mahajan, who initially studied at IIT Delhi for a year but then transferred to MIT, completed his PhD at Stanford.

The Trend: JEE Advanced Top Rankers Choosing MIT over IIT Over the Years

See below for the list of top JEE Advanced students who opted for MIT over IIT in recent years:

JEE Advanced 2025 AIR 8: Devesh Bhaiya: He opted to drop out of IIT, one of India's top engineering colleges, and opt for MIT instead. He was reportedly admitted to MIT in March. However, he appeared for JEE Advanced, as a "stand-in," as he put it.

JEE Advanced 2024 Rank 1: Ved Lahoti: Ved Lahoti, last year's top finisher and the highest scorer in the entrance exam (352/360) in recent years, was aiming for a fully funded scholarship to MIT.

JEE Advanced 2023 AIR 99: Mohammad Sahil Akhtar: He opted out of the JEE admissions process to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Their rationale: greater scope for research and a more flexible curriculum.

Mahit Gadhewala, who earned the 9th All India ranking in 2022, also dropped out of MIT after spending a year at IITB. In 2020, it was Chirag Falor who opted for MIT over IIT. Nishant Abhangi (JEE Advanced 2019 AIR 6) studied at IIT Bombay in 2019-2020 before moving to MIT. Previously, Chitraang Murdia (JEE Advanced 2014 AIR 1) spent a year at IIT Bombay before moving to MIT. He currently holds a PhD from Berkeley. Raghu Mahajan passed the 2006 JEE Advanced exam with an AIR 1 and entered IIT Delhi. However, he dropped out midway through the program and went to MIT.

Reasons Why MIT is Preferred by These Top Indian Minds

MIT enthusiastically welcomes the best JEE Advanced students, who are also winners of numerous national and international competitions. MIT also offers fully funded scholarships to these geniuses. They welcome students tailored to their needs right at their doorsteps.

1. International Recognition: MIT consistently ranks among the top universities in the world. An MIT degree opens doors globally, in academia, industry, and research.
2. Unparalleled Research Opportunities: MIT offers unparalleled access to research in AI, robotics, physics, biotechnology, and more, with massive funding and world-renowned faculty.
3. More Flexible Curriculum and Interdisciplinary Learning: MIT reportedly supports interdisciplinary studies (e.g., computer science + bioengineering), which remain even more limited in traditional IIT programs.