In Conversation with Aarush Singhal —
AIR 8, JEE Main 2026 & Chandigarh's Top Ranker
We sat down with Aarush Singhal, 18, from Sector 37-D, Chandigarh — who secured All India Rank 8 with 100 percentile in JEE Main 2026 — to talk about his preparation, mindset, Olympiad journey, family, and what he wants future aspirants to know.
On April 20, 2026, when the JEE Main Session 2 results were declared, one name rose to the top from Chandigarh — Aarush Singhal. With a score of 290 marks, a perfect 100 in both Physics and Mathematics, and All India Rank 8, Aarush became the city's sole national-level topper in this examination.
A six-year classroom student at Sri Chaitanya Chandigarh, Aarush is not your typical topper. He plays basketball, enjoys video games and movies, studies in short focused bursts rather than long grinds, and says his biggest inspiration is himself. We spoke to him across 25 questions — from basics to mindset — and here is everything he had to say.
Basic Introduction
My name is Aarush Singhal and I am 18 years old.
I reside in Sector 37-D, Chandigarh.
I study at Sri Chaitanya Chandigarh.
Family Background
My father, Nakul Singhal, is a Software Engineer and my mother, Malti Singhal, is a Homemaker.
My parents have always been very supportive. Even when my performance was not up to the mark in some tests, they never scolded me. Instead, they always motivated me to perform better in the next exam, which helped me stay confident and focused.
"Even when my performance was not up to the mark in some tests, they never scolded me. They always motivated me to perform better in the next exam."
— Aarush Singhal on his parentsAchievements & Academic Excellence
I felt very happy and satisfied. It felt rewarding to finally see the results of the hard work I had been putting in for so long.
My main focus was always on accuracy rather than just attempting more questions. I made sure that my concepts were clear and practiced enough questions so that I could avoid mistakes during the exam.
My strong foundation from Class 10 helped me build clarity in basic concepts, which later became very useful in advanced topics during JEE preparation.
Olympiad preparation helped me develop deep conceptual understanding and strong problem-solving skills, which gave me an edge in JEE as well.
It exposed me to a higher level of thinking and problem-solving, and helped me understand concepts in much greater depth.
Starting early helped me gradually build my skills without pressure and gave me enough time to strengthen my fundamentals.
🔬 Aarush's Olympiad Achievements
Preparation Strategy
Instead of studying for long continuous hours, I prefer studying in shorter intervals with small breaks. However, during those study sessions, I make sure to stay fully focused and study rigorously.
Around 6–8 hours of self-study along with classes and discussions.
Discussions played a very important role. Both group discussions and private discussions helped me a lot. They clarified my concepts and helped me understand different approaches to problems.
The atmosphere and peer group at Sri Chaitanya helped me a lot. Being surrounded by competitive and focused students pushed me to improve continuously.
Exam Approach & Insights
JEE Main is not just about how much you know, but how accurately you can apply it. Accuracy plays a very crucial role in this exam.
My main focus was on maintaining high accuracy and avoiding silly mistakes.
"JEE Main is not just about how much you know, but how accurately you can apply it. Accuracy plays a very crucial role."
— Aarush Singhal on JEE MainGoals & Aspirations
My goal is to secure a good rank in JEE Advanced and get admission into IIT Bombay for Computer Science.
Computer Science offers great career opportunities and aligns with my interest in the field, and IIT Bombay is one of the best institutes for it.
Personality & Interests
I enjoy playing basketball, video games, watching movies/TV shows, and reading.
Mindset & Motivation
My goal of building a good career and my interest in the field kept me motivated. Also, consistent support from my parents played a big role.
I don't have any specific inspiration, but I believe in self-motivation and discipline.
Advice & Message for Aspirants
Hard work alone is not enough. It must be combined with the right strategy and discipline.
Enjoying the journey plays a key role in achieving success.
"Hard work alone is not enough. It must be combined with the right strategy and discipline."
— Aarush Singhal's message to JEE aspirantsClosing Note
I would like to thank Sri Chaitanya for helping me achieve this milestone. I am very grateful for the guidance, environment, and support they provided throughout my journey.