From Bareta Mandi to India’s JEE Top Ranks: Bharat Bansal Achieves AIR 78
Bharat Bansal’s Academic Journey
A 17-year-old resident of Bareta Mandi in Punjab’s Mansa district, Bharat Bansal, has made headlines by topping the state in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main. This small town, often viewed as having limited resources, now celebrates Bharat’s remarkable academic achievement as he secured the highest rank in the second attempt of the exam, announced recently. In his first attempt, Bharat also achieved the top position in Punjab, adding to the excitement of his success.
Bharat secured a percentile of 99.9814 in his second attempt, which is lower than his first attempt score of 99.9976. As a result, his ranking will reflect the better of the two scores, leading to an All India Rank (AIR) of 78. Bharat will now prepare for the upcoming JEE Advanced examination scheduled for next month, with aspirations of achieving a 100 percentile. His father, Pankaj Bansal, shared details about Bharat’s remarkable journey, indicating that his performance in the first attempt will remain his official result.
Family Support and Preparation
Pankaj Bansal, who serves as the centre head at a government primary school in Harinau village, attributed Bharat’s success to a disciplined approach to studying. His wife, Anita Rani, is also employed as a primary school teacher in Bareta. Bharat’s academic determination became evident early on, as he scored 98 percent in his Class 10 examinations, expressing a clear preference for the non-medical stream.
Bharat enrolled at the Allen coaching centre in Mohali, participating in a blend of online and offline coaching methodologies. Following the completion of his Class 12 exams, he attended the centre in Mohali for intensive offline coaching until the JEE Advanced exam. Prior to that, he utilized online coaching during the Class 12 year along with occasional visits to the coaching centre for assessments.
Extracurricular Activities and Interests
Continuing his education at Greenland Dayboarding Public School in Bareta since kindergarten, Bharat has also achieved notable recognition in extracurricular areas, particularly in chess. He won the state championship in the U-11 Punjab school games and earned several district-level awards in the sport. However, in recent years, he has shifted his focus primarily to his studies while still enjoying casual games of chess and outdoor activities with friends. His father humorously noted that he introduced Bharat to chess but now finds it challenging to beat him.
Highlighting the importance of mental health, Bharat acknowledged that engaging in chess and spending time outdoors serve as effective stress relievers. “The brain requires fresh oxygen for optimal learning,” he emphasized, showcasing how a balanced lifestyle aids academic success.
Aspirations for the Future
Inspired by his elder sister, who is completing her BTech in Computer Science at Thapar University in Patiala and has secured a placement with Infosys, Bharat also has ambitious plans. His primary aim is to excel in the JEE Advanced examination, with aspirations to enroll in the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, focusing on pursuing Computer Science.
While Bharat’s impressive JEE Main score qualifies him for entry into several top National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), the Bansal family remains committed to achieving their goal of succeeding in JEE Advanced. Pankaj expressed pride in their town, stating that Bareta is emerging as a new focal point for educational excellence, moving beyond its traditional image to become known for producing academic achievers.
