In remarkable display of academic brilliance, a Chandigarh University student, Sarvesh Gupta, has made history by securing All India Rank (AIR) 1 in IIT JAM 2026 (Physics), one of India’s most competitive postgraduate entrance examinations in which over 12,000 candidates appeared for admission to Master of Science, Ph D and other post-graduate programs at 22 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Chandigarh University Vice Chancellor & other Officials felicitating Sarvesh Gupta for topping IIT JAM 2026 (Physics) Exam with All India Rank 1
Reflecting exceptional conceptual mastery in Physics, Sarvesh Gupta - a final-year student of B Sc (Hons.) Physics program at Chandigarh University who hails from Nepal – also qualified two other prestigious national-level examinations including Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Graduate School (TIFR GS) exam which draws 20,000 to 25,000 applicants and IUCAA National Admission Test (INAT-2026) conducted by Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune for M Sc (Physics with Astrophysics) programme admissions-2026.
“I am really pleased to have cleared all these three national level competitive examinations. But since I want to do research in Theoratical Physics and become a scientist, I have opted for Integrated Ph.D. (I-Ph.D.) programme in Theoretical Physics from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai for which 22 students have been selected. As a Chandigarh University student, I had the opportunity to visit TIFR Mumbai for a Ideathon competition through the IEEE Student Chapter at CU where we got the 1st prize. I saw the research labs and infrastructure there during this visit, so it’s dream come true for me to get an opportunity to study at TIFR. Students receive a monthly fellowship of Rs 25,000 for the first year and the fellowship is enhanced to Rs 37,000 per month (further raised to Rs 42,000 after registration for PhD) at the end of the first year, upon satisfactory performance under TIFR GS,”.
Joined CU’s B Sc (Hons) Physics program in 2023
Son of a government school teacher father and homemaker mother in Nepal, Sarvesh’s academic journey at Chandigarh University began in 2023 when he took admission in B Sc (Hons) Physics program after completing his Class XII education at Budhanilkantha School in Kathmandu.
“When I was exploring options for higher education after Class XII, one of my cousin brothers, who had studied mechanical engineering at Chandigarh University, suggested me to take admission at CU for world-class quality education. Then I did some research about the CU and really liked everything being offered here. As CU also provides scholarships to meritorious students to pursue our academic dreams and goals, it was an easy decision for me to take admission at Chandigarh University. I got 50 % scholarship at CU which made my education very affordable for my parents,” Sarvesh, a resident of Vishnupura village in Nepal’s Lumbini who has three siblings (two sisters and a brother), said.
CU’s Learning Environment & Support to Excel in Academics
On his time at Chandigarh University, Sarvesh said, “I have always been a physics student with a deep curiosity about how the universe works — and more importantly, how the ideas behind it evolved. But my vision cleared after coming to Chandigarh University. Professors in our department are very approachable and we can reach out to them for any assistance —whether it’s a doubt, a discussion, or even if you need personal guidance—not just regarding academics. The research labs and libraries are also excellent at Chandigarh University. This fostered an environment where I could focus on my studies and concentrate on my goals. I knew there was always someone there to assist me with whatever came up, the Chandigarh University provided me great environment and support to excel in academics and pursue my dreams.”
“In fact, it’s my teachers here who motivated me to prepare for competitive examinations and provided the right guidance and all help for competitive test preparations. My teacher went extra mile for helping in clearing the all three competitive examinations by arranging even mock interview sessions which led to a significant improvement in my performance. So I had interest in physics, but I needed specific guidance for pursuing research. This is the kind of direction one ideally needs to find their path was somewhat lacking, but this is something I found here at Chandigarh University,” he added.
Preparation Strategy: Stick to Fixed Routine
“When preparing for competitive examinations, one need to adhere to a strict, fixed routine in order to avoid distractions. I confined my daily routine into manageable time slots for studies. For instance, I would wake up in the morning and head straight to the gym. After an hour-long workout, I would return and attend a few lectures for about an hour while sitting comfortably. Then I will get ready for classes at the University. Once back from University, my priority was to practice questions for about one-and-half-hour or however much time I could spare solely to solving practice problems. After that, I would do whatever I felt like doing—watching videos, hanging out with friends, or just chatting. My roommates and I used to talk the most during our meals. In fact, we would often spend an hour and a half to two hours just eating—chatting away, watching videos, or doing whatever else came to mind. So, while distractions were certainly there, they were successfully managed because I stuck to my schedule. I studied during my designated study hours, and then, during the time allotted for leisure, I simply relaxed and enjoyed myself,”.
World-Class Quality Education Across Streams
Congratulating Sarvesh Gupta for his exceptional achievement, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University, Deepinder Singh Sandhu said, “Demonstrating exceptional conceptual mastery in Physics Sarvesh Gupta secured All India Rank 1 in IIT JAM 2026 among thousands of aspirants nationwide. As Physics is one of the most sought-after subjects in this exam, the achievement reflects his dedication, perseverance and commitment to academic excellence. Sarvesh’s success also highlights the research-oriented academic environment at Chandigarh University which has led to six students from CU’s Physics department qualifying IIT JAM 2026. This outstanding accomplishment shows the learning environment nurtured at Chandigarh University to shape the path of our students, support their ambitions, and empower them to achieve incredible milestones with focused learning and expert mentorship.”
“Chandigarh University is providing world-class education by providing scientifically designed and industry-collaborative progams to our students. Chandigarh University’s global rankings are testament of the quality of our education across streams, be it science, engineering, business management or humanities. Chandigarh University has yet again continued its remarkable rise in the QS World University Rankings by Subjects 2026 by securing a place among world’s top 300 Universities in three key subjects including Computer Science and Information Systems, Electrical-Electronics Engineering and Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering. By securing Rankings in 11 Subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subjects-2026, Chandigarh University now rank among world’s top 1 % universities. As a research-intensive university, Chandigarh University fosters innovation and allotted a budget of Rs 15 crore this year for research-intensive education of its students. Chandigarh University boasts over 17000 research publications and over 5000 patents filed by students and faculty. The university supports innovation through 30 industry-sponsored advanced research labs and 32 Centers of Excellence (COEs) partnered with companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Hyundai, Tech Mahindra, Capgemini, and IBM for providing hands-on training to our students which make them future ready.”
Chandigarh University
Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.
Website address: www.cuchd.in.
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