Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Curiosity defined Shreyas Mishra’s childhood. As a Class V student, the world around him seemed buzzing with questions. Bridges, trains, monuments and machines weren’t just everyday sights; they were puzzles to be understood. Why is a bridge shaped the way it is? Why are trains designed differently? Why hasn’t the Ashokan iron pillar rusted?
Toppers from Rajasthan
Today, at a little over 17, Shreyas has turned that curiosity into an extraordinary achievement. He is among 12 candidates nationwide, and the only one from Delhi, to secure a perfect score of 100 in the engineering entrance exam, JEE Main 2026. The feat stands out even more considering the scale of the examination, with more than 13 lakh candidates appearing for its first edition this year.Shreyas says the milestone is the result of years of disciplined preparation. “I prepared for the exam since 2019, when I wasin Class VI, and I used to put in 12–14 hours of study every day for it. Apart from that, whenever I get time, I pursue cricket and music,” said the student of Kulachi Hansraj Model School in Ashok Vihar. Balancing rigorous study with personal interests, he credits consistency as the key to sustaining such an intense routine over the years. Originally from Odisha, Shreyas’s father Sumant Mishra moved to the capital 24 years ago in search of better job opportunities and now works as a cybersecurity consultant. His mother is an associate professor in the computer science department at a private university. The family lives in Noida Extension. His father enrolled him in speed mathematics and Abacus competitions during his childhood. The exposure sharpened his numerical skills and confidence. “He won 2nd prize in the Western UP Abacus Championship. He had an interest in mathematics, and that interest gradually grew to this level,” Mishra said about the journey that began with questions and culminated in a perfect score.
