2 friends, 1 hostel and the 1-mark difference: The story of JEE Advanced AIR 1 and AIR 2

They played together. They studied together. They shared the pressures of preparation together. And when the results arrived, they found themselves standing side by side at the top of one of India's toughest examinations. Shubham Kumar from Bihar secured All India Rank 1 in JEE Advanced 2026 with 330 marks out of 360. His friend, Kabir Chhillar from Gurugram, secured AIR 2 with 329 marks. Read Full Story Just one mark separates them on the merit list. It does not separate them in life. The results were announced by IIT Roorkee at 1 am on Monday. While students across the country checked their scores, Kota woke up to a story that few coaching hubs have witnessed before. Two friends who had spent the last two years preparing together had secured the top two ranks in the country. A FRIENDSHIP BUILT IN A KOTA HOSTEL Both students were enrolled at Allen in Kota. They lived in the same hostel. Shubham stayed on the fourth floor while Kabir lived on the seventh. Their days revolved around classes, tests, assignments and revision. But their routine was not limited to books. Every evening, after hours of studying, the two friends would head out to play badminton. The game became a break from formulas, equations and mock tests. Those sessions helped them manage stress and maintain balance during one of the most demanding phases of their lives. Now, the same friends have finished first and second in the country. ONE MARK APART, BUT CELEBRATING TOGETHER For many students, missing the top rank by a single mark could become a source of disappointment. For Kabir, it became a reason to celebrate. The Gurugram student, who had earlier secured AIR 1 in JEE Main 2026, said he was happy to see his friend at the top. According to him, Shubham had worked hard for two years and deserved the result. Kabir said that had someone else overtaken him, he might have felt disappointed. Seeing his friend secure the top rank, however, brought him happiness rather than regret. His reaction has become one of the most talked-about aspects of this year's result. RAJASTHAN'S STRONG SHOWING This year's JEE Advanced results also highlighted the continued dominance of Kota and Rajasthan in engineering entrance preparation. While Shubham secured AIR 1 and Kabir secured AIR 2, the third rank went to Jatin Chahar from Sikar with 319 marks. All three students were associated with Allen. Among female candidates, Aarohi Deshpande from the Delhi zone emerged as the top-ranked woman candidate. She secured 280 marks and finished 77th in the Common Rank List. This year, over 1.87 lakh candidates appeared for both papers of JEE Advanced. A total of 56,880 students qualified and will now participate in the JoSAA counselling process for admission to the IITs. Yet among thousands of success stories, the one involving Shubham and Kabir stands out. This is the story of two Gen Zs who became hostel mates, chased the same dream and reached the top together. And a story that reminds students that preparation is not only about ranks and marks, but also about the people who walk the journey alongside them. Both friends now hope to study Computer Science Engineering at IIT Bombay. Ends