By Manish Gautam
Kota: At just 18, Om Prakash Behera is an example of hard work and dedication. The Bhubaneswar boy is among only 14 students across India who reached a perfect 100 percentile in the JEE Main Exam 2025, the results of which were announced on Tuesday.
In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, Om shared his journey so far, including how he moved from his home state Odisha to the coaching hub of Kota in Rajasthan three years back to crack the exhaustive examination.
His remarkable journey, however, is not one he had undertaken alone. Om credits his success to his mother Smita Rani who he says has sacrificed a lot for him. Smita played a pivotal role in his success by leaving her job to be by his side throughout his preparations.
Om Prakash Behera, Odisha Student Who Achieved Perfect JEE Main Score, in conversation with ETV Bharat's Manish Gautam. (ETV Bharat) Working as a lecturer, she decided to leave her professional career behind to support her son. She relocated to Kota to ensure Om had the guidance and encouragement he needed while facing the challenges of JEE preparation.
Talking to ETV Bharat, Om credited much of his success to his mother's selfless commitment, as she ensured he never lacked motivation or assistance during his intense study sessions.
"An acquaintance who was also studying in Kota told me about the facilities and opportunities here, he suggested to me that Kota would help me achieve my goals," Om said. "When I initially moved to Kota in the 10th grade, I had no idea that I would go on to score a perfect 300 in JEE Main. My primary goal back then was to just crack both JEE Main and Advanced," Om said.
Now that he has achieved his dream of cracking JEE Main, Om has set his sights on the next big challenge -- JEE Advanced and pursuing a B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay. "Whenever I had a doubt, the solution was always ready. My mother was with me, ensuring I did not face any issues," he said.
His father, Kamalakant Behera, who works in the administrative service of Odisha, also played a significant role by transferring to Delhi to be closer to Om. "My father left his friends and family in Odisha and moved to Delhi to be closer to us and support me," Om said.
"Kota offers a lot of facilities, and the faculty here is incredibly supportive. If there's ever a doubt, we message the teachers, and they always help. My fellow students here study so hard that it motivates you to do the same. Everything you need, from books to study material, is easily available here," he added.
Despite the demanding nature of his studies, Om ensures he takes time for himself. "I used to play badminton for relaxation and read novels to take a break," Om said. He is disciplined about his routine, studying for about 8 to 9 hours each day.
"I don't have a phone because it distracts me from my studies," Om said. His day starts at 8 am and goes until midnight, with breaks for meals but otherwise dedicated to his studies.
Om also emphasised the importance of self-reflection after each test. "The teachers and study material here are perfect. I focus on the NCERT syllabus for JEE Main, and I try my best in every test. After each test, I analyse my mistakes and work on not repeating them in the next one," he shared. Looking ahead, Om is focused on his future with determination. Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, I always focus on what lies ahead," he concluded.
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