- By Sarju Saran Tiwari
- Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:05 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Devina Gahlot topped CUET UG 2026 nationwide with 1232.19/1250.
- Achieved success through disciplined self-study, rejecting coaching institutes.
- Aspirants are advised to engage in consistent daily study over high-pressure marathons.
CUET-UG 2026 National Topper Devina Gahlot: In a massive nationwide pool of over 11.64 lakh candidates, Devina Gahlot of Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, has emerged as the all-India topper in the Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate (CUET UG) 2026 examination. The high-achieving student, who was also her school topper in the recent CBSE Class 12 board examinations, registered a stellar score of 1232.19 out of 1250. Devina is the daughter of former Delhi Minister and current BJP MLA Kailash Gahlot, and her historic performance has brought immense pride to her family and academic community.
Upon the formal activation of the national merit roster, the topper expressed initial disbelief at her top rank, noting that while she felt extremely satisfied with her performance immediately after exiting the exam hall, securing Air India Rank 1 felt entirely surreal. Devina systematically navigated five diverse subjects, specifically Economics, English, Psychology, Political Science, and Fine Arts. With her normalised percentiles cementing her place at the absolute peak of the nationwide admissions cycle, she is now looking forward to stepping into higher education, with a clear focus on studying English Honours at premier Delhi University institutions like St. Stephen’s College or Hindu College.
Breakdown of the Perfect Core Scores
Devina's exceptional mark sheet reflects absolute mastery over her chosen humanities and social sciences domain. She achieved a flawless 250 out of 250 marks in three independent core papers: Economics, Psychology, and Political Science. Her minor drop from a perfect aggregate score occurred in English and Fine Arts, where she dropped a single question in each subject, meaning she got just two questions incorrect across her entire examination script.
Proven Success Strategy: Pure Self-Study Over Coaching
Rejecting the mainstream trend of relying heavily on expensive coaching institutes, Devina proved that a disciplined self-study strategy can yield top-tier results. She credits her fundamental foundation to her regular school curriculum and her thorough preparation for the CBSE Board examinations. Her primary preparation pillars included:
School Resource Maximisation: Engaging actively with classroom lectures and school instructors who thoroughly prepared students with the baseline syllabus.
NCERT Content Mastery: Using the standard NCERT text materials as her primary reference guides to ensure conceptual clarity.
Trend Analysis: Reviewing and analysing previous years' question papers to decipher the specific multiple-choice question framework of the entrance test.
Overcoming Exam Stress and Family Pillar Support:
Transitioning from descriptive board exams to an objective national entrance format can feel incredibly overwhelming initially. Devina admitted to facing initial confusion regarding what to study and how to pace her preparation. However, she credits her smooth adaptation to her household environment.
Her parents, Moushumi Mishra Gahlot and Kailash Gahlot, alongside her sister Jahnavi, maintained a pressure-free zone, urging her to perform to her natural potential without obsessing over top ranks or flawless scorecards.
Lessons and Consistency Guidelines for Future CUET UG Aspirants
When asked about what upcoming batches can learn from her historic success, the national topper emphasised that sustainable academic routines always trump erratic, high-pressure study marathons. Her primary advice for future aspirants revolves around two baseline habits:
Daily Academic Discipline: Showing up for your studies every single day rather than attempting to log unsustainable hours closer to the exam dates.
Incremental Progress: Understanding that studying a small, manageable portion consistently every single day creates a strong cumulative advantage.