ICSE results: Meet Chandigarh tricity toppers Neiv Gupta and Srishti Joshi, who scored 99.2%

Both Neiv Gupta and Srishti Joshi scored 99.2 per cent marks in their best five subjects with English, which is mandatory.

A resident of Panchkula sector 17, Neiv’s father Rahul Gupta works in the financial sector while his mother works in the insurance sector. His elder sister, Navya, 21, had scored 97.4 per cent in the same school and is pursuing a degree in computer science engineering.

While speaking to The Indian Express, Neiv said, “I will just say consistency is the key. You have to be consistent in giving your best. It is not necessary to put in 7-8 hours until you are not giving quality hours. Even if you self-study for one hour a day, ensure that you are fully focussed and not distracted.”

No social media

Neiv, who got a perfect 100 in maths, computers and science, stated that he had deleted all his social media accounts. “Yes I deleted them because I realised they were not of any use. They weren’t even giving me any break or motivation…rather wasting my time and I was feeling as if everyone is enjoying and not me..but it is never like that. So to avoid this heavy distraction, I deleted my accounts and just focused on my goal.”

Neiv added, “Rather I would watch TV at times for a few minutes just to give myself a break. The informational programmes really give you that break and help you start afresh.”

Neiv, who was also the literary head of the school, said, “It was highly important to keep discussing doubts with your teachers.”

He would take part in debates, declamation and various other events which he said improved his speech as well.

His father Rahul Gupta told The Indian Express, “We never put pressure on our son and told him to take whichever stream he wants to. We just kept reminding him that we are with him in whatever decision he takes.”

Neiv would put in three hours of self-study every day apart from focusing on his syllabus in the school. “If you just revise what you have done in the school, that would suffice,” he said, adding how perseverance and being patient were important.

Neiv has chosen the non-medical option now and will take the Joint Entrance Examination. He aims to study computer science at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

‘Never believed in private tuition’

Srishti Joshi, a student of Tender Heart High School in Chandigarh sector 33, also scored 99.2 percent in the ICSE Class 10 exams.

A resident of Eco City, New Chandigarh, Srishti aspires to become a scientist and wants to pursue research in biology. Srishti is at present preparing for NEET.

Her father Tajender Joshi works as an advocate in the Punjab and Haryana High Court while her mother Rajni Joshi teaches science in Government High School in Chandigarh sector 20D.

While speaking to The Indian Express, Tejinder Joshi said, “Both my daughters never took private tuition. Srishti too always believed that they would never focus in school thinking that they will cover it in the coaching class, while in the tuition class they will think they can cover it in school. So this never gets the best of a child.”

Srishti preferred family outings to outings with friends. She loves exploring forest areas and wildlife. “My father was an IFS officer. So Srishti always loved exploring virgin forests because her grandfather too was in the forest service. And that would be her rejuvenation activities.”

Srishti would put in over two to three hours of self-study every day with complete focus on what she was taught in school and then revise it. To give herself a break, she would draw or paint, an activity she really liked. Srishti’s elder sister is pursuing humanities in Class 12.

Srishti said that hard work and focus were the key to her success. She was never on social media.