SHIMLA | 18 February— Karunesh Dholta, a resident of Chhota Shimla, has achieved a top-tier score in the 2026 Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains, securing a 99.55 percentile, officials and family members said on Wednesday.
The high score, which places Dholta among the leading candidates nationwide, follows a string of academic successes for the student. In June 2025, Dholta secured first place in the Mathematics Olympiad during the 32nd Himachal Pradesh State Level Children Science Congress, held at the Government Degree College in Dhalliara, Kangra.
Academic Milestone Summary
| Event | Date | Achievement | Venue |
| JEE Mains 2026 | February 2026 | 99.55 Percentile | National Level |
| 32nd State Children Science Congress | June 3–4, 2025 | 1st Place (Math Olympiad) | Govt. Degree College, Dhalliara |
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu extended his congratulations to the student, noting that the achievement brought national recognition to the hill state.
“Karunesh has made the entire state proud with his performance,” the Chief Minister said in a statement. He added that such academic success would serve as a “source of inspiration” for other young students in the region striving for excellence in competitive fields.
The JEE Mains is one of India’s most rigorous academic assessments, acting as the primary gateway to the country’s premier technical institutes. Local educators noted that Dholta’s transition from a state-level science champion to a national top-performer marks a significant milestone for the Chhota Shimla community.
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