Historic feat: Four girls from RISE Kashmir secure 99+ percentile in JEE Main

Srinagar, May 31: In a significant achievement, four young girls from RISE educational institute have each scored above the 99 percentile mark in the JEE Main 2025. 

This marks the first time in Kashmir’s history that so many girls have crossed this milestone together, signaling a powerful shift in the academic landscape of the valley.

The achievers — Sadaf Mushtaq (99.50), Simrah Mir (99.39), Maleeha Haris (99.24), and Azmat Wani (99.08) — are now preparing for JEE Advanced, with dreams of making it to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the country’s most prestigious engineering institutions.

RISE was founded by three IITians: Mubeen Masudi (IIT Bombay), Imbesat Ahmad (IIT Kharagpur), and Salman Shahid (IIT Kharagpur). 

“What began as a small initiative to raise academic aspirations in the Valley has now evolved into a transformative movement that has impacted thousands of students. The institute is widely recognized for delivering high-quality education and mentoring students for success in competitive exams like JEE and NEET,” said one of the founders of the institute.

“This is not just a proud moment for us at RISE, but for the entire Kashmir valley,” said Salman Shahid, Co-founder of RISE and an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur.

“For years, we have been striving to raise the aspirations of students here, and seeing four girls break into the 99 percentile club in JEE Main is a dream come true. These girls are role models for thousands. Their achievement is a celebration of hard work, talent, and what becomes possible when opportunities meet determination.”

Mubeen Masudi, Co-founder of RISE, echoed the sentiment: “This isn’t just about academic numbers, it’s a cultural moment. For a long time, systemic and societal barriers have limited the participation of girls in technical education in Kashmir. These four young women have broken through. Their success will become part of the collective memory of the valley and will inspire an entire generation of girls to dream fearlessly.”

Top scorer Sadaf Mushtaq shared her thoughts: “Coming from a place where girls pursuing engineering is still rare, this score means much more than just numbers. It’s proof that we can dream big and compete at the national level. RISE believed in us from day one, and I hope this inspires more girls in Kashmir to go after their ambitions.”