GATE 2025 Topper Interview Arnab Paul (AIR-1 BT) - This year, Arnab Paul has emerged as the GATE 2025 topper with an All India Rank (AIR) 1 in Biotechnology. Arnab Paul who hails from Kolkata has secured 66.67 marks in the GATE 2025 exam. A student of Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata, Arnab’s journey is inspiring; a three-time national grappling champion, he channelled his sports resilience to academics after an accident and that’s how he cracked the GATE exam.
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In a conversation with Careers360, Arnab shares his strategy and experience in the national-level GATE examination. He aspires to pursue M.Tech at one of the older IITs and is working on his international debut in Grappling for 2026. Read more to find an interesting topper journey who is not just all brains but brawns too.
Q1. Congratulations on your amazing result! How does it feel to be among the top rankers in GATE?
Ans. Of course, I am very happy. Initially, when I saw my result I was surprised. I am not very studious or someone who studies for long hours a day. I am professionally an athlete so emerging as a GATE 2025 topper was something I did not expect.
Q2. As you said you are an athlete so what sport do you play?
Ans. I am into Grappling and wrestling.
Q3. Can you share a bit about your background—your college, stream, and when you decided to prepare for GATE?
Ans. I did my schooling from Navnanda High School right from nursery to +2. So I was a topper throughout my schooling. But my focus shifted to sports and then academics took a toll but I passed in all my subjects anyway. I even attempted the WBJEE and JEE Mains exams and prepared for these within a span of 1-1.5 months. During that time I was not at the peak of my sports career so I made sure to keep all options open for my future. Right now I am in my final year of B.Tech in Biotechnology at Heritage College
Q4. Tell us something about your family.
Ans. We are a family of 4, mom, dad elder brother and me. We are twins and he is 2 minutes older than me. He is currently studying at NRS College, Kolkata. So he has a major support in my preparation. NEET is much more competitive and tougher than JEE Mains, so having him around made it easier for me to prepare for the entrances in a short while.
Q5. What was your overall preparation strategy? Did you follow a daily or weekly schedule?
Ans. So coming to the preparations, In February 2024, I met with a bike accident which changed the course for both my training and academics. I couldn’t compete in my sports so I got plenty of time to focus on my studies. Like every other aspirant, I too had a goal of at least 10 hours of daily study. However, realistically speaking I did study study for 5 hours a day.
Q6. How did you balance college studies and GATE preparation?
Ans. So I think I am good at prioritising I would say. As the championships would come i would start focusing more on the sport and for college the same case with exams and assignments. I would say balancing between studies and sports wasn’t that difficult.
Q7. Which subjects or topics did you focus on the most, and why?
Ans. My strongest suit remained core engineering. It was that part that did not bother me. For core biotechnology or theory I would have to put in more efforts.
Q8. Did you rely more on self-study or coaching? What resources (books, online platforms, test series) did you use?
Ans. I did not take any coaching it was just self-study and peer discussions. Yes, i referred to multiple online resources available. For any conceptual clarity I would just go on YouTube and for practice take up mock tests online and download GATE sample papers and previous year questions.
Q9. How did you approach solving mock tests and previous year papers? Any tips on time management during practice?
Ans. I would suggest being prepared for any situation. While solving mocks and previous year papers I was able to find a pattern. However, this year the GATE Biotechnology question paper was unpredictable. Many other examinees were unable to cope with such a huge difference in the GATE exam pattern. Given my training and the nurture of the sports, I was used to pressure-handling which worked in my favour. So I would suggest it is very important to have the mental strength to deal with whatever comes in your set.
Q10. What role did peer discussion or online study groups play in your preparation?
Ans. I always preferred group study. It was three of us, each helping the other one out based on our strongest pursuits. Like I was good at the core engineering part of it like bio-processing and bio-engineering but for the theoretical or core biotech portion, my friends became my guide. The issue is like any other student trying to study alone i too would get distracted and find myself watching reels again but then with a study group, you develop this disciplineby looking at others.
Application Date:17 March,2025 - 19 May,2025
Late Fee Application Date:01 May,2025 - 09 May,2025
Hello,
Yes, as per the latest GATE eligibility criteria , students who have completed a 3-year BSc (Bachelor of Science) degree can now apply for the GATE exam. But admission options through GATE score for such students are limited.
IITs: Generally do not allow admission to MTech, but some may offer MSc-PhD or research programmes.
IISc: Allows BSc students for Integrated PhD in science subjects.
NITs/IIITs: Mostly need BE/BTech, so limited chances for BSc students.
Best options: Integrated PhD, MS by Research, or research roles.
Hope it helps !
For GATE preparation, reputed institutes include Made Easy, ACE Engineering Academy, and GATEForum. These institutes offer structured curriculum, experienced faculty, and comprehensive study materials to help students excel in the GATE exam.
The GATE 2026 syllabus covers topics from various engineering disciplines. For Computer Science, it includes subjects like Digital Logic, Discrete Mathematics, Algorithms, Operating Systems, Databases, Theory of Computation, and Software Engineering, among others. Each subject is further divided into core concepts and topics for in-depth preparation.
Yes, it is possible to get admission to a BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) in NIT Trichy without taking the GATE exam. GATE is specifically meant for postgraduate (M.Tech) admissions, not undergraduate (B.E.) admissions.
For a BE course, the procedure is as follows:
1. Eligibility:
You must have completed your 10+2 (or equivalent) with the required subjects (Physics, Mathematics, and an additional subject like Chemistry or Biology).
You should meet the required percentage cutoff as defined by NIT Trichy (usually around 75% for general category students).
2. Entrance Exam:
You must qualify JEE Main, which is the entrance test for undergraduate admissions to NITs, including NIT Trichy.
3. JoSAA Counseling:
Once you qualify for JEE Main, you must attend the JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) counseling.
You will choose NIT Trichy as your first choice for admission during counseling. The seat will be allotted according to your JEE Main rank.
4. Seat Allotment and Admission:
You will be given a seat at NIT Trichy according to your JEE Main rank if you are within the cutoff.
Once seat allotment is over, you are required to present yourself at NIT Trichy for verification of documents and payment of fee to secure your admission.
5. Verification Documents:
You'll be required to bring your original documents (10th and 12th mark sheets, JEE Main score card, identity proof, etc.) for verification purposes.
6. Fee Payment
Once the seat is finalized, you will be paying the entry fee, which is different according to your category (OBC, SC, ST, general).
In short, GATE is not necessary for admission in the BE program at NIT Trichy.
List MTech colleges without GATE
Congratulations on qualifying GATE! Here is a detailed professional answer to your query:
1. GATE Score and Category Advantage:
A GATE score of 334 in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) under the SC category gives you a decent advantage.
Cutoffs for SC candidates are usually much lower compared to the General category.
This score can open up opportunities in good institutes, but getting the topmost IIITs may still be slightly competitive for specialized branches like VLSI.
2. Admission Chances in Top IIITs for VLSI:
IIIT Hyderabad is one of the top IIITs for VLSI but generally requires a higher GATE score, even for SC candidates (around 400+).
Other IIITs like IIIT Bangalore, IIIT Delhi, IIIT Allahabad, and IIITDM Jabalpur may have lower cutoffs and offer decent chances for VLSI-related programs.
IIIT Bangalore considers both GATE scores and past academic performance, so you may still have a chance there with a strong profile.
3. Alternative Options to Consider:
NITs like NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal, NIT Warangal, and MNIT Jaipur offer excellent VLSI programs and may have cutoffs suitable for your score under SC reservation.
Central universities such as IIITDM Kancheepuram and other newer IIITs could also be good backup options.
4. Important Suggestions:
Apply to a wide range of IIITs and NITs to maximize your chances.
Keep track of CCMT counselling and institute-specific admission processes.
Also check for special admission rounds or spot counselling if your preferred institute has vacant seats later.
5. Conclusion:
While securing VLSI in the very top IIITs like IIIT Hyderabad may be challenging, you still have very good chances in other reputed IIITs and NITs.
With proper choice filling and a little flexibility regarding specialization (like Embedded Systems or Microelectronics), you can secure a strong seat.
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