In a defining moment for Kashmir, three young women — Maleeha, Sadaf, and Janees — have done something no girl from the Valley had ever done before: cracked the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) and secured seats at the Indian Institutes of Technology.
This is not just an examination result. It is a crack in a ceiling that many had come to believe was permanent.
A Historic Breakthrough for Girls’ Education in Kashmir
For decades, IIT remained a distant aspiration for girls in Kashmir — limited by lack of access, social barriers, and the simple absence of anyone who had done it before. There was no local roadmap, no role model close enough to feel real.
Maleeha, Sadaf, and Janees changed that forever.
“This is not just a result; this is a revolution. For the first time, our girls have made it to the IITs. They haven’t just cleared an exam — they’ve smashed through decades of doubt, social expectations, and systemic barriers. This moment belongs to every girl in Kashmir who was told to stay within limits.”
— Salman Shahid, Co-Founder, RISE | IIT Kharagpur alumnus | Young Alumni Achiever Award recipient
Meet the Three Who Made History
Janees — from Pulwama, to IIT Kharagpur
Janees, from Pulwama, will be joining IIT Kharagpur — the very institute where RISE co-founder Salman Shahid studied.
“When I started preparing, I didn’t know anyone like me who had done this. There was no roadmap. But I had belief — and RISE gave me the direction and push I needed.”
— Janees
Sadaf — from Kulgam, to IIT Bombay
Sadaf, from Kulgam, will be joining IIT Bombay, one of the most competitive institutions in the country.
“Preparing for IIT in Kashmir wasn’t easy — socially or academically. But I was fortunate to have mentors and a family that supported me. I want girls across Kashmir to know that they are stronger than the boundaries placed around them.”
— Sadaf
Maleeha — from Srinagar, to IIT Bombay
Maleeha, from Srinagar, will be joining IIT Bombay — alongside Sadaf, the two make history as the first girls from Kashmir ever to walk through its gates.
The Preparation: Two Years at RISE, Srinagar
All three students prepared for JEE Advanced at RISE, a Srinagar-based coaching institute founded by three IITians — Salman Shahid (IIT Kharagpur), Mubeen Masudi (IIT Bombay), and Imbesat Ahmad — with a single belief: that talent exists everywhere in Kashmir; opportunity does not.
Preparing for IIT in Kashmir carries unique pressures — academic, logistical, and social. For girls, those pressures are amplified. RISE’s approach combined structured learning and rigorous academics with mentorship that took those pressures seriously, not as obstacles to work around, but as part of what it means to truly prepare a student.
“Seeing Maleeha, Sadaf, and Janees make it to the IITs is what RISE was built for. We came back to Kashmir because we knew the potential was here. These three have shown the rest of the Valley — and the rest of the country — exactly what Kashmiri girls are capable of.”
— Mubeen Masudi, Co-Founder, RISE | IIT Bombay alumnus
RISE has produced selections to IITs, AIIMS, Government Medical Colleges, and top universities in India and abroad — drawing talent from every district of the Valley, including remote regions like Kupwara and Bandipora.
Earlier, Toiyeb Ashiq emerged as the J&K State Topper in JEE Main with AIR 152 — another chapter in what has become a consistent record, not a streak of isolated results. Read his story here →
Beyond the Exam: A Cultural Turning Point
The significance of this moment extends well beyond three admission letters. Girls from families across Kashmir will grow up knowing that IIT is not a goal that belongs only to other places, other people. Schools will set higher targets. Parents will expand their picture of what is possible for their daughters.
Role models work because they make the abstract concrete. Maleeha, Sadaf, and Janees are now that concrete reality for the next generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the first girls from Kashmir to crack JEE Advanced and get into IIT?
Maleeha, Sadaf, and Janees — students of RISE, Srinagar — are the first girls from Kashmir to clear JEE Advanced and secure seats at the Indian Institutes of Technology.
Which coaching institute prepared them?
All three students prepared at RISE, a Srinagar-based institute co-founded by IITians Salman Shahid (IIT Kharagpur), Mubeen Masudi (IIT Bombay), and Imbesat Ahmad.
Which IITs did the girls get into?
Maleeha (Srinagar) and Sadaf (Kulgam) will both be joining IIT Bombay. Janees (Pulwama) will be joining IIT Kharagpur.
How can I enrol my child at RISE?
You can register through the RISE registration form. The institute accepts students from across the Valley, including remote districts.
The Future of Kashmir Is Already Here
Three girls from Kashmir walked through IIT gates. Thousands more now know they can follow.
“When brilliance is nurtured with belief, care, and consistency, there are no limits. This is a proud moment for RISE — and for Kashmir.”
— Salman Shahid, Co-Founder, RISE
The founders of RISE came back to the Valley because they believed the talent was always here. Maleeha, Sadaf, and Janees just proved it — irrevocably, historically, and in a way that cannot be undone.