Divina Gahlot, daughter of BJP MLA and former Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot, emerged as the national favorite after the Combined University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG results were announced on Tuesday.
From scoring 98% in her Class 12 board exams to securing first rank in CUET-UG 2026, Divina has major academic achievements to her name.
This latest achievement left her surprised because she couldn’t believe she had topped the entire country. “When I first saw the result, I kept checking the application number because I couldn’t believe that I had topped the entire country,” Divina said after the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the CUET-UG results on Tuesday.
Devina, a student of DPS Vasant Kunj, had already established herself as a high achiever in school. In her Class 12 CBSE exams this year, she scored 98% in the humanities stream, making her the topper in her school, according to a PTI report.
Despite her academic record, Devina said that achieving India’s highest rank in CUET was not something she expected.
How Divina prepared for CUET
She attributed her success to discipline, consistency, and regular review rather than long hours of study. “I studied every subject every day. I never focused on just one thing while leaving everything else. I regularly reviewed and analyzed a lot of previous years’ question papers,” she said.
But the preparation journey was not without challenges. Divina recalled feeling uncertain in the first months after her board exams as she struggled to understand the exam pattern and preparation strategy.
“When I started preparing for the CUET exam right after the board exams, I had no idea what I would study or where to study from. Sometimes, I felt that I might not be able to do it because I was not used to this kind of pressure that could determine my future,” she said.
She credited her parents, teachers and school for helping her get through those moments. According to Divina, her family did not put any pressure on her, but rather encouraged her throughout the process.
Her father, Kailash Gahlot, said the family was happy with the achievement and praised her dedication. He said: “We are all very happy. As parents, we never forced her. Our two daughters did well. I often asked her if she was studying hard, and her usual response was always, ‘Dad, it will be finished.'”
The BJP leader also lauded Devina’s mother, teachers and DPS Vasant Kunj for playing a key role in her success.
What awaits Divina?
Looking to the future, Divina plans to pursue honors in English, driven by her interest in literature, reading, and writing. She is also considering a future in journalism.
She said: “I have a great interest in literature, reading and writing. So I thought about doing an honors degree in English. And after that, maybe journalism. There is no concrete plan yet, but that is the direction I am considering now.”
At the same time, she did not rule out entering public life. Having grown up watching her father serve as a U.S. Army secretary and minister, Divina said politics remains an interesting field.
“Since my childhood, I have seen my father as a civil service assistant and as a minister. I have seen how many people have been helped through this profession. I have grown up watching him work for and help others. So there is interest, but let’s see where life takes me,” she said.
(With inputs from PTI)
