Media Release

Mangaluru, Jul 4: The Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL), Mangaluru, has once again reaffirmed its position as one of the leading institutions for science education, with exceptional results in the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026.

Spearheading the institution's outstanding performance are Lauren M Patrao (AIR 68) and Akshith Ram K (AIR 79), both securing positions among the top 0.05% of nearly 1.86 lac candidates who appeared for the examination.

Lauren and Akshith’s success is part of a remarkable institutional performance that saw:

• 6 students secure All India Ranks within the Top 200
• 12 students secure ranks within the Top 1,100
• 15 students achieve nationally competitive ranks eligible for admissions at the top IISERs

These results further strengthen CFAL’s growing reputation for producing students who excel across India’s most demanding national examinations through conceptual learning rather than examination-focused preparation.

What is the IISER Aptitude Test?

The IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) is an entrance examination for admission to some of India's premier research institutions, including:

•  The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
• The seven Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs): IISER Pune, IISER Bhopal, IISER Mohali, IISER Kolkata, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, IISER Tirupati, and IISER Berhampur

It also serves as an entrance route for select undergraduate programmes at:

• IIT Madras
• IIT Guwahati
• The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata
• The Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur

With approximately 1.86 lac applicants competing for nearly 2,343 seats, the IAT has emerged as one of India’s most competitive science entrance examinations, offering admission into institutions that have become the country’s leading centres for scientific research and innovation.

Unlike examinations that primarily reward speed, the IAT evaluates conceptual understanding, scientific reasoning, and analytical thinking across Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.

CFAL’S Top National Performers in IAT 2026

• Lauren Patrao - AIR 68
• Akshith Ram - AIR 79
• Vaibhav Kekkunnaya - AIR 118
• Mohak S Raj - AIR 127
• Ira Jain - AIR 141
• Dhaval S Shetty K - AIR 156

Together, these six students have placed CFAL among the strongest performing institutions in the country in the IISER Aptitude Test.

Additional outstanding performances include:

• Devika Jayaraj - AIR 425
• Rishon Fernandes - AIR 604
• Sanath Rao - AIR 609
• Arundhathi S A - AIR 853
• Pratham N Acharya - AIR 1076
• Skanda K R - AIR 1090
• Vamshitha Shetty - 3166
• V Sanya Poorna - 3456
• Yukta Dinakar – 3802

A Different Educational Pathway

For families in Mangaluru, these outcomes highlight an important opportunity. A strong IAT rank can open the door to institutions that combine high-quality education with substantial government support, making them an affordable alternative to many private professional colleges. More importantly, they provide a direct pathway to research careers, prestigious fellowships, and globally competitive doctoral programs, opportunities that are often far less accessible through conventional undergraduate routes.

About CFAL

CFAL, Mangaluru, builds rigorous foundations in mathematics and science and prepares students for premier national examinations including JEE, NEET, the mathematical Olympiads, and entrance examinations of ISI, CMI, and IISER. The institution is built around a culture of curiosity, discipline, and serious learning.