Viral video shows JEE toppers ditching smartphones for ‘focus phones’: The ‘secret’ behind 99%ile success stories in Kota

The competitive exam scene in India is no less than a pressure cooker, especially when it comes to career-deciding exams after Class 12 and in coaching hubs like Kota, where students chase dreams of IITs and top engineering seats amid gruelling routines.

A recent viral video from a JEE Main 2026 felicitation event has everyone talking, not about scores, but about the basic technology these high-achievers pull out when asked what they use.

Kota's "focus phones" aren't new, but in 2026, with AI tutors and app-based mocks everywhere, the choice feels both heroic and heartbreaking.

JEE main viral video shows students using ‘keypad phones’

A short clip from Kota's JEE toppers event exploded online, showing toppers like Himanshi with 99.47 percentile and Om Shivhare with 99.75 percentile, flashing keypad phones.

When a reporter asked, “What phone do you use?”, one student simply pulled out her feature phone, saying she relied on it throughout preparation, as seen in the video.

Another joked “iPhone 19” before revealing his basic model, sparking laughs, as detailed in Moneycontrol's coverage. Shot amid celebrations for JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results, the video hit millions of views on X and Instagram by February 20, 2026.

Why do Keypad phones rule Kota?

These "focus phones" limit users to calls and texts, dodging social media's distraction. Toppers like Om Shivhare told reporters he skipped social accounts entirely to stay sharp on tough problems, as per a LatestLY report. Local shops even sell models pitched to students as distraction-blockers.

Social media weighs in

Users quickly reacted to the post. One X user praised, “They are close to achieving their dreams, great work,” hailing young self-control . Another wrote, “This is the reason she is topper; focus is the only currency in Kota”.

Tech: Friend or foe?

However, if used carefully, smartphones sans apps are gold for AI learning and online mocks. “The problem lies not in devices but in how they are used,” argued users, catering to evolving classrooms.