They Study Less, Not More
The most consistent finding across IAS, IIT-JEE, and NEET toppers isn't a 16-hour study day. Srushti Jayant Deshmukh, who topped the IAS in 2019, has spoken publicly about capping her study hours and building deliberate rest into her schedule. The common advice is to grind longer. The reality these toppers operate on is different: cognitive load research from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru consistently shows that retention drops sharply after 90 minutes of sustained focus without a break. Toppers have internalised this. They do fewer hours with full attention, not more hours with a wandering mind.
