Around 30 out of 100 candidates in the steel city have secured commendable ranks in the entrance exam of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), results of which were announced on Monday evening.

The results are a clear indication that more number of students are opting for unconventional career options in a city that has always been obsessed with engineers and doctors.

About 100 students from across Jamshedpur had appeared for the written exam in January at centres based in Calcutta. The second round of exam — situation test — was held between May 3 and May 5.

At the situation test, NIFT assesses the innovation ability of the candidates wherein a team of experts evaluate how candidates can make use of the material that is provided to them at the time of the test.

Kendriya Vidyalaya student Arushie Ritika Ecka emerged as the city topper with a common merit rank (CMR) of 49. “I aspire to be a fashion designer and someday have my own fashion label. I am sure there are many students in the city who want to make a career in creative arts but all they need is proper exposure,” said Arushie who idolises ace designer Sabyasachi and wishes to get a seat in NIFT Delhi or Mumbai.

Shriya Shiv Kumar, a passout of Loyola School, scored a CMR of 100 and emerged second topper in the steel city.

“I think once there is proper awareness, more and more students will opt for designing. I am already pursuing a designing course from a local institute and had been trying for years to crack NIFT exam. Finally my dreams will come true,” said Shriya.

Nikhil Kumar Singh, director of Jamshedpur-based Academy of Fashion Arts, said slowly students were keen to explore fashion designing and other unconventional career options.

“We started the academy in 2016 with six students and now we have 18. Here we offer all possible details in graphic designing and animation as well,” said Singh.