‘Ultra Genius’ 12th Class Boy With 00 Degrees Hired By IIT Kanpur in INDIA #shorts

Teen Cybersecurity Prodigy Hired by IIT Kanpur After Exposing CBSE Portal Flaws A 19-year-old guy from west Bengal, Nisarga Adhikary, who recently made national headlines for exposing vulnerabilities in the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) digital infrastructure has been hired by IIT Kanpur, a move that has sparked widespread discussion about talent, merit and the future of cybersecurity education in India. Nisarga Adhikary, who had just completed Class 12, gained public attention after identifying and reporting security weaknesses in CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal, a critical platform used in the evaluation process of board examinations. His findings raised concerns about the security of student data and the integrity of the digital assessment system. Unlike a malicious hacker, Adhikary publicly presented the vulnerabilities and advocated for stronger cybersecurity safeguards. His technical analysis attracted the attention of cybersecurity experts, policymakers and academic institutions. IIT Kanpur officials reportedly took notice after reading his detailed blog posts and technical assessments of the portal's weaknesses. In a remarkable turn of events, IIT Kanpur recruited Adhikary as an Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Threat Intelligence Engineer at its cybersecurity innovation hub, C3iHub. The appointment is particularly notable because Adhikary does not yet possess a college degree, making him one of the youngest cybersecurity professionals to be hired by the prestigious institution. The hiring has generated significant excitement across social media, especially among students, programmers and cybersecurity enthusiasts. Many users praised IIT Kanpur for recognizing practical skill and real-world expertise rather than focusing solely on formal academic qualifications. Supporters described the appointment as an example of meritocracy, arguing that exceptional talent should be rewarded regardless of age or conventional credentials. The development has also reignited debate about India's education system. Several commentators noted that many highly skilled young programmers and cybersecurity researchers struggle to gain recognition because of an excessive emphasis on degrees and entrance examinations. For many students, Adhikary's success story represents proof that demonstrable skills can sometimes open doors that traditional academic pathways cannot. The timing of the appointment is significant. IIT Kanpur recently announced a new Bachelor of Cybersecurity programme that places greater emphasis on practical cybersecurity skills and ethical hacking aptitude rather than relying exclusively on conventional entrance-exam metrics. Many observers see Adhikary's recruitment as reflecting a broader shift toward valuing hands-on expertise in a field where real-world capability often matters more than formal qualifications. Meanwhile, the CBSE portal controversy continues to attract attention. Investigations and expert reviews acknowledged the presence of serious vulnerabilities in the digital system, leading to efforts by IIT experts and government agencies to strengthen security measures and close identified loopholes. For many young Indians, however, the larger story is no longer about the CBSE portal itself. It is about a teenager who turned a cybersecurity blog into a career opportunity at one of India's premier institutions, demonstrating how talent, curiosity and technical skill can sometimes outweigh age, degrees and traditional expectations. Subscribe to FactTechz