IIT at 13, PhD at 24: Meet the Bihar village prodigy who shocked IIT

Satyam Kumar

• Satyam Kumar became the youngest Indian to crack IIT JEE at age 13.
• He earned BTech and MTech from IIT Kanpur, then a PhD from University of Texas.
• Satyam interned at Apple, now a Graduate Research Assistant in Texas.

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We often hear that talent can be found anywhere. The story of Satyam Kumar proves it is not just about talent, but about what you do with it. His journey is a quiet lesson in consistency and clear goals.

Satyam was born in Bakhora Pur, a village in Bihar's Bhojpur district. His father, Siddhanath Singh, is a farmer. Life was simple and resources were scarce. For many young people in such circumstances, big dreams can feel out of reach. But for Satyam, a strong academic spark was clear from a young age. To nurture that potential, he made a significant move. While still a child, he relocated to Kota, Rajasthan—the country's famous coaching hub—to seriously prepare for the IIT Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).

His first attempt at the exam came in 2011, when he was just 12 years old. Clearing the JEE at that age is itself a notable achievement, and he secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 8137. Many might have been satisfied. For Satyam, this was not the final destination, but a valuable trial run. He used the experience to prepare better. The very next year, in 2012, he attempted the JEE again. This time, at the age of 13, he achieved an exceptional All India Rank of 670. With this, he made history as the youngest Indian at that time to crack the IIT JEE.

Securing a seat at a top IIT was a major milestone, but it was just the start of his academic journey. He chose to study Electrical Engineering at IIT Kanpur. There, he didn't just complete his BTech; he continued his studies at the same institute to earn an MTech degree as well. This showed a deep commitment to mastering his field, layer by layer.

For Satyam, learning had no ceiling. After IIT Kanpur, he set his sights on global research. He pursued a PhD at the prestigious University of Texas at Austin, which he earned by the age of 24. His specialized knowledge opened doors to the world's leading technology companies. He completed an internship at Apple, gaining hands-on experience at the forefront of innovation.

Today, according to his LinkedIn profile, Satyam Kumar works as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Texas, continuing to contribute to advanced research in his field.

Satyam Kumar's story is not about sudden fame or a single lucky break. It is a narrative built on a series of deliberate steps: from a village in Bihar to the classrooms of Kota, from the campuses of IIT Kanpur to a PhD in the United States, and into the halls of top tech firms. His path underscores a powerful idea: with clear focus and unwavering perseverance, your starting point does not have to define your finish line.