IIT Patna alumnus with cerebral palsy clears UPSC ESE in first attempt

IIT Patna graduate Manvendra Singh, born with cerebral palsy, has overcome significant physical challenges to secure All India Rank 112 in the UPSC Engineering Services Examination in his first attempt, earning a place in the Indian Engineering Service.

For his family in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, the achievement represents the culmination of years of perseverance and the start of a promising career.

Manvendra grew up in his grandmother’s home, where relatives treated his condition not as a limitation but as a challenge to overcome.

From six months old, he underwent extensive treatment, including physiotherapy, allopathy, Ayurveda, homeopathy, and naturopathy, aimed at improving his strength and motor control.

With sustained support and encouragement, Manvendra gradually learned to walk independently.

Academically, he excelled, finishing in the top 10 in both Class 10 and Class 12, showing that his disability did not affect his intellect. He later cleared the JEE with a 63rd rank and pursued BTech at IIT Patna.

Campus life demanded full independence, cycling four kilometers daily, cooking, washing clothes, managing studies, and living without special assistance, instilling the discipline that became the foundation of his UPSC preparation.

In 2025, Manvendra appeared for the Engineering Services Examination, achieving a top rank in his first attempt, a feat rare even for repeat aspirants.

His mother, Renu Singh, a Montessori school principal, said, “Belief played a central role. I always knew my son could go far.” She added that his grandparents instilled confidence long before success arrived.