IITian with Cerebral Palsy Clears UPSC in First Attempt

Summary: An IIT graduate cleared his UPSC exams in his first attempt, despite his medical condition.

An IIT graduate, Manvendra Singh, aged 24 years, from Bulandshahr, suffering from Cerebral Palsy, secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 112 in his first attempt of the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE), as per results declared on December 17, 2025.

Understanding Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects how a person moves, maintains posture, and controls muscles. It happens due to injury to the developing brain, usually before birth. Signs often appear in early childhood and can range from mild to severe. Some children may have stiff or floppy muscles, poor balance, uncontrolled movements, or difficulty walking. Others may struggle with speech, swallowing, vision, or coordination. The condition affects each person differently; some can walk independently, while others need support. Cerebral palsy does not worsen over time and has no cure, but early treatment and therapy can help improve daily functioning and quality of life.

The onset of the disease Cerebral palsy

Manvendra, at the tender age of 6 months, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Holding his neck became a herculean task by the time he was two years of age. As he grew older, he developed stiffness on the right side of his body. Simple, daily tasks took a lot of time, energy and patience.
His muscle control was affected, as was his coordination and gait. Though his condition did not worsen with age, it hampered his daily movements. Every movement had to be planned, especially preparing for the exams involved the balancing of his mental focus with physical endurance.
The doctor advised that he would have a lifelong struggle with coordination. He was taken to more than 50 hospitals and doctors by his mother, Renu Singh. Finally, his condition has stabilised, with consistent treatment in New Delhi.
Medicine is never enough to cure or treat any illness. Love, care, patience and encouragement are also required.

The efforts

Manvendra was 17 years old when his father died. It was a struggle to come to terms with this, but with time, he became stronger and more responsible, being the eldest child of his parents. He focused on his academics and developed emotional strength.

The ambition

Manvendra was a very bright student. He was advised to sit for the state-level entrance exam, but he chose the path of IIT.

The achievements

He secured an AIR of 63 in GATE and completed his degree, B.Tech., from IIT Patna in 2024.
He has secured an AIR of 112 in his first attempt at the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE), as per the results declared on December 17, 2025.

Conclusion

The UPSC preparation is tough as it requires a lot of preparation with consistent focus, concentration and stamina. It is no mean feat that Manvendra has achieved. Overcoming the physical limitations and coming through with flying colours is commendable.
This teaches us that all is not lost. We can achieve what we dare to dream, with hard work, patience and consistent effort.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources