India’s youngest engineer

Meet the Prodigy: Nirbhay Thacker’s Remarkable Journey

Nirbhay Thacker, one of India’s youngest engineers, accomplished an extraordinary feat by completing classes 8 to 12 in just nine months. While most kids finish school by 17 and bachelor’s degrees by 22 or 23, Nirbhay defied norms with his accelerated education.

Initially considered a ‘weak student’ by his teachers, Nirbhay proved them wrong by completing three years of schooling in just six months, from classes 8 to 10, and then clearing classes 11 and 12 in only three months during 2015-16. Born in 2002, he finished his HSC at the age of 13.

In an interview, Nirbhay explained his approach to rapid learning, stating, “I believe that if you understand what you are reading, you can clear any examination. Learning by rote never helps one.” He switched to an IGCSE school as a private candidate after being unable to participate in competitions until the completion of Std VI in his previous CBSE school. This move enabled him to clear five grades in one year.

At the age of 15, Nirbhay became Gujarat’s youngest engineer, completing a 4-year degree from Gujarat Technological University (GTU) in just one year. Despite scoring 75/360 in the Joint Entrance Examination (Main), he accomplished this remarkable feat.

Nirbhay set his sights on obtaining 10 engineering degrees within three years, including all five branches of engineering: electrical, mechanical, computer, instrumentation and automation, and chemical. His ambition was supported by his father, Dhaval Thacker, an engineer, and his mother, a doctor.

Subsequently, Nirbhay joined the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar, focusing on research and product development. He aims to contribute to next-generation technology in the Defence sector and plans to pursue a PhD. His achievements were recognized with the Young Achiever Award by the World Education Congress.