Cuttack boy tops GATE, eyes IIT-Kharagpur stint

BHUBANESWAR: Jyotiranjan Barik, a fourth-year student of agricultural engineering at the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), topped the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)-2018. He scored 959 out of 1,000 marks.
"This was my first attempt and I did not expect to top the exam. I was sure of qualifying though. When my friends told me about the result, I could not believe it," said the 23-year-old.
GATE is the national-level qualifying test for admission in master's and direct doctoral programmes in engineering, technology, architecture and other branches of science at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and across the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).This year, the exam was conducted by IIT-Guwahati. The results were declared on Saturday.
Barik completed his schooling from Sri Sri Abhiram Paramhansa Bidyapitha in Sasol village in Cuttack district and his Plus-II from Maharshi College of Natural Law in Bhubaneswar. He secured 90.33% in Class X and 80.5% in his Plus-II boards.
"I don't study much. Every day, I would keep at my books for around three to four hours. I did not go to any coaching centre. I think classroom lectures were quite helpful," said Barik. "I want to do research by clearing the Junior Research Fellowship. I think I will do an MTech in soil and water conservation from IIT Kharagpur," he added.
After news of Barik's success spread, congratulatory messages started pouring in. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted, "Delighted to learn that Odia student from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology Jyotiranjan Barik has topped the all-India Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering #GATEExam2018. Many congratulations to him and wishing him all success in his career."
Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan also congratulated Barik on Twitter. "This is a moment of pride for Odias. He will be an inspiration to Odisha's youth," the minister said. The vice-chancellor of OUAT said, "This is certainly a proud moment for the university and the state."
Barik's father, Gajendra, works in a private firm while his mother is a housewife.