IIT Graduate with Cerebral Palsy Clears UPSC in First Attempt; Understanding the Condition and Its Impact on Daily Living

A 24-year-old IIT graduate from Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahar achieved what many just dream of. Manvendra Singh cleared all three stages of the UPSE’s ESE exam, which included the prelims, mains, and interview, much to the happiness of his family. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at six months old, this achievement was no small feat for Manvendra, who spent more than two decades learning how to live, adapt, and persist inside a body shaped by the non-progressive disorder, which affects your physical as well as mental health. Manvendra, who secured an All-India Rank of 112 in his very first attempt, had a difficult childhood after the diagnosis. As he grew, he suffered from severe stiffness, which developed on the right side of his body. Tasks that

most children do with ease needed patience and repetition from him. Simple things like holding a pencil, walking straight, or even sitting for a few hours were not his thing. However, over time, Manvendra learnt to adapt.

Life with cerebral palsy

For Manvendra, adapting to everyday tasks was a huge challenge as even standing straight required hard practice and repetition. However, with the help of his parents, Manvendra did it. His mother, Renu, a principal of a private school, recalls that progress came slowly but steadily. “Clearing UPSC is a long and difficult process with several stages. From learning how to hold a pencil to mastering complex academic challenges, his journey has been full of physical and societal hurdles since childhood,” she said in an interview with the Economic Times. Renu said that due to his condition, initially Manvendra was not able to hold the pencil straight and would just grip it tightly. However, with continuous practice and repeated efforts, he was able to train his left hand to compensate for limitations on his right side. Since cerebral palsy affected his coordination and walking, Manvendra’s medical treatment was a constant part of his childhood. Renu said she consulted more than 50 hospitals and doctors across India before consistent treatment at a hospital in New Delhi helped stabilise his condition. “Along with medical care, his willpower mattered the most,” she said.

Clearing IIT on the first attempt

With continuous practice, Manvendra was able to achieve academic brilliance as he remained focused on studies and performed well in school. After completing his class 12, he took the JEE entrance exam and cleared the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering with an All India Rank of 63. Manvendra completed his B.Tech. in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from IIT Patna in 2024.

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that causes issues with muscle tone, posture, and movement disorders. It happens due to damage to your brain during fetal development or another developmental disability that affects the way your brain develops. Doctors say the signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy appear early in childhood and can vary widely from person to person. The main effect happens when there is a disruption in the control of muscle movement. It also affects nearby brain areas and the abilities they control, but that is not always the case. Having cerebral palsy does not automatically cause someone to have an intellectual disability.

Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy

There are various kinds of symptoms of cerebral palsy. Doctors say that some can affect your movement, others affect certain body parts, appearance, and behaviour. A few examples of nonmovement signs and symptoms include:

• Head size differences
• Irritability as babies being fussy
• Lack of interaction
• Hypotonia or lack of muscle tone
• Delayed development in children
• Stiffness in arms and legs
• Uncoordinated movements
• Movements that look like they are slow and writhing or twisting
• Movements that look like you’re flinging, throwing, fidgeting, or dancing
• Spasms or contractions