19YO Teen who Found Flaws in a CBSE Portal Gets Hired at IIT Kanpur

A teenager who exposed security flaws in a CBSE portal has landed a job at one of India's premier technology institutions. Nineteen-year-old cybersecurity researcher Nisarga Adhikary, who made national headlines after uncovering vulnerabilities in the CBSE Online Submission of Marks (OSM) portal, has now been hired by IIT Kanpur's cybersecurity hub as an OSINT and Threat Intelligence Engineer. His journey from independent researcher to IIT recruit is quickly becoming one of India's most talked-about cybersecurity success stories.

Nisarga first grabbed attention after identifying security vulnerabilities in the CBSE OSM portal, a platform used by schools across the country to upload student marks. Rather than exploiting the weaknesses, he chose the path of responsible disclosure, bringing the issue to light and highlighting the importance of stronger cybersecurity measures in public-facing digital systems.

His findings sparked conversations about the security of educational technology platforms and underscored the growing role of independent researchers in protecting India's digital infrastructure.

Now, the young researcher has achieved another milestone. Adhikary has been appointed as an OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) and Threat Intelligence Engineer at C3iHub, IIT Kanpur, one of India's prominent centres for cybersecurity and cyber-defence research.

The appointment marks a remarkable transition from independent security researcher to cybersecurity professional. It also reflects a broader shift within the technology industry, where practical skills, real-world research experience, and ethical hacking expertise are increasingly being valued alongside traditional qualifications.

Adhikary recently drew further attention after demonstrating alleged weaknesses in a CBSE digital platform by displaying the viral "Bad Apple" animation through a portal interface, reigniting discussions around the security of public digital systems and the need for stronger cyber defences.

As India continues to digitise education, governance, and public services, the demand for professionals specialising in cybersecurity, ethical hacking, threat intelligence, and vulnerability assessment is rising rapidly. Organisations today face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, making skilled researchers and threat intelligence experts essential to identifying risks before they become major security incidents.

For aspiring cybersecurity professionals, Adhikary's journey carries an important message. In a field driven by curiosity, technical ability, and continuous learning, age is often less important than expertise and ethical conduct.

From uncovering vulnerabilities in a national education platform to securing a role at IIT Kanpur's C3iHub, Nisarga Adhikary's story demonstrates how responsible cybersecurity research can transform a simple discovery into a life-changing opportunity. At a time when cyber threats are becoming more complex than ever, his journey serves as an inspiration for young researchers across India who aspire to build careers in cybersecurity and digital defence.