Who is Kanishak Kataria? Meet the IIT Bombay grad who left his Rs. 1 crore job to become an IAS officer

Know about Kanishak Kataria: Kanishak Katharia, the IIT Bombay graduate who walked away from a ?1?crore salary in pursuit of a higher calling, has become a beacon of inspiration across India. Earning AIR 1 in the UPSC exam, he swapped the corporate world for civil service, illustrating the power of purpose over paychecks.

Now serving as an IAS officer in Rajasthan, his journey speaks to unwavering determination, academic brilliance, and a heartfelt commitment to public service. From coding algorithms to crafting policies, Kanishak's story resonates with professionals and aspirants alike.

His transition is not just a career pivot¡ªit's a narrative about dreams, grit, and redefining success on one's terms. Read on to uncover how this extraordinary decision is shaping a new generation's aspirations.

Who is Kanishak Kataria?

Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on September 26, 1992, Kanishak Kataria consistently performed well academically and placed 44th in the 2010 IIT JEE.

Kanishak Kataria's Family

Kanishak Kataria is an IAS Topper who is also an IITian is came from a highly educated family background | Credit: Instagram

Kanishak Kataria comes from a distinguished and supportive family with strong roots in public service. His father, Sanwar Mal Verma, is a senior IAS officer from Rajasthan who is known for his dedication and integrity, while his uncle, K.C. Verma, also serves in the Indian Administrative Service. Kanishak's mother is a homemaker who played a vital role in encouraging and supporting him throughout his journey.

His elder sister, Tanmaya Kataria, pursued a medical degree, adding to the family's academic background. Growing up in an environment that valued education, discipline, and public duty, Kanishak was naturally inspired to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle. Their collective guidance and belief in service to the nation greatly influenced his path to becoming a UPSC topper.

Kanishak?Kataria¡¯s wife is Sonal?Chouhan, a bright IIT?Bombay alumna in Computer Science who forged her career as a software developer in Japan before marrying Kanishak in 2020 . Originally from a Scheduled Caste family in Rajasthan, she completed internships at Housing.com and BMC Software during her studies, and later advanced to a product manager role at Rakuten in Tokyo.

Kanishak Kataria¡¯s education qualification

Kanishak is an IIT Bombay pass out of 2014 batch and went to Samsung in South Korea. | Credit: Instagram

He finished his education at Kota's St. Paul's Senior Sec. School. He earned his B.Tech. with honours in computer science and engineering and minored in applied statistics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

He placed second in the International Mathematics Olympiad and earned an AIR 1 in the 11th National Science Olympiad in 2009. Additionally, he received the NTSE Scholarship in 2008 and the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana Scholarship in 2009.

Kanishak Kataria¡¯ career

In 2018, Kanishak Kataria won the top spot in the Civil Services Examination. His father, Sanwar Mal Verma, an IAS official who served as Director of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department in Rajasthan, inspired him to pursue a career in public service.

Kanishak Kataria received 1121 points overall in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2018 after receiving 942 points in the written exam and 179 points in the personality test. With mathematics as an elective, he passed the test with flying colours.

Kanishak Kataria is currently promoted and posted as the new Joint Secretary, Department of Personnel (DoP), Government of Rajasthan in Jaipur.

Kanishak Kataria¡¯s Samsung¡¯s job

He was able to land a lucrative job with Samsung in South Korea. Kanishak had a long-term goal of joining the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), even though he was paid Rs 1 crore.

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