Payal Kumari, daughter of an e-rickshaw driver, secured the third position in the intermediate commerce stream exam conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB). The state education minister, Chandra Shekhar, announced the results on March 21. Payal scored 472 out of 500, with a grade of 94.4%. She aspires to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
Payal completed her education from JNKT Inter College in the Khagaria district of Bihar. She expressed her joy in an interview with Hindustan Times and attributed her success to her teachers, parents, and God. Despite financial constraints, Payal remained focused on her goal and worked hard to secure a place in the top three.
Payal’s father, Munna Poddar, earns a living driving an e-rickshaw, while her mother, Rina Devi, is a homemaker. She has a younger brother named Satyam Kumar, who passed the class 10th exam this year.
Payal originally wanted to study science, but due to financial limitations, she had to choose commerce instead. However, her aim to become an IAS officer remained unchanged, inspired by IAS officer Srushti Jayant Deshmukh. Payal didn’t rely on paid tutoring and instead focused on understanding the course concepts. She received guidance from her school teachers and referred to textbooks and online resources to strengthen her understanding.
Payal’s father supported her in pursuing her education, even though he was the sole breadwinner of the family. Payal’s determination and hard work paid off, and she plans to continue working towards her goal.