Seventeen-year-old Saurabh Singh from Narhai in Uttar Pradesh has put his state on the NASA map. Saurabh has topped NASA's International Scientist Discovery exam. UP boy tops NASA exam
February 17, 2005 09:24 IST
Reports said the Class 12 student even bettered his idol, Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam, who finished seventh in the test in 1960.
The other Indian who performed well in the NASA exam was Kalpana Chawla, who died in the Columbia space shuttle disaster. She had stood 21st in 1988.
But unlike his illustrious predecessors, Saurabh had never heard of NASA till he began preparing for his IIT entrance exams.
Saurabh and his proud parents are now awaiting the call from NASA
........(Now the funny part).......................................................................
Teen?s NASA claim now under a cloud US agency denies holding such test
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 23: The claim by Saurabh Singh, a 15-year-old boy from Uttar Pradesh, that he had topped a NASA examination has kicked up a controversy with the US space agency denying having conducted any such test.
According to sources, Saurabh met President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at 2.30 pm today, but his appointment with PM Manmohan Singh?scheduled for later in the day?was cancelled.
The President?s Office, too, has clarified that Kalam had never appeared for the NASA test as a student. This was another claim made by the boy. Late tonight, the UP government announced that it had put on hold its cash award of Rs 5 lakh to Saurabh, ??till further investigations are done??.
Speaking to Express, NASA spokesperson in Washington, Deborah Rahn, said, ??As far as we have determined, there was never an exam as mentioned.?? She said NASA heard Saurabh?s name for the first time last Thursday while responding to a query from a journalist asking for ??additional information?? about the examination.
Asked if the NASA had conducted any talent search worldwide to support young students, she said, ??NASA does not conduct any such exam nor does it give scholarships. These are only conducted by universities.??
Singh shot to fame on February 6 when media reports from Narhi Nagra in Ballia claimed he had topped NASA?s International Scientists Discovery examination. The Sunday Express too had reported the boy?s success story. Attempts are now being made to contact the boy and his school.
This was followed by a flurry of felicitations with UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav announcing Rs 5 lakh as award for the boy after a Cabinet decision on February 10. Six days later, all the MLAs decided to donate a day?s salary?around Rs 3 lakh?to help the boy study further.
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