19-year-old cybersecurity researcher Nisarga Adhikary, who flagged flaws in CBSE portal, named in US DOJ Hall of Fame | World News

Nisarga Adhikary was appointed as an Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Threat Intelligence Engineer at C3iHub, IIT Kanpur, in June.

Nisarga Adhikary, a 19-year-old cybersecurity researcher who identified security vulnerabilities in the CBSE’s On-Screen Marking portal, has been recognised by the US Department of Justice for responsibly reporting flaws in government systems.Adhikary announced the recognition on X, sharing a screenshot of the Justice Department’s acknowledgements page. The page lists researchers who have reported valid vulnerabilities to the department through responsible disclosure.“Got added to US DoJ (Department of Justice) Hall of Fame,” Adhikary wrote.The recognition comes after Adhikary reported major security issues in the CBSE On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal, a digital system used by CBSE-affiliated schools to upload and manage students’ examination marks. The platform forms part of the board’s examination process and is used in the compilation of marks and preparation of results.The US Justice Department’s Hall of Fame recognises cybersecurity researchers who identify vulnerabilities and help organisations address potential security risks.His interest in cybersecurity began with an early fascination with computers. Adhikary previously said he started exploring the field when he was around 13.“I have been fascinated by computers from a very young age, and I got into cybersecurity for fun when I was around 13. That curiosity gradually turned into something I wanted to pursue seriously,” he said.In June, IIT Kanpur appointed Adhikary as an Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Threat Intelligence Engineer at C3iHub, the institute’s cybersecurity-focused technology innovation hub.