Hyderabad's Naina Jaiswal become Youngest Indian to be Awarded PhD

By: WE Team | Friday, 21 April 2023

International tennis player, Naina Jaiswal, has become the youngest person and the first woman in India to be awarded a doctoral degree, PhD, at the age of 22 years.   

Hailing from Hyderabad, Naina chose “A Study on Role of Micro-Finance in Women Empowerment” with reference to the Mehboobnagar district of Telangana as her topic for research. She began pursuing PhD at the age of 17, making her a child prodigy.   

Naina had completed 10th grade at the age of eight years and intermediate at 10 years old. She then completed her graduation in BA mass communication and journalism at the age of 13. Naina pursued post-graduation in MA political science from Osmania University at the age of 15, which made her the youngest postgraduate in Asia. Additionally, Naina is also a law graduate.

“Throughout my childhood, I was home-schooled, which allowed me to balance both academics and sports. It’s a common occurrence that children who excel in sports tend to struggle with academics, and vice versa. However, my parents firmly believed that children could excel in both areas, and this became our family motto,” Naina said to a leading daily.

She further adds, “My father, who is an educationist and also an advocate, personally taught me from my early years all the way to my postgraduate studies (KG to PG).”

Nanina’s achievements are not limited to academic accomplishments. She is a national champion and South Asian champion in table tennis and had secured the 6th position at the ITTF World Hopes Team. She has also won several gold, silver, and bronze medals across various national and international tournaments.

Naina is also an international motivational speaker, and has participated in various events and seminars held in the USA, UAE, Singapore, Oman, and all over India.

The young prodigy credits her parents Ashwani Kumar Jaiswal and Bhagyalaxmi Jaiswalfor her accolades.  She adds, “I am grateful for the invaluable guidance provided by my research guide, Prof. Dr.MurruMutyalu Naidu Garu, and co-guide, Prof. Dr.TekiSurayya Garu, who have been instrumental in my research achievements.”