New Delhi, July 28, 2025

Dr. Laxman Singh from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, has achieved a rare academic distinction by qualifying the UGC-NET in 13 different subjects—most recently in Archaeology during the June 2025 session—without any formal coaching. His earlier qualifications include Political Science, Sociology, Drama (with JRF), and Indian Culture, among others.

What makes his journey even more extraordinary is his difficult academic start: he failed multiple school and college exams, completing his undergraduate degree with just 39% marks. Yet, driven by a deep love for learning, he went on to earn an MPhil and PhD from Jamia Millia Islamia, with fieldwork across Nepal documenting Dalit art.

Singh has also cleared the JNU entrance exam 33 times across various disciplines, more to test his learning than to seek admission. His academic interests span religion, literature, and history, leading him to study Persian in Iran and publish research on Zoroastrian communities and Indian spiritual traditions abroad.

Beyond academia, Dr. Singh has engaged in social causes, organizing public discussions on sex workers’ rights and participating in the Raid De Himalaya motorbike rally. A former JNU powerlifting gold medalist, he recently co-produced Sweatpants, a Hollywood film about undocumented Indian immigrants in the U.S.

Dr. Singh is currently preparing for 25 more UGC-NET exams and says his mission is to inspire students to value knowledge over grades. “Failing in school doesn’t define your future,” he says. “You don’t have to be a topper to be a thinker.”