Shimla’s Damini Barar Cracks Top National PhD Exams Without Coaching, Heads to IIT Delhi
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Shimla, June 12, 2025 – In a proud moment for the hill city of Shimla, Damini Singh Barar, a resident of Sanjauli, has topped India’s most prestigious PhD entrance exams and is now set to pursue her doctorate in Psychology at IIT Delhi.
Despite hailing from a small town and preparing without any tuition or coaching, Damini secured All India Rank 1 in the IIT Kanpur PhD (Psychology) entrance exam, standing out as the only candidate selected from among hundreds. She also topped the selection process at IIT Delhi, where she will begin her PhD journey.
Her academic success story doesn’t end there. Damini also cleared the competitive written test of NIMHANS, Bengaluru, one of India’s most renowned institutions for mental health research, and was shortlisted for the interview round. Additionally, she cleared the UGC-NET exam in December 2024 in her first attempt — again, entirely through self-study without any coaching support.
A former student of Loreto Convent Tara Hall, Damini pursued English Honours at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi, and went on to complete her Master’s in Applied Psychology from TISS Mumbai, both top-tier institutions. However, her entire journey was rooted in the values of self-discipline and determination cultivated in Shimla’s supportive yet modest academic environment.
Daughter of Rajneesh Barar, Sanitation Inspector in Shimla Municipal Corporation, and Meera Barar, Damini’s story is a beacon of hope for countless small-town students. Her success proves that with clarity of purpose and focused effort, extraordinary achievements are possible—even without external coaching or big-city exposure.
Her achievement has not only brought pride to her family but also placed Shimla on the national academic map.
I have seen her since she was very around 3 yrs old..she is talented, determined and self driven and got high values from her family. Many many congratulations