2009-02-22 Today's News Brief [Central News Agency]

Indian girl Sushma Verma passed the university entrance exam in Uttar Pradesh, India, at the age of 7 in 2007, becoming the youngest student in India to be admitted to university. She was awarded a certificate by the record-keeping institution.

Currently studying at St. Meera's Inter College in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, Sushma received the "Youngest University Entrance Exam Admittee" certificate from the Limca Book of Records, India's equivalent to the Guinness World Records, yesterday. She said, "My success is thanks to my teachers and parents."

Now 9 years old, Sushma told the media that she hopes to become a doctor in the future and also wishes to open her own hospital. She said, "This way, I can provide free medical services to the poor."

Sushma's father, Tej Bahadur Verma, is a daily wage laborer, and her mother, Chhaya, stays at home without working outside. Verma told the media, "The whole city is proud of my daughter."

Sushma's brother, Shailendra Verma, is also a gifted student. He passed the university entrance exam at the age of 11 and the TOEFL exam required for American high school students to enter U.S. universities. He was admitted to an American university but could not study abroad due to the family's financial difficulties.

According to St. Meera's Inter College, the school proactively provided information to the Limca Book of Records and nominated Sushma as the youngest university exam admittee in India.

Before Sushma, the record for the youngest university entrance exam admittee in India was held by Tathagat Avatar Tulsi, a male student from Bihar, one of India's poorest and most backward states. He passed the university entrance exam at the age of 9, obtained a bachelor's degree in science and engineering at 10, and graduated with a master's degree at 12. He is currently a senior scientific researcher at the Indian Institute of Science.

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