At 19, Nisarga Adhikary Named To US DOJ Cybersecurity Hall Of Fame

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – Nineteen-year-old cybersecurity researcher Nisarga Adhikary has been named to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Hall of Fame for reporting security vulnerabilities in government systems.

Adhikary announced the recognition on X, sharing a screenshot of the Justice Department’s acknowledgements page, which lists researchers who have reported valid vulnerabilities to the department through responsible disclosure.

The recognition follows Adhikary’s work identifying security vulnerabilities in the Central Board of Secondary Education’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal, which schools use to upload and manage examination marks.

The Justice Department’s Hall of Fame recognizes cybersecurity researchers who identify vulnerabilities and help organizations address potential security risks.

Adhikary said his interest in cybersecurity grew from an early fascination with computers. He began 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 and Threat Intelligence Engineer at C3iHub, the institute’s cybersecurity-focused technology innovation hub.