Berhampur: A Class IX student from Berhampur has made headlines after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ninth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha in New Delhi.
Brinda Rani Panda, the only student from Odisha selected for the interaction, not only engaged with the Prime Minister on exam preparation but also received national recognition for her artwork under Veer Gatha Project.
Brinda Rani Panda, a student of KC Public School in Berhampur and daughter of a police officer, was among 37 students chosen nationwide to participate in Pariksha Pe Charcha on January 25, 2026. She described the experience as a dream come true, recalling how she greeted the Prime Minister with “Jai Jagannath,” to which he warmly responded.
During the session, Brinda posed a written question to Modi about time management before exams. The Prime Minister advised students to prepare a list of important tasks before going to bed, execute them the next day, and evaluate their performance each evening.
Brinda said she found his response “very detailed and practical,” and promised to follow the advice throughout her life.
Her achievements extended beyond the interactive session. She was also recognised as one of the Super 100 winners of Project Veer Gatha 5.0, a national initiative jointly organised by the Ministries of Education and Defence. Her painting, which depicted great Indian warriors who sacrificed their lives for the nation, was selected in the secondary stage category (Classes IX and X).
Brinda received Rs 10,000 in cash, a medal, and a certificate at a ceremony in New Delhi.
Her school principal, A K Mishra, expressed pride in her accomplishment, noting that she was the only student from Odisha to win the award in her category and to participate in Pariksha Pe Charcha.
Brinda’s journey began in August 2025, when she applied online for the programme and submitted her queries about future skills and employment opportunities. She spent four days preparing her award-winning painting, which eventually earned her national recognition. Her trip to Delhi also included visits to Rashtrapati Bhavan and witnessing the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path on January 26, before returning to Berhampur.