What was your first job as a journalist?
I started my career with The Times of India
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Always over email
Why did you become a journalist?
I became a journalist to make sense of complex events and explain them in a way that actually helps people. I’ve always been drawn to asking questions, verifying facts, and presenting it in a easy to understand format.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
At present, I am satisfied with one of my recent in-depth coverage of the CBSE Class 12 results, specifically the significant rise in students scoring above 95%. My reporting moved beyond just the numbers to analyse the 'marks inflation' system, and its direct impact on skyrocketing college cut-offs. I used a blend of simple data analysis with insights from previous investigative stories done by The Indian Express' award winning journalist Ritika Chopra. I aimed to provide a clearer picture for students and parents navigating an increasingly competitive admissions landscape.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The most impactful pitch I received was about how AI-driven analytics and chatbots are moving from experimental tools to core components of competitive exam preparation in India. This led to my story on how aspirants for the JEE Main and UPSC are using AI not just for rote learning, but for personalised performance tracking and time management. Given it was around the time of JEE exams, it was also found to be largely relevant for student-readership.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
One instance where I was asked to share my story angle for PR approval before they would provide any data or exclusive inputs.
