Who is Rithuparna KS? The Sahyadri student who turned a setback into a ₹72.3 lakh Rolls Royce triumph

Rithuparna KS, a sixth-semester student of Robotics and Automation Engineering at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management, has made national headlines after receiving a pre-placement offer from global engineering major Rolls Royce, with an annual compensation of ₹72.3 lakh.

The offer places her among the highest-earning undergraduate students in the country and reflects a journey defined by resilience, innovation, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.

From Sr Agnes to Sahyadri: A journey reimagined

Rithuparna, who hails from Koduru in Thirthahalli taluk, began her academic journey at St Agnes School. After completing her PUC (Pre-University Course), she had aimed to pursue medicine. However, when her NEET results did not secure her a government seat, she took a different path, one she hadn’t initially planned for.“After PUC, my dream was to become a doctor. However, when my NEET results did not fetch a govt seat, I secured a govt seat in the 2022 CET counselling and enrolled at Sahyadri College. Though disheartened initially, from day one of college, I began exploring and ideating,” she said to TNN.That shift in direction led her to the field of robotics, where her interest quickly transformed into impactful work.

Solving for farmers, competing with the best

Rithuparna’s first major project addressed a real-world issue: the labour-intensive process of arecanut farming.

She and her team developed a robotic harvester and sprayer model to support farmers in their work. The innovation was showcased at the Goa INEX competition, where the team won both gold and silver medals — a milestone that marked her early success in the field.She later joined a research team at NITK Surathkal, where she explored robotic surgery by actively engaging with doctors. Her projects didn’t remain confined to the lab — she also met the Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP and contributed to the development of an app for solid waste management.

The Rolls Royce challenge: From doubt to determination

What followed next became the defining chapter in her career so far. Driven by a strong desire to gain international exposure, Rithuparna reached out to Rolls-Royce seeking an internship. But the response was far from encouraging.She recalled that the company questioned her eligibility outright, asking, “Do you even qualify to be part of our firm,” and stating that she “would not be able to complete even one of the assigned tasks in a month.”Undeterred by the scepticism, Rithuparna boldly asked for an opportunity to prove herself. The company agreed and handed her a task with a one-month deadline. Through relentless research and determination, she completed it within a week. Taken aback by her speed and precision, Rolls Royce began assigning her more tasks. What followed was an intense eight-month phase filled with increasingly complex assignments and a series of rigorous interviews, all of which she tackled while simultaneously managing her college coursework.

Offer and recognition

In December 2024, Rolls Royce offered her a pre-placement opportunity in their Jet Engine Manufacturing Division. She began working with the company remotely from January 2, between midnight and 6 AM IST, while managing her academic responsibilities during the day.The recognition didn’t stop there. In April 2025, the company revised her initial compensation from ₹39.6 lakh per annum to an impressive ₹72.3 lakh, a decision that acknowledged her consistent performance and potential.Once she completes her seventh semester, Rithuparna will formally join the company’s Texas unit in the United States.

Institutional applause

Lawrence Joseph Fernandes, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics and Automation at Sahyadri College, expressed pride in her accomplishment. “The college is proud of her achievement,” he said to TNN, adding that her journey sets an example for aspiring engineers across the country.

A new definition of success

Rithuparna’s story challenges the notion that premier opportunities are reserved only for students from elite institutions or urban backgrounds. Her rise from a government seat through CET to a global role at Rolls Royce underscores the evolving landscape of Indian engineering education, one where grit, skill, and curiosity can open doors once thought unreachable.In transforming early disappointment into an exceptional outcome, Rithuparna KS has not only redefined her future but also reshaped how success is imagined in classrooms across India.