Media Release
Mangaluru, Jun 25: Lauren M Patrao, a student of CFAL, has secured All India Rank 68 in the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) entrance examination, placing first in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district. The result places him among the small group of students selected nationally to one of the country’s most demanding mathematics programs.
The Indian Statistical Institute is among the country’s most selective institutions for mathematics, statistics, data science, and quantitative economics. Its two flagship undergraduate programs, Bachelor of Statistics and Bachelor of Mathematics, together admit fewer than 160 students each year across the Kolkata, Delhi and Bangalore campuses. For a program with such a limited intake, securing a rank of 68 represents a highly competitive position.
What distinguishes the ISI examination is its resistance to rote preparation. Selection runs in two stages. The written test pairs an objective paper with a second, fully subjective paper requiring complete proofs and reasoned solutions; candidates who clear it are then called to a personal interview. It is a process built to reward genuine mathematical instinct, the habit of thinking a problem through rather than around it.
It is this quality that makes Lauren’s result notable. Earning a place among ISI’s top performers reflects commitment to understanding ideas deeply rather than merely preparing for an exam.
A Word from the Academic Team
“ISI rewards a particular kind of mind, one that is patient, precise and unafraid of a hard problem. Lauren has that. This result is not the outcome of last-minute effort but of years spent learning to think clearly. That is the kind of student we set out to form.”
At CFAL, students are encouraged to pursue Olympiads, research-oriented learning, and examinations such as ISI, CMI and IISER alongside JEE and NEET. This approach is guided by the conviction that depth of understanding, rather than exam technique, is what carries a student furthest. Lauren’s achievement is a reminder that students from Mangaluru can stand among the strongest in the country when given the right environment and mentorship.
For students across the district, the result offers a wider invitation: to see mathematics not as a school subject to be completed, but as an entry point into research, economics, computing and scientific discovery.
About Indian Statistical Institute
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is one of India’s premier institutions for research, education, and the application of statistics, mathematics and related disciplines. Founded in 1931 by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, ISI has played a pioneering role in the development of statistical science in India and has made significant contributions to fields such as mathematics, computer science, quantitative economics and data science.
Renowned for its rigorous academic programs and cutting-edge research, ISI attracts some of the brightest students and researchers from across the country and continues to be a leading centre for innovation and interdisciplinary scholarship. Its distinguished alumni include C. R. Rao, one of the most influential statisticians of the twentieth century, and S R Srinivasa Varadhan, recipient of the Abel Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to probability theory, reflecting the institute’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence and global impact.
About CFAL
CFAL, Mangaluru, develops rigorous foundations in mathematics and science and prepares students for premier national examinations including JEE, NEET, Olympiads, ISI, CMI and IISER. The institution is built around a culture of curiosity, discipline and serious learning.