Rajastan, Jan 4 (PTI): A 12-year-old boy from Kota has become the youngest person to qualify for the second round of the International Biology Olympiad (IBO), mainly attempted by students of Class XII.

"Jeevesh is the youngest student to clear the first round of IBO. Seven years ago, a Class VIII student had cleared the exam," said Vijay Singh, former National Coordinator of the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) and a scientist at Ramaswamy Research Fellowship.

He added that there were 15,000 students who appeared for the examination conducted by HBCSE, out of which only 3,000 were selected for the second round, Jeevesh being youngest among them.

There are five rounds to be cleared for the medal in the prestigious International Biology Olympiad, mainly attempted by students of Class XII.

"Being a student of Class VII, Jeevesh could not opt for biology as his subject but he succeeded in qualifying for the IBO," said Brajesh Meshwari, director of the Kota institute where Jeevesh has been studying with his sister Harsha, an All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) aspirant.

Hailing from Noona Mazra, a small village in Jhajhar district of Haryana, Jeevesh has previously achieved many laurels, including an All India Rank 1 in National Maths Talent Contest (NMTC), fifth rank in National Maths Olympiad, 14th Rank in National Science Olympiad, Rank 25 in Cyber Olympiad and Rank 50 in National Level Science Talent Search Examination (NSTSE).

"I would generally study the biology books of my elder sister in my spare time and that helped me clear the National Science Exam of Biology (NSEB) and qualify for the next rounds of IBO," said Jeevesh, son of a Delhi policeman.