Roman Saini is someone whose life inspires millions across India. He achieved things at an age when most students are still deciding what to do next. He cleared the AIIMS entrance test at sixteen, became one of the youngest IAS officers in the country, and later left the civil services to build Unacademy, one of India’s top learning platforms. His journey shows that with passion and clarity, a person can rebuild their path again and again.

This detailed success story explains his early life, achievements, challenges, career shifts, and the impact he created through education.

Early Life and Background

Roman Saini was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, into a humble middle class family. His father worked as an engineer and his mother managed the home. His parents always encouraged learning, discipline, and curiosity.

As a child, Roman was different from others his age. He loved reading, exploring science, and understanding how things worked. Teachers often noticed his mature thinking and interest in subjects beyond regular school lessons. He was not pressured by his family to compete or chase marks. Yet he kept performing well because he enjoyed learning.

His early environment helped him build strong habits that guided him toward extraordinary achievements.

Clearing AIIMS at Sixteen

At the age of sixteen, Roman did something remarkable. He cracked the AIIMS entrance exam, which is considered one of the toughest medical entrance tests in India. Students usually spend years preparing for it. His success at such a young age made him one of the youngest AIIMS aspirants to qualify.

He joined AIIMS New Delhi and began his MBBS studies. During his time there, he gained hands on experience at the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre. Working with patients affected by addiction taught him about the real struggles faced by people in society. This exposure made him think deeply about how he could help at a bigger scale.

The UPSC Dream and IAS Achievement

While still completing his medical career, Roman decided to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. He believed that becoming an IAS officer would allow him to contribute more effectively to public welfare. Many people thought it was impossible to handle both medicine and UPSC preparation, but he stayed focused.

At twenty two, Roman cleared the UPSC exam in his first attempt with All India Rank 18. This made him one of the youngest IAS officers in India at that time.

He started his service in Madhya Pradesh as an Assistant Collector. He worked with local communities, handled government programs, and saw the challenges of administration closely. His experience in the field taught him that solving problems at a systemic level required more than just government work.

Leaving IAS for a Bigger Purpose

Roman shocked the nation when he resigned from the IAS. Most people considered it a lifetime achievement. He walked away from it because he wanted to build something that could reach millions of students.

He noticed that coaching for competitive exams in India was extremely expensive. Students from small towns struggled with access to quality education. He wanted to change this.

His belief was simple. If education became accessible and affordable, students from any background could succeed. With this mission in mind, he stepped into the world of entrepreneurship.

The Beginning of Unacademy

Unacademy started as a small YouTube channel run by Roman Saini, Gaurav Munjal, and Hemesh Singh. They uploaded short lessons for UPSC aspirants. The channel grew quickly because the content was free, high quality, and easy to understand.

Soon they realized that the need for online education in India was much bigger than they expected. They turned Unacademy into a full online learning platform.

Why Unacademy became a huge success

Low cost learning
Students no longer needed to spend high amounts on coaching.
Access from anywhere
Learners from rural and remote areas could study from top educators.
Simple and flexible platform
Students could watch recorded videos, join live classes, and learn at their own pace.
Strong educator community
Many teachers, toppers, and experts joined the platform, making it rich in quality.
Wide range of subjects
From UPSC to NEET, JEE, banking, and skill development, Unacademy covered everything.

Unacademy helped millions of students dream bigger and study smarter.

Quick Timeline of Roman Saini’s Success Journey

Below is a simple table that shows major milestones in his life and how they shaped his future.

Year	Achievement	Impact
1991	Born in Jaipur	Start of an inspiring personal journey
2007	Cleared AIIMS entrance at 16	Marked an early academic milestone
2013	Cracked UPSC with AIR 18	Became one of the youngest IAS officers
2014	Joined IAS and served in MP	Understood real ground level problems
2015	Resigned from IAS	Chose education as his mission
2015	Co founded Unacademy	Started building an online learning revolution
2016 onward	Growth of the platform	Helped students nationwide
By 2022	Massive success of Unacademy	Changed the future of edtech in India

Roman Saini’s Impact on Education in India

Roman created a major shift in how students prepare for exams.

His key contributions

Education became affordable
Students no longer needed costly coaching centers.
Every student got equal opportunity
Learning became accessible even in remote districts.
Building confidence in online learning
Many parents and students began trusting digital education.
Empowering teachers
Educators across India gained a platform to reach thousands of learners.
Creating a new learning culture
Students could learn anytime, anywhere, and at their own pace.

Thanks to his efforts, online education in India became mainstream and widely respected.

Challenges Roman Faced

His journey was inspiring, but not easy.

Leaving a prestigious government job brought criticism.
Building a startup required long hours, sacrifices, and constant learning.
Competing in the edtech industry demanded innovation and strong leadership.
Handling rapid growth required a stable team and strategic decisions.
Balancing free content with business sustainability was difficult.

Despite these challenges, Roman stayed firm in his belief that education should reach every student.

Lessons from Roman Saini’s Life

Roman Saini teaches many powerful lessons for students and professionals.

1. Your age does not define your capability

He achieved major milestones much earlier than usual.

2. You can change your path anytime

He moved from medicine to administration to entrepreneurship.

3. Purpose matters more than position

He left IAS to create a larger impact.

4. Education is a powerful tool

His work influenced millions of learners across the country.

5. Bold decisions create big changes

Taking risks can lead to extraordinary achievements.

FAQs – (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1. Who is Roman Saini?

Roman Saini is a doctor, former IAS officer, and the co founder of Unacademy. He is known for his achievements in academics and his impact on online education.

Q2. How did Roman Saini become well known?

He gained recognition after clearing the AIIMS exam at sixteen and UPSC at twenty two. His role in creating Unacademy made him even more popular.

Q3. Why did he quit IAS?

Roman left IAS to focus on education and build a platform that could help millions of students through affordable learning.

Q4. What is Unacademy?

Unacademy is one of India’s largest online learning platforms that offers classes for competitive exams and skill development.

Q5. What can students learn from his journey?

His story teaches that passion, purpose, and hard work can help anyone achieve great things, no matter where they start.

Conclusion:

The success story of Roman Saini shows what is possible when determination meets purpose. From clearing AIIMS and UPSC at a young age to leaving a prestigious government job and building an edtech revolution, he proved that real success comes from helping others. Unacademy changed the future of learning for millions of students who once struggled with access and affordability.

Roman’s journey continues to inspire young people across India to aim higher, follow their dreams, and believe in the power of learning. His story reminds us that true achievement lies not in titles, but in the positive impact we create.