Bengaluru-based American techie says he never would’ve made it as a student in India: ‘Look at the competition’

For millions of students in India, exam results are more than just numbers on a marksheet. From board exam marks shaping social perception to college admissions demanding near-perfect percentages, students are often pushed into a relentless race for academic success. In such an intensely competitive environment, scoring above 95% is increasingly seen as the norm rather than an exception.The post sparked a discussion about India’s highly competitive education system. (X/@TonyCatoff)This reality was recently highlighted in a viral video Bengaluru-based American techie Tony Klor, who admitted that he could never have survived as a student in India after seeing the marks scored toppers.In a video posted on X, Klor filmed a roadside board displaying names and marks of top-performing students. As he scanned through the l of scores touching 99%, he appeared both stunned and amused the academic competition in India.“This is why I could have never freaking made it as a student in India,” he said while pointing the camera at the board. “Look at the competition — Tanishka, 99.3%. Tanishka, leave a little bit for the homies,” he joked.Continuing to read out the scores in disbelief, he added, “Ruchi got a straight 99 flat, these hudugis are on top always. Madhu 98.3, Madakari 97.5.”At another moment in the clip, he noticed a student’s name and made another humorous remark. “These are like radio stations. Shankraya Gurumath – obviously he’s a guru at math, physics, 98,” he said.Sharing the video online, Klor captioned the post: “These kids in India are too locked in.”Watch the video below:(Also Read: Indian woman explains why Florida feels impossible to leave after 5 years: ‘Once someone comes here…’)How did social media react?The clip quickly went viral, sparking a discussion about India’s highly competitive education system.One user commented, “You can’t imagine how competitive India is. Even candidates who score 99% don’t have the guarantee to get a tier-1 college.”Another wrote, “Sadly even after studying this hard, so many students struggle to secure a high paying job.”“The competition is the reason why there is no actual development. Each kid has their own strengths and weaknesses,” read another comment.A fourth user criticised the broader system, writing, “This sort of extreme competitive racing is benchmark of intelligence in our society! So is the board – sense of achievement. Majority of these toppers lack creativity, basic life skills or even application in real life. Our teaching methods need to change.”