The 14-year-old son of a washerman has ranked sixth in Class IX category at the 8th All India AIMS Maths Science Talent Exam held in January.

Anjani Kumar Rajak, whose father Ramesh Rajak earns Rs 4,000 a month, was the second student from Jharkhand to achieve a rank in this all-India contest this year. The other one is Saumya Prasad from Ursuline Convent Girls' High School in Ranchi, who has ranked 22 in the Class IX category.

Organised by Delhi-based Centre for Excellence, which works to promote mathematical and scientific learning among schoolchildren, the contest had questions on physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. Reasoning abilities of more than a lakh students were also tested.

The results were announced in the first week of this month and Anjani's consolation prize, including a medal and a certificate, arrived at his alma mater, St Mary's Hindi High School, on Tuesday.

The top three all-India rank-holders are given cash and those who have achieved ranks between four and 30 are given consolation prizes.

Buoyed by this achievement, Rajak hopes to crack banking examinations in the future. "I know I have to be a graduate and then appear for the banking examinations. The talent hunt has boosted my confidence. Bank exams too have multiple choice questions mostly on reasoning, mathematics and science," he said.

Anjani, a resident of Uliyan in Kadma, gives tuition to support his father to sustain a family of four, including his elder brother and mother, and is passionate about math.

"This was my first experience of participating in a national-level competition. We had to solve 50 multiple choice questions in 60 minutes. I am looking forward to be among the top three rank-holders in 2017," he said.

School principal Sister Premlata Lawrence said Anjani was a bright boy. "His achievement only affirms our belief that he will walk miles."