An IIT Roorkee graduate and Adobe professional walked away with Rs 12.5 lakh on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18 after failing to answer a challenging question about an ISRO scientist's memorabilia.

  • IIT Roorkee graduate Kritagaya Nayar quit the game at the 13th question for Rs 25 lakh.
  • The question concerned a personal item of ISRO scientist Nandini Harinath displayed at the Smithsonian Museum.
  • The contestant walked away with Rs 12.5 lakh but correctly guessed the answer after quitting.

The latest episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) 18, hosted by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, witnessed a high-stakes drama featuring Kritagaya Nayar, a brilliant mind from Bengaluru. An alumnus of IIT Roorkee and currently employed at Adobe, Kritagaya entered the hot seat with a strong academic background and a passion for content creation, which he pursues alongside his wife, an AI researcher.

Kritagaya demonstrated exceptional knowledge by breezeing through the first 12 questions. However, the momentum shifted at the 13th question, which carried a prize of Rs 25 lakh. The question asked: "Which item that belonged to ISRO scientist Nandini Harinath is displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum?" The options provided were a pair of spectacles, a saree, a diary, and a handbag.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this moment highlights the intersection of high-level academic achievement and the unpredictable nature of trivia. While an IIT degree ensures technical mastery, KBC tests a different spectrum of general awareness. Furthermore, the question brings much-needed spotlight to the contributions of women in Indian space research, specifically the Mangalyaan mission.

Fearing the risk of losing a significant portion of his winnings, Kritagaya decided to play it safe and quit the game, securing Rs 12.5 lakh. In a twist of irony, when Mr. Bachchan asked him to guess the answer after the game ended, he suggested 'a saree'—which turned out to be the correct answer.

The psychological pressure of the 'Hot Seat' often outweighs intellectual capacity, leading even the most qualified candidates to prioritize risk aversion over intuition.

Nandini Harinath, the subject of the question, served as the deputy operations director for India's maiden Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan). On December 1, 2013, she wore a red and blue saree as the spacecraft left Earth's orbit. This garment became the first Indian object to be included in the Smithsonian's interplanetary science collection and the first saree ever displayed by the museum.

Beyond the game, the episode featured a candid moment between the host and the contestant. Amitabh Bachchan praised the Gen Z generation for their resilience and lack of fear regarding failure. In a rare personal revelation, the actor admitted that he deeply regrets never having learned to play a musical instrument, despite owning a vast collection of them.

Did You Know?: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is one of the most visited museums in the world, housing the original Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 command module.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How much money did the IIT graduate win on KBC 18?
Kritagaya Nayar walked away with Rs 12.5 lakh after quitting at the Rs 25 lakh question.

Q2: What was the correct answer to the ISRO-related question?
The correct answer was 'a saree', worn by scientist Nandini Harinath during the Mangalyaan mission.