In a tale of resilience and determination, Rishi Malhotra from Jaipur has emerged victorious in the ICAI CA Final November 2023 exam, securing All India Rank (AIR) 3 alongside Tikendra Kumar Singhal. Rishi’s journey to success is marked by personal tragedies, health challenges, and unwavering commitment to his goals.
Initially aspiring to pursue a career in the medical field, Rishi made the sacrifice to stay in Jaipur due to his parents’ wishes, ultimately opting for Commerce. Despite scoring an impressive 95.4% in Class 12 board exams, he narrowly missed securing a spot in the top three Delhi University colleges, redirecting his ambitions towards becoming a Chartered Accountant.
Rishi’s first attempt at the CA Final exam proved to be a remarkable success, as he scored 590 (73.75 per cent) and clinched the coveted AIR 3. His journey, however, was fraught with challenges that would have deterred many.
Tragedy struck when Rishi lost his father, grandfather, and grandmother to Covid within a week. At that time, he was engaged in his articleship at E&Y, Delhi office. The sudden loss prompted him to return to Jaipur, where he decided to quit E&Y and secure an internship at KPMG, Jaipur, to be closer to his family. Despite these hardships, Rishi persevered and continued working at KPMG.
The second wave of the pandemic brought another obstacle, as Rishi himself was hospitalized due to Covid. Despite the physical and emotional toll, he refused to succumb to despair. The memory of his deceased family members served as a source of inspiration, pushing him to achieve greatness in their honor.
Reflecting on his journey, Rishi shared, “I wanted to go to one of the top three Delhi University colleges, but since I didn’t get through, I decided to at least bring laurels in Chartered Accountancy. I knew I had to make my family proud, and losing my three beloved family members in the Covid reminded me of my goal.”
Rishi’s mother, currently serving as a director at the Pension Office of the Rajasthan Government, and his sisters working at Siemens AG (Pune) and Dell Inc (Bengaluru), provided unwavering support throughout his challenging journey.
Despite taking coaching classes during his CA preparation, Rishi focused on self-notes and revisions in the last year. He condensed his study material into three registers, emphasizing the importance of targeted revision and understanding core concepts. Rishi also stressed the significance of mock tests, having solved 4-5 test series in nearly 20 revisions.
In the face of adversity, Rishi Malhotra’s story stands as a testament to resilience, family support, and an unyielding commitment to one’s aspirations. His achievement not only brings personal fulfillment but also serves as an inspiration to aspiring Chartered Accountants facing their own trials on the path to success.
