Ganesh Baraiya, known as the “world’s smallest doctor”, is in the spotlight after appearing on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18.
Baraiya hails from Gorkhi village in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district and stands at 3 feet 4 inches. He has dwarfism and a 72 percent locomotor disability. Despite the challenges he faced growing up, he remained focused on his education. He scored 87 percent in Class 12 and 233 marks in NEET.
But his academic performance did not immediately lead to admission to medical college.
How Did Ganesh Baraiya Become A Doctor?
In 2018, Baraiya was among students with disabilities who were denied admission to an MBBS course after a medical board assessed them as unsuitable for medical education. The issue centred on whether candidates with certain disabilities could pursue the course under the rules then in force. The Gujarat High Court initially upheld the medical board's position and dismissed Baraiya's petition.
His school principal, Dalpat Katariya, supported his efforts to pursue medicine and continued with the legal battle.
Baraiya eventually won his case at the Supreme Court level. He enrolled in the MBBS course at Bhavnagar Government Medical College in 2019. During medical college, he also received support to use a writer and additional time during examinations because he struggled to complete written papers within the standard time. He eventually cleared his remaining MBBS semesters.
In November 2025, The Indian Express reported that Baraiya had been formally appointed as a Bonded Medical Officer Class-2 at Bhavnagar General Hospital. Current reports following his KBC 18 appearance say he works in the paediatrics department of a hospital in Bhavnagar.
Why Did Ganesh Baraiya's Father Reject A Rs. 5 Lakh Circus Offer?
During his KBC 18 appearance, Baraiya recalled an incident from his childhood.
He said that when he was in primary school, a group of circus performers came to his home and offered his father Rs. 5 lakh in exchange for taking Ganesh with them.
His father rejected the offer.
Recalling his father’s decision, Ganesh said, “Mere pita ne paise ke bajay padhayi ko chuna.”
Baraiya said his father chose his education over the money. The account is based on what Ganesh himself recalled during the KBC episode.
What Happened To Ganesh Baraiya On KBC 18?
Baraiya reached the hot seat after winning the Fastest Finger First challenge. He continued playing until the Rs. 3 lakh question.
The question showed four monuments: the Red Fort, Taj Mahal, Charminar and Meenakshi Temple; and asked how many of them were located north of Gujarat.
The options were 0, 1, 2 and 3.
Baraiya chose 3, but the correct answer was 2, as the Red Fort in Delhi and Taj Mahal in Agra are north of Gujarat. He had already used his lifelines, and his winnings fell to Rs. 25,000.
His appearance on the show brought renewed attention to the journey that took him from a village in Gujarat to medical college and, eventually, a career in medicine.
For Baraiya, becoming a doctor meant overcoming not only physical challenges but also institutional barriers to medical education. His story has previously been reported as a legal battle over his eligibility to pursue an MBBS degree.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
Ganesh Baraiya, known as the “world’s smallest doctor”, appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18.
The doctor from Gujarat is 3 feet 4 inches tall and has a 72 percent locomotor disability.
He scored 87 percent in Class 12 and 233 marks in NEET.
He was initially denied admission to an MBBS course because of his disability and later fought the decision in court.
As a child, Ganesh said a circus group offered his father Rs. 5 lakh to take him with them.
His father rejected the offer and chose his son’s education.
On KBC 18, Ganesh reached the Rs. 3 lakh question but answered incorrectly and took home Rs. 25,000.
