13:22

Kuldeep Dwivedi : Son of Security Guard Cracked UPSC

The announcement of the UPSC results this week brought great cheer to more than a 1,000 candidates and their families across the country. The moment of celebration was sweeter still in the Dwivedi household in Lucknow.

Surya Kant Dwivedi works untiringly at the University of Lucknow as a security guard. Making ends meet for his family of five is a struggle on his meagre income. When his youngest son expressed interest in attempting the UPSC exams – not once, but thrice – Surya agreed, despite the fact that his son’s pursuit would mean one less earning member in the family.

For Surya Kant’s son, Kuldeep, his family’s acceptance and support was all the encouragement he needed to pursue a childhood dream: “Since my childhood days, I have seen the amount of power a district collector or SSP of a particular district enjoys. It always inspired me. I always wanted to become like that. It was always there in the back of my mind”

Today, Surya’s hard work and Kuldeep’s single-minded focus have paid off with Kuldeep securing the 242nd rank in the Civil Services Exams, paving the way for his future as an officer with the Indian Police Service.

Kuldeep Dwivedi

The Hindustan Times reports that it took Kuldeep nearly half-an-hour to explain the significance of his rank to his family.

“They do not understand what IPS is all about. They just think that a sub-inspector is the most powerful person in the police department. I had to tell them that after completion of training I will be posted as assistant superintendent of police (ASP) in some district. And when they realised that I have now become an officer. There was complete silence. Tears rolled out from their eyes,” says Kuldeep

This is the 27-year-old post gradudate’s third attempt: “I had cracked few other examinations in the past but did not join because I wanted to crack the civil service examination.”

In 2013, Kuldeep was selected as an assistant commandant in the Border Secuirty Force, but did not take it up.

“I was determined that somehow I will have to crack the UPSC examination with a good rank. I kept myself engaged in academics. Luckily the family never troubled me in my pursuit. I’m now all ready to don the uniform and work for country’s development.”

Surya Kant’s joy knows no boundaries: “I shared the news with other security guards of the university and went straight home. I cannot thank God more. We have seen difficult times. Now it is for him to change family fortunes. I’m proud that my hard earned money did not go waste,” he said.

In the dusty by-lanes of Shelgaon village, Maharashtra, one is likely to come across similar scenes of jubilation. Nestled in the drought-hit region of Marathwada, the village is home to Ansar Ahmad Shaikh.

The 21-year-old is the son of an auto-rickshaw driver and brother of a mechanic. He has also cracked the UPSC exam on his very first attempt!

Ansar Ahmad Shaikh

Talking to the Hindustan Times, an emotional Shaikh said, “My brother, a garage hand, supported me throughout, without which this would have been impossible to achieve. I am indebted to him.”

The graduate is believed to have devoted more than 13 hours a day to his studies.

Sweta Agarwal’s is yet another heart-warming story of overcoming the odds. The only daughter of a grocer from Bhadreshwar, Sweta has finally realised her dream of becoming an IAS officer by securing the 19th rank in the UPSC exams.

“It’s like finding your goal at last,” she told The Times of India.

Sweta’s father has studied till the 12th Std. and her mother was married off when she was around 16. Despite struggling to make ends meet, the family strove to provide their daughter with a good education: “They are the world’s best parents. Despite going through abject poverty, they sent me to the best schools possible,” she says.

Sweta had cracked the UPSC exams twice before, qualifying for IRS and IPS. Currently, she is undergoing her IPS training in Hyderabad and wishes to get the Bengal cadre in IAS.

With a success rate of less than one percent, the Civil Services Examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) are dubbed the most competitive exams in the country. But these three achievers have proved that with grit and determination, you can write your own success story.

08:35

IPS TO IRS TO IAS: A SUCCESS STORY OF 28-YR-OLD CHITTURI RAMAKRISHNA

Twenty-eight-year-old Chitturi Ramakrishna has secured 84th rank in the UPSC civil services exam and will join the IAS soon. But he is already an Indian Police Service officer of the West Bengal cadre waiting to be relieved so as to join training for the Indian Revenue Service.

Ramakrishna’s story of success is of determination and perseverance. Son of a senior section railway engineer (signals), Chitturi A Prasad, he joined the railways as a commercial clerk in 2004. Later, he cracked the Common Admission Test (CAT) in 2007 and joined the IIM-Ahmedabad and did an oversees summer internship with Barclays Capital in London. “I was not happy in the corporate sector and I thought IAS should be the right career for me,” he said.

Without any coaching, he reached the interview stage in all four attempts after the first. “IAS excites me because it has a lot of variety in functioning. Parents were not convinced with all my decisions but they trusted me and never restricted me,” he said.

14:14

(TOPPER) Roopa Mishra - First Woman from Orissa to top IAS Examination

Roopa Mishra, the Indian Administrative Service examination topper
for 2003, on Saturday said she strongly believed in leading by
example.

"I aim to make a difference. It is not whether you are a man or a
woman, but the kind of person you are what's
important," Mishra, 27, said.

"The kind of spirit I have in me, I would do in the same way whether
I am a man or woman," she said replying to queries from reporters at
her parents' Shahidnagar residence in Bhubaneswar.

Mishra attributed her success to her faith in God and handwork put in
for around ten months. She credits her husband Anshuman Tripathy,
parents, in-laws and teachers also for the same.

"My husband is my friend and he initiated me into this system of
examination," she said. Tripathy is a fellow at the IIM, Calcutta.

On her success in the Union Public Service Commission-conducted
examination, Mishra said many factors went into
making a person successful, but one mistake could make everything
crash.

The topper said she had done very well in the exam, but didn't expect
to top the list. "It came as a bonus."

The news of her topping the exam came from a career magazine's
office. "I was thrilled, I wept," Mishra, the daughter of Danda
Nirodh Mishra, an IAS officer, said.

Mishra studied science at the plus-two level and then switched to
commerce, completing her post-graduation in management from Utkal
University.

She briefly worked for a local TV channel anchoring programmes and
taught at the Directorate of Distant and
Continuing Education of the Utkal University. She married three-and-
half years ago.

Asked whether she ever dreamt of becoming an IAS officer, a beaming
Rupa said: "Not exactly but I had many dreams at different times."

Mishra, who had public administration and psychology as her subjects,
stayed in Delhi for ten months to prepare for the exam. "It is very
important to chose subjects with care and I chose public
administration as it is relevant and psychology as it deals with
human behaviour which is interesting," she said.

Replying to a question as to why she chose to join the civil service
when she had a degree in management, Mishra said:
"I believe the civil servant is the biggest manager of all."

As regards her preparation, she said she did not slog but had a clear
idea as to how she would go about it.

Describing poverty in Orissa as an enigma, Mishra said: "It's poverty
amidst plenty."

Mishra is the first IAS topper from the state since Prafulla Chandra
Mishra in 1982 and Hrusikesh Panda in 1979.

13:15

IAS Aditya Uppal – Ludhiana Engg Cleared IAS

In July 4, 2015, the final result of UPSC CSE 2014 was announced and a number of congratulating messages were received on IAS Aditya Uppal phone while he was in an interview to the TV news.

While undergoing training as IRS in Nagpur, Aditya Uppal succeeds to make it for this attempt of 2014 to get a rank 19.His father Vipandeep Uppal is a businessman and mother Sweetie Uppal a h`omemaker. His mother said Aditya decided to become a civil servant after he went to study at Thapar University. Even though he got a job as Quality Engineer with a package of Rs 6 lakh per annum, he worked only for a month there before heading to Delhi to prepare for the civil services exam.

Educational background:

Aditya Uppal did his mechanical engineering from Thapar University, Patiala. He did his schooling from Kundan Vidya Mandir, Ludhiana, and was a topper throughout.

Marks obtained by IAS Aditya Uppal:

Written total	781
interview	209
Total marks	990

In his second attempt, Aditya secured 19th rank. In his very first attempt, he secured All-India Rank 202 in UPSC CSE 2013. He got selected for Indian Revenue Service.

This time a number of candidates, largely from a professional background, have made it to the prestigious Civil Services making it to the top hundred in the country. Aditya Uppal’s sister Prachi Uppal exclaimed the glorious success Aditya achieved is because of his hard work.

Study strategy by IAS Aditya Uppal

A regularly focused study with a wide range of book reading is required. NCERT’s are a must for basic understanding and clearing prelims. For mains perspective deep analysis, cause-effect findings, reading and understanding, writing in your own is necessary.

UPSC is considered as the toughest exam in the country which takes years to prepare and utter hard work. Recent trend shows that many youngsters though working for high paid jobs are lured to UPSC jobs as a lucrative career which gives social status along with other things.

While asking about the UPSC’s overall journey of exam and study, Aditya said he always enjoyed the study and never took it as a burden. One should be calm, pre-planned and focused towards his aim. UPSC is neither as tough nor difficult if aspirant goes in detail of pattern of exam.

13:07

MOTIVATION, TOPPER’S STRATEGY and TIPS: A Manju, Rank – 291 – Two Failed Prelims, Married and Housewife, CSE – 2015

Let me begin by saying, success in civil services exam is within everyone’s reach.

It’s about putting in quality in preparation and a matter of rectifying few mistakes which you are always bound to make, and to have proper guidance to take the preparation in the right direction.

I began preparations for Civil Services exam with an objective of being successful and build a good career. I knew I would either emerge successful or exit the field as a learned person. I always wanted to be sure that I have given 100% of my abilities in preparation and I shouldn’t end with a regret that, I should have done little more preparation or some more hard work. YOU need to be convinced, that you are giving your 100%

In this article I would rather talk about my arduous journey as a civil services aspirant and how I dealt with anxieties it entailed.

My Entry to Preparation

For me, this long journey of 5 years began in 2011 when I first attempted Prelims. I was so naive and enthusiastic that I took the exam just after reading TMH (Tata McGraw Hill). As expected I couldn’t clear Prelims that year.

No Subject is easy

In 2012, I prepared more seriously but took CSAT for granted that I could solve it without previous practice and planning. It costed me so much so that I lost another attempt because of a low score in CSAT.

Support System

You need to take breaks sometimes and you also need a good support system to keep you motivated and help you in not giving up your dream. I got married in 2013, and there was a brief hiatus of one year as I wanted to take some time off to be with my family. Marriage made me a stronger person. It never posed as a hindrance to the preparations. I was managing home and also studying for the exams. I became a more efficient and responsible person.

Back to Journey

By January 2014, I was back to my preparations. In my third attempt, I only banked upon Mrunal.org. I had no peers with whom I could discuss or compete against but religiously followed Murnal.org. Then in July I came to know of Insights. It was overwhelming to browse through the site as it had plenty of information and detailed book lists, strategies and study resources an aspirant needed. I was still scared to start practicing writing mock exams. However, I realised that practice was essential to break the jinx of not clearing Prelims before.

This time, I started following both Insights and Mrunal and would ardently read answers from Secure. These readings and preparations did not substitute for writing practice but the synopsis provided by Insights certainly helped in answering the Mains comfortably.

Unfortunately, I could not make it to the Final List after clearing mains with my limited preparations.

After the CSE result of 2014 I was left with hardly a month to prepare for prelims of CSE 2015. Insights test series helped me in a very quick revision and it was extremely helpful in clearing the exam. This test series covers entire syllabus and helps in retaining the information. This year it got even better as the test schedule was in tune with the study schedule and in addition to the regular syllabus, it covered India Year Book, Various Government reports, Old question papers & Current affairs. It’s so comprehensive that you wouldn’t feel anything missed out. Following the study schedule and test schedule will boost one’s confidence in the preparation.

Few mistakes

I gave my first attempt with no knowledge of the exam at all. This was absolutely wrong as it led to losing a precious attempt and it created a mental block, especially when one talks about the number of attempts one have made.
In the second attempt, I could not estimate the speed and planning required for qualifying the exam and was deceived by the apparent simplicity of CSAT. There too I lost another attempt.
During my third attempt, I secluded myself completely from social gatherings to focus on studies. At the same time, around August Insights notified that it would conduct offline classes but only for people with a Mains experience. I was low in confidence as I had never practiced writing answers and could not even manage to finish the syllabus for Optional. Looking at the sample answers that were being written over there, I felt all the more demotivated. It seemed that I would not be able to meet the presumed standards of the institution and hesitated from contacting them. It’s so strange that I did not know that the classes were being conducted just 1 km away from my place. Such fears and assumptions limit one’s horizons and affects opportunities. I would have been more prepared and focused had I joined Insights at the right time. So never hesitate to seek for help. I did not practice writing during my third attempt and in our fraternity it can be considered a sin. I would feel that reading more would help in formulating ideas and one can automatically reproduce them on paper. In fact, the first thing I wrote during these years was the essay I attempted in Mains exam of 2014. With such inhibitions and flaws in preparation I cleared mains with just 5 marks above the cut-off, but it tremendously boosted my confidence and made me realise that UPSC is no God and anyone with decent preparation and practice can definitely be successful.

The Successful attempt

I joined Insights offline classes in 2015 wherein I engaged in rigorous writing practice, immense revisions, and discussions on Optional with a dedicated group of friends. The very sense of competition one got in classes added an edge to my preparations. Lots of helpful advice from Vinay Sir kept me in the right direction to study well.

I rectified all my previous mistakes in this attempt and worked with vigour. I qualified in my fourth attempt, but I know that there are still some areas like presentation skills on which I need to work.

My Insight on UPSC

There was a common expression that recurred in all the interviews of toppers I had read so far. They would all assert that studying for civil services had changed them as a person. I always wondered what that could mean. However, now I have come to realise how UPSC preparation changes a person.

Every time you answer the uncomfortable questions from people regarding your lost career and precious working age you tend to get more humble in one’s approach towards life. One tries to see things in a more positive and focused way. The unsuccessful attempts and years lost do not seem like a waste as they have gone a long way in contributing to making one an emotionally stronger person. The strength and convictions derived from such strenuous circumstances keeps you motivated.

Earlier when people used to ask about the PSU job I had quit for preparations I would feel bad but I would think, had I continued in my job, by now I might have got a senior role in my sector. However, putting one’s full efforts in civil services preparation, one can become an Assistant Collector or Assistant Commissioner. One has to have conviction in what one is doing. If one has regrets about the things one could have been doing at the same time then the going gets tough. The idea is to immerse oneself fully in preparing for one goal in life.

When people around asked me about 5 years, I would always say “see the government would put a district in your hands, so you need to be worthy enough. These struggles and failures teach a lot in being a successful Civil servant later on.” The preparation phase taught me how to emerge as a strong and balanced person in demanding circumstances.

It would be an exaggeration if I say I cherish my failure in 2014. I would remember that day of final result for a lifetime as it taught me to be humble and strong.

In fact one motivational article in Insights stated, “if preparation gets overwhelming, just see how it feels when you put your head in a bucket of water, you will know there are more valuable things around and that is life”. I would remind myself of this quote whenever studying would get exhausting for me.

Don’t give up

I have come to realise that one tends to form a few misconceptions during the preparation phase that one needs to tackle.

Your ability – Do not ever undervalue or overestimate one’s skills. The best way is to stop judging one’s skills and intelligence and devout oneself to studying. Take chances.
Emphasis on standard of the exam – About half the questions being asked in Mains can very well be attempted if one has a decent understanding of current political and social events. So do not defer writing.
Paucity of time – Time is elastic. Accept that there is very little time and you have to utilise most of it. In fact, in my third attempt, I could read the syllabus only once and did not practice writing at all. Whereas, in the fourth attempt, in a span of three and half months I managed to read the syllabus three times, revise it, and take 30 mock tests. One has to learn how to use the time at hand efficiently. Remember, that there is no scope for procrastination, framing and reframing of the timetables, making excuses as one has to stick to a tight schedule.

If I can qualify the exam anyone else too can. Preparing for Civil Services Exam makes one a more insightful person than before. One tends to make excuses to defend one’s failures, but that’s a very wrong approach to have in life. The aspirants should know that once you have decided to opt for a career there is no wriggling out of it.

Perseverance, determination, and hard work coupled with a respect towards one’s decisions goes a long way in defining one’s life – whether one qualifies the exam or not.

All the best !

01:19

VISHWAS NANGARE PATIL WIKI, BIOGRAPHY, WIFE, IPS, POEM, HEIGHT

Biodata Profile / Wikipedia Information

Personal Life :

Vishwas Nangare Patil, one of Maharashtra’s most popular decorated IPS officers was born in a small village near Kolhapur in 1973. His parents were not very well educated – his father Narayan Nangare Patil had completed his education till the 4th standard & his mother till the 2nd standard.

Education and UPSC :

In his childhood, he was a good student and scored 88 percent marks in the SSC.

For his 12th standard, he took the Science stream, but later opted for Arts for graduation. During this period, he decided to apply for UPSC exams.

After being selected for IPS at a young age of 25, he was posted in Dhule, Nanded, Aurangabad and many other cities in Maharashtra. After being selected for IPS, he continued his love of education and garnered many additional educational qualifications like MBA (Police Management) and LLB

As of 2016, he was holding the current position of Special Inspector General (IG) of Aurangabad.

Brave Role in countering 26/11 Mumbai Attacks :

Patil was DCP (Zone 1) during this period.

Immediately after realizing that firing happened in the Taj hotel, he did not lose a single moment. At 9:40 PM the terrorists had entered, and by 9:51 within 11 minutes of the attack Patil and his bodyguard entered the Taj building to start their search. They threw away their phones to ensure that calls from family and friends don’t deter their resolution.

At the start, there was a wedding party happening in the crystal hall of the building.There were 400-500 people in there. Due to the quick action, terrorists were unable to enter the venue.

During the whole time, his family had no idea about his well-being and they had already started preparing for his funeral at his native place seeing the deaths of officers like Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and others.

At 4.30 AM, the following day another IPS officer listened to his voice on the wireless and communicated to his family about his safety. Around 7.00 AM he returned home after the NSG commandos took control of the operation.

He was awarded a President’s medal (shaurya padak) for his role during this gun-battle.

Life Outside Work :

In an interview, he mentioned about his love for staying fit, setting high goals and working hard to achieving them. He is also quite popular on social media and Youtube and many of his speeches are very motivational for the youth. He has also written a book titled Man Me Hai Vishwaas in Marathi.

It is an autobiography and has received great response from Marathi readers.

Hobbies : Reading books, watching movies and maintaining his fitness regime.

01:09

Rank 12 – IFoS Topper Neha Srivastava’s Success Story

IFoS Rank 12 Neha Srivastava with her father before her Personality Test at Union Public Service Commission

Neha Srivastava has secured Rank 12 in the Indian Forest Service Examination 2015. She cracked IFoS in her first attempt. Hailing from Hazaribag in Jharkhand, Neha chose Zoology and Botany as her optionals.

Neha completed her B.Tech in Biotechnology from DY Patil, Mumbai

Neha is an avid ForumIAS members and joined the ForumIAS family two years ago. Presenting before you Neha’s success story.

First, tell us something about yourself!

I did my early schooling from RK Mission, so ‘Jiva is Shiva’ was impregnated in my mind when I was just 8. Since then I wanted to be a civil servant in a true sense.

For me there is just one universal truth- Law of karma. And this dictates my life a lot. Maybe this is why I am inclined to get into civil services where I can do ‘good karma’ in broadest manner possible.

Your medium of instruction in school,college and in the Mains Examination?

English

How did you get started for preparation for All India Services?

After my B.Tech, I wanted to get into some decent B-school, become financially independent before getting into civil services preparation. So I was already preparing for aptitude. Meanwhile my uncle who himself is a civil servant was guiding me for GS. I was motivated by him and I decided to drop my MBA plan. I started my full pledged preparation 6 months before prelims.

How did you tackle GS/GK Paper?

I was already preparing for aptitude during final semester as I was preparing for GRE, my plan was to go for civils after PG. But then I decided to give civil services at least one try. So I gave my first prelims in May 2013, I picked up the Hindu and NCERT books in Jan 2013. I was guided by my uncle who himself is a civil servant and has teaching experience of over 10 years. He taught me what not to study instead of what to study. And with his guidance I was able to clear CSP 2013. Also I am not a kind of person who can study for 10 hrs a day, follow a proper timetable.

As suggested by my mentor, I limited by booklist. And strategy was to read the same book again and again instead of reading different books on the same topic. And it paid off, it helped me to clear prelims in first attempt in very less time. So prelims exam is toughest stage yet it is conquerable with the right strategy.

How did you prepare Zoology Optional?

My major optional is zoology, many topics are similar to my graduations subject, but initially troubled me a lot. Being unconventional subject it is not very easy to gather the sources of studies. But I love this subject so I went for it. I have habit of notes making. Notes helped me to compile the topics together. It is a time consuming process but it ultimately helps a lot in revision especially for topics like economic zoology, genetics which can’t be covered using one book.

I have habit of note making and I make proper notes from 2-3 sources with coloured diagrams etc. it is a time consuming process however for me it is one time investment. Also, the topics are not available in one book. They are quite scattered especially in genetics for example if Mendel’s law is given well in Griffiths, cloning is explained well in TA brown. Because it is always easy for me to revise from notes written in my own handwriting. It is never possible to complete the syllabus and it is not wise too. My strategy was to complete one section of each paper. For example in paper 1 section B with ecology, ethology, economic zoology is easier to complete and is more scoring than section A I.e, taxonomy. And ultimately one need to attempt only 5 out of 8 questions.

How did you prepare Botany Optional?

My second optional was botany. It has many overlapping topics with zoology so I prepared them well. And for rest of the topics I went for selected studies like plant physiology which is easier than taxonomy. Biotechnology portion is scoring. IGNOU notes helped me a lot. My strategy for optional was to finish one section of each paper completely because ultimately we need to answer 5/8 questions.

Since you cleared IFoS, you would have pretty good marks in Prelims. What books/notes did you refer to for General Studies and CSAT?

I made my booklist and then decided no matter how tempting any new notes or book look, I am not going to buy them. Just 2-3 months before prelims when it became clear that CSAT will be qualifying, I locked my all books(to avoid traumatising myself unnecessarily) except those mentioned in my booklist.

Upsc Gyan

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