5 IAS Officers Who Defied Odds to Achieve Their UPSC Dreams

We have all heard stories of how people spend hours and hours studying to crack one of the most difficult exams in India – the UPSC CSE.

[{"selector":"#anim-9ae47163-e3a4-4eee-96c0-ef6fe81ea6ef [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a501c58-6563-4139-8e39-c180a8ece3bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b3f8278-06bb-4787-90bb-9200f7b4bb17","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 180.72764%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

However, some aspirants came out victorious no matter what challenges life throws at them.

[{"selector":"#anim-e9bae72f-1b26-4536-93ca-5eab3e4cac66 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07a2d65d-ee11-4f61-80b5-8b180d0efd7c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21611c45-3f0a-41b3-9f75-e35e9830816f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 304.73842%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Ansar Shaikh’s childhood was a challenging one, to say the least. He cracked the UPSC exam in his maiden attempt. At the young age of 21, Ansar became the youngest IAS officer.

[{"selector":"#anim-33dc7922-28c2-4b90-928f-f2e2f0a2a6bf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-191aa846-48ed-4340-b8e8-ceacc10f6712","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.21369%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b889cded-5120-4cc0-b935-8d10144dc1a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4d1dd5e-12a6-47e2-bd95-18378220d7a2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.2175324772471292%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Having lost his father just before his birth, Rajendra's entire family lived under a small hut made of sugarcane leaves. Not only by clearing UPSC but also by studying medicine and becoming a doctor, he proved that his mother's decision was right.

[{"selector":"#anim-dd506dc1-0f82-461c-ae71-8f077f4149f7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd67c148-2801-4784-9447-5acb676b811d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09923043-db18-4a61-b6d5-2ba09fd21428","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 166.59055%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85e1ab1f-b2ad-44e0-9531-b3760bba3df6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Download IAS Prep Books

He spent the next ten years at the orphanage and then started working odd jobs as a peon in the Kerala Water Authority, and a clerk at a Gram Panchayat. Finally, after months of preparation in 2011, he cracked the UPSC exam.

[{"selector":"#anim-e77341eb-9ddc-49bf-8251-c97ce1d8c182","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-730e1ca7-7f54-436e-a67d-2671174b78a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.27547%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e160cb6-c283-4160-b5f1-221752c49925","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2223816e-3008-46a4-a268-65e0abcf2e83 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-5.6881635392305405%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

With an alcoholic father, Vivek’s childhood was a nightmare but this only made him stronger. In 2017, he cleared his exams and is now helping people like his father fight addiction.

[{"selector":"#anim-84902c78-4a91-42d7-8d3f-d31c7ea44a80 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afd8d1a6-792d-40d2-be0f-b98498167bea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-04d25c4e-886b-4978-a21d-4bf71a98a2d7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 228.09826%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62bbab9f-28a0-469c-ad01-4636405fa706","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Born in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Arti is just 3.5 feet tall. Beating all odds, Arti attended a prestigious Girls’ School in Dehradun and graduated in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University.

[{"selector":"#anim-a0b25c19-0915-43d6-8a45-b6b9f7a6a966 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(3.197442310920451e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e617624b-8938-40bb-9f21-00606ad37b48","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2516040-f25a-45dc-8fec-a9f2d639534a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 176.17773%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ead6543b-e68b-49a2-89fe-9c2e5e687bbd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Gear Up UPSC Exam With Top Recommended Books, Study Notes, Test Series & More...

[{"selector":"#anim-18544b41-cb54-4bd3-b6b1-0d931bf5f8e4","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.5)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.95)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}]

5 IAS Officers Who Defied Odds to Achieve Their UPSC Dreams

We have all heard stories of how people spend hours and hours studying to crack one of the most difficult exams in India – the UPSC CSE.

However, some aspirants came out victorious no matter what challenges life throws at them.

Ansar Shaikh’s childhood was a challenging one, to say the least. He cracked the UPSC exam in his maiden attempt. At the young age of 21, Ansar became the youngest IAS officer.

Ansar Shaikh

Having lost his father just before his birth, Rajendra's entire family lived under a small hut made of sugarcane leaves. Not only by clearing UPSC but also by studying medicine and becoming a doctor, he proved that his mother's decision was right.

Rajendra Bharud

He spent the next ten years at the orphanage and then started working odd jobs as a peon in the Kerala Water Authority, and a clerk at a Gram Panchayat. Finally, after months of preparation in 2011, he cracked the UPSC exam.

Mohammad Ali Shihab

With an alcoholic father, Vivek’s childhood was a nightmare but this only made him stronger. In 2017, he cleared his exams and is now helping people like his father fight addiction.

Vivek Kuttikol

Born in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Arti is just 3.5 feet tall. Beating all odds, Arti attended a prestigious Girls’ School in Dehradun and graduated in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University.

Arti Dogra

Gear Up UPSC Exam With Top Recommended Books, Study Notes, Test Series & More...