Bhopal: About half-a-dozen aspirants from the city have qualified for the UPSC-2017 examinations from the Madhya Pradesh. UPSC is considered to be the toughest exams in the world. The Free Press talked to some of the qualifiers to gain an insight into their experiences in their quest to crack this exam.
Tapasya Parihar, All India Rank 23rd, topper in MP
Regular study with a clear strategy and concentration helped in clearing the exams, said Tapasya Parihar who cleared the exam in her second attempt. Although, I had the opportunity to take the placement exams of college and go abroad to settle, yet I opted to take civil services exams, added Parihar.
She had her own share of disappointments as in her first attempt in 2016 she failed to clear even prelims stage. She was disappointed with her after her failure. She left the coaching classes in Delhi. However she decided to collect her strength and focus on self-study. She belongs to a farmer family of Narshingpur district. She studied at Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Kareli and graduated from ILS College in Pune.
Garima Agarwal, All India Rank 241
Aspirant should be patient to focus on ones studies. When I was preparing for UPSC, my friends were getting placed in MNC’s. They went abroad and got settled their but I decided to stay in India. Civil services offers us the best platform in the country to provide our services to the people.
I left a job with a package of 65 lakhs per annum in Germany. I came back to India to pursue MS in robotics. After finishing my MS , I started my preparations in 2016. Meanwhile, my parents provided me with all the moral and emotional support and shielded me from the social pressures that girls generally face in Indian society. She hails from Khargone district and studied at Saraswati Vidya Mandir.
Pranav dubey, All India Rank 307
Sincerity, dedication, continuity and hard work makes a man successful. I left my job in TCS after four and a half year in 2016 to prepare for the civil services exam. However, many in my family and friends was against my decision and was doubtful about my chances. But, my parents supported me and said, “Go ahead, do what you believe you can.” And I have cleared the exams by self-study remaining at my home in first attempt. I learnt taking tough decisions from idols of my life Sachin Tendulkar and Rogers Fedrer who fought all the difficulties to remain number one throughout their life, said Pranav Dubey. Dubey studied in Sagar, his hometown.
Aviral Sharma, All India Rank 494
I want to improve the condition of the society and this (civil services) is the best platform to do that, said Aviral Sharma. I learnt from all my mistakes and in cleared the exam in my second attempt. I prepared in Delhi for a year and returned home in Bhopal to focus on self-study. Last year, after reaching the interview stage but could not qualify the exam.
I became very upset but my parents motivated me to continue my study. I began teaching the students in an academy in Bhopal about six months back that helped me a lot, added Sharma. I have qualified the exam this year, although I will appear in other two attempts left to get Indian police services, said Sharma.