Meet India’s youngest IAS officer, cracked UPSC at 21 in first attempt, father was an auto driver, mother worked as labourer, his name is…, AIR was…

Ansar Shaikh became the youngest IAS officer in India when he cleared the UPSC Civil Services Exam at the age of just 21, securing an All India Rank of 361. Ansar comes from a small village called Shelgaon in the Jalna district of Maharashtra’s Marathwada region. His father drives an autorickshaw, and his mother worked as a farm labourer. Life was not easy for his family, but they always supported his education.

Even though they had very little money, his family made sacrifices to help him study. His brother left school in Class 7 and started working in a garage to earn money, while his sister was married off at the young age of 15.

A bright student with big dreams

Despite all these problems, Ansar never gave up on his education. He scored 91 per cent in his 12th standard and later graduated in Political Science from Fergusson College, Pune, with 73 per cent.

After college, he decided to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, which is one of the toughest exams in India. The exam selects officers for top posts like IAS, IPS, IFS, and others. It has three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview, and tests everything from general knowledge to decision-making skills.

Cracking UPSC in first attempt

In 2016, at just 21 years old, Ansar cleared the UPSC exam in his first attempt. He chose Political Science as his optional subject and appeared for the mains and interview in Marathi, his mother tongue. His hard work paid off, and he secured the 361st rank across India.

After clearing the tough UPSC Civil Services Exam, he was posted as the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, as of 2022.

Ansar’s journey has become a source of hope and motivation for students from all corners of India. Coming from a humble background, he proved that with hard work, smart planning, and never giving up, anyone can achieve their goals no matter how difficult their situation may be.

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