Father worked in fields, mother sold her jewelry, grew up in mud house, son cracked UPSC exam, to become IAS Officer with AIR…, his name is..

The Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC is one of the most challenging competitive examinations in India, with a rigorous process spanning around one year and requiring extensive preparation. The exam recruits candidates for higher Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, and Indian Police Service. Read the success story of a man whose father worked in fields, his mother sold her jewelry, grew up in a mud house, cracked the UPSC exam, and became an IAS Officer.

Who is this inspiring IAS officer who rose from a mud house to success?

In the remote village of Raghunathpur in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh, one might have seen mud houses and roofs covered with tarpaulin. This is the native place of IAS officer Pawan Kumar, whose family was really very poor. Pawan Kumar belonged to a family with a weak financial background. His father, Mukesh Kumar, was a marginal farmer and also worked as a laborer under MGNREGA. The family had no regular source of income and often was unable to manage even two meals a day.

What challenges did he face while preparing for the UPSC exam?

Pawan experienced the hardships of poverty from a very young age. During the rainy season, whenever the rain would seep through the thatched roof, his entire family would have to stay awake all night trying to secure their belongings. There was no regular electricity in the house and hardly enough light to study. Under these conditions, it seemed almost impossible to dream of becoming an IAS officer. However, in that darkness, Pawan lit a lamp of determination. He declared that he would lift his family out of poverty forever through education.

When did he decide to become a civil servant?

Power cuts were a frequent occurrence in the village, but Pawan Kumar never lost faith. When the lights went out, he studied for hours with the help of dim clay lamps. This struggle was not just his alone—it was a fight shared by his entire family. Pawan Kumar’s family battled against poverty. His parents gave up every small joy and comfort for the sake of their son achieving his possible dreams. All of their dedication and sacrifices through the ups and downs helped change the trajectory of Pawan Kumar’s life.

In order that Pawan could continue his studies uninterrupted, his father and sisters worked as laborers in other people’s fields. His mother sold her jewelry to support her son’s bright future. This firm belief and support of his family prevented Pawan from giving up. When he needed to relocate to Delhi to begin preparing for the UPSC exam, he could not afford a new mobile because of financial constraints. Pawan’s father somehow acquired a second-hand mobile for Rs 3200, which Pawan had to use for his online studying.

Pawan Kumar started his early education at Navodaya Vidyalaya, located in Bulandshahr. He then graduated from Allahabad University. He later got admission for an MA at JNU but left the master’s program to prepare for the civil services. After two years of coaching in Delhi, he shifted to self-study, as his family could not afford expensive coaching. Even though the expense was inconsequential to his family. Pawan used only the internet and his old mobile phone, which proved to be the most powerful tools of preparation.

What was his UPSC rank?

Pawan Kumar did not have a smooth road to the UPSC exam. He failed in his first two attempts, and even in 2022, he reportedly missed selection by a mere one mark. These setbacks would have broken many, but Pawan was able to use his failures as fuel. Every moment, he remembered the sacrifices and sacrifices of his family that had brought him to this place, leaving him with no option to give in. Recognizing his failures made him work even harder, and he completely immersed himself in the preparation for the UPSC Civil Services exam.

In the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2023, Pawan Kumar skillfully secured an impressive rank of 239. When the government results were announced and it was confirmed that he had become an IAS officer, joy spread throughout his village. People from near and far came to congratulate Pawan and his family at their simple mud house. Pawan illustrated that achieving dreams does not require money or resources to create a life, but determination, passion, and family support.

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