It’s believed that aspirants have to relocate to Delhi to arrange for the UPSC examination. Busting this false impression, IRMS officer Akash Chavda cleared the UPSC examination 2023 with AIR 1007 from his village in Gujarat.
Yearly, New Delhi’s UPSC teaching hub attracts aspirants from throughout the nation. Tens of hundreds of aspirants proceed to reside in small, windowless PGs in common and crowded areas of Mukherjee Nagar, Outdated Rajendra Nagar (ORN), Patel Nagar within the hopes of changing into an officer sooner or later.
It’s believed that aspirants have to relocate to the capital to arrange for the UPSC examination and that they can not clear the examination with out teaching. This challenge was additionally highlighted as soon as once more when three aspirants just lately misplaced their lives after drowning within the waterlogged basement of a training institute following steady rainfall within the metropolis.
Nonetheless, Akash Chavda, who cleared the UPSC examination in 2023 with an All-India Rank of 1007, busts this false impression. He says, “Delhi is overcrowded with aspirants and this additionally places a whole lot of strain on the infrastructure there. Once I visited ORN for the primary time, I felt disgusted and suffocated. There, aspirants compromise on every little thing from rents to high quality meals.”
“You actually don’t have to go to Delhi for preparation. This might have been true just a few years again when there was a scarcity of on-line assets and steering. Should you really feel there’s a lack of ambiance for research at house, you may hire some property in a close-by city and be a part of a library. Whereas it isn’t essential to go to Delhi, it is very important have a mentor and a structured examine routine,” shares Akash, who himself sought steering from a retired DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) throughout his preparation journey.
Gujarat-based Akash had ready for one of many difficult examinations of the nation from the comforts of his house in a small village of Somnath district.
Sharing his expertise, he says, “I had choices of making ready for the examination by becoming a member of the teaching centres in Gandhinagar or Ahmedabad however I selected to stay in my village. I by no means felt disregarded. In truth, I felt privileged. My mornings began with chirping birds and recent air. At any time when I felt wired, I might spend time with my household.”
Securing 1007 rank, he was appointed within the Indian Railway Administration Service (IRMS). We sat down with Akash to be taught extra about his preparation journey.
From hostel room to UPSC corridor
Akash’s journey to success was crammed with challenges, perseverance, and a robust dedication to attain his goals. When he was simply three years previous, he misplaced his mom. Whereas coping with the horrible blow, it was troublesome for his father to take care of him as he labored within the Center East.
So at a younger age, Akash was enrolled in a hostel. Nonetheless, he misplaced his father as nicely in a tragic street accident when he was learning Class 9.
“I had met him solely twice in seven years. All of a sudden, I felt I had nobody left. My youthful sister additionally lived with a relative, lots of of miles away from me,” he provides.
A glimmer of hope on this bleak second in his life got here when his cousin — a every day wage mason by occupation — confirmed him unwavering help. He not solely welcomed him into his small one-room tin shed home but additionally handled him like his personal little one.
“As we speak, no matter I’m is due to him. His sacrifices saved motivating me. He was not financially secure and he had his family to take care of however he accepted me and made me part of the household selflessly,” he shares.
Akash’s objectives had been by no means deterred by his cousin’s meagre assets. He inspired him to try excessive and comply with his aspirations. He ultimately pursued mechanical engineering from a neighborhood faculty in Vadodara the place he was impressed to arrange for the UPSC examination.
“I used to be naturally inclined to social work and was exploring methods wherein I may contribute to the group straight. I got here to know concerning the UPSC examination from my faculty buddies. Once I searched extra, I got here to know this work cannot solely assist me have interaction with the group straight but additionally assist me develop personally,” he says.
As he delved into the world of aggressive exams after his commencement in 2018, Akash encountered additional hurdles; the primary of which was his Gujarati-medium schooling.
“There’s a lack of high quality examine materials out there in my native language. I sought out notes from toppers however I confronted difficulties in comprehending the English-language content material. For many of the phrases, I must discuss with dictionaries,” he provides.
Regardless of these preliminary struggles, he certified the prelims in 2019 however failed the Mains examination. He appeared for his second try in 2022. Though he cleared the prelims and the Mains exams, he failed on the interview stage. Nonetheless, he achieved this feat whereas working as a tax inspector in Jamnagar as he needed to be financially unbiased.
Sharing his expertise, he says, “Within the interview spherical, I opted for English as my medium of communication. I assumed I might have the ability to handle however I fumbled in my interview. This lowered my confidence stage and I failed at expressing myself within the character stage. It was one of many the explanation why I couldn’t clear the examination in 2022.”
Nonetheless, Akash remained undeterred and cleared the 2023 examination. Along with his triumphant preparation journey, he emphasises the necessity for consistency, self-evaluation by way of take a look at sequence, writing solutions and the significance of utilising restricted assets successfully.
Sharing ideas for aspirants, he advises, “Get an excellent understanding of the syllabus, and clear up earlier years’ questions. Additionally, normalise taking breaks. There have been days once I felt responsible for taking breaks. However, everytime you really feel low, pause and unwind for a quick interval. Utilise web and on-line take a look at sequence and mock exams for successfully making ready at house.”
Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photographs: Akash Chavda.
