Mocked by senior, constable becomes IPS Officer: The Inspiring Story of Uday Krishna Reddy

In 2013, Uday Krishna Reddy began his journey in uniform as a Marine Constable. Like thousands of young men in service, he wore his badge with pride and performed his duties with discipline. But deep inside, he carried a bigger dream, one that seemed almost impossible to many around him.

In 2018, an incident changed the course of his life.

Life-Changing Moment

One day, Uday arrived slightly late for a drill. What followed was not just a reprimand, but a remark that would echo in his mind for years. A senior officer taunted him sarcastically, saying, “This sir will become an IPS officer or an IAS officer.” He was barred from joining the drill and told bluntly, “Don’t live in your dreams. You are just a constable.”

For some, those words might have crushed ambition. For Uday, they became fuel.

That very day, he made a bold decision, he resigned from his job. It was not an emotional reaction, but a turning point. He chose to chase the very dream that had been mocked. He decided he would prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and earn the IPS badge not by rank, but by merit.

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The journey ahead was far from easy.

Failures Tested His Patience

Attempts came and went. Failures tested his patience. The UPSC exam, known as one of the toughest in the country, demands not just intelligence but extraordinary resilience. Many would have given up after repeated setbacks. But Uday did not. Each failure strengthened his resolve. Each disappointment reminded him why he had started.

Finally, in his fifth attempt, perseverance paid off. He secured an All India Rank of 350 and achieved what once seemed like a distant dream, he became an IPS officer.

The constable who was once told to ‘stop dreaming’ returned to the system wearing the very stars that were mocked years earlier.

Uday Krishna Reddy’s journey is a powerful reminder: when someone throws stones at you, don’t throw them back. Gather them. Build something with them. Build your castle.

No dream is too big — especially when courage and determination stand guard over it.