Millions of UPSC aspirants spend lakhs of rupees to prepare for the Civil Services Exam (CSE), touted to be India’s toughest exam. However, there are a few candidates who crack the exam without any coaching.
One such inspiring civil servant is IAS Anshuman Raj. Some aspirants spend years on their preparations. But some extraordinary aspirants like IAS Anshuman Raj ace the exam without any coaching.
Hailing from a humble household in Bihar’s Buxar district, Anshuman’s family was too poor to even afford a bulb. He used to study under a kerosene lamp until his Class 10. His house lacked basic facilities and he had to struggle for everything from the very beginning. Lack of resources made him a habitual hard worker.
After passing his Class 10, he got into Jawaharlal Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) where he pursued his Class 12 and graduation. It was during his study period in JNV that he inclined to UPSC.
Although his family could hardly afford his UPSC dream, and preparation expenses in Delhi, he decided to fight his fate. Instead of forcing his parents to sell their ancestral property and land, he decided to prepare by himself with no coaching, a DNA India report stated.
He struggled to gather notes from friends and acquaintances, but never thought of giving up. His hard work paid off, he successfully secured the post of an IRS. However, it was his dream to become an IAS.
So, he decided to give it another try. This time, his dream came true as he secured an impressive AIR-107 in the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE). His remarkable journey from studying under a kerosene lamp to becoming an IAS officer is indeed an inspiration for many who complain of lack of resources and blame their families for being poor.