It was a totally unexpected moment for 29-year-old Gaurav Agarwal, the IPS-trainee who bagged the first rank in the UPSC exams, the results of which were declared on Thursday evening. In the city for the last one year to undergo training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Gaurav had secured the 244 rank last year.
“I wanted to become an IAS officer as the role is more diverse and has more opportunities,” said an elated Gaurav, who spent about eight hours prepar-ing for the exams daily. A graduate from IIT-Kanpur and IIM-Lucknow, Gaurav said he had concentrated on “answer writing”, which he considered his weakness.
And what is Gaurav’s advice to other civil services aspirants? “Work on weaknesses. I did that and it has paid-off very well,” said the topper, who had worked as an investm-ent banker in Hong Kong for more than three years.
