The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) final exam results, which were announced on Friday, saw several candidates from Karnataka in the top 100 list. Bengaluru-based software engineer Lakshmi N., 25, who bagged the 45th rank, said this was her third attempt at one of the most competitive exams in the country. She had prepared for it for a year.
“I cleared the IFS earlier this year and now have secured this rank in UPSC,” she said. “I want to become an IAS officer as it involves diversity and you can work in different sectors. I want to enhance service delivery in all sectors,” she said. Ms. Lakshmi also said she read The Hindu as part of her daily preparation.
Her advice to budding aspirants? “Grab every opportunity that comes your way.”
S. Akash
Akash S., who is currently serving as a KAS officer, has been ranked 78th. He was confident that he would get a rank within the top hundred, as this was his sixth attempt. A doctor by qualification, he works in the Department of Pre-University Education as joint director. “I took a few days leave from work to prepare for the exam. Working as a KAS officer gave me an edge during my interview. I have been putting in a lot of practice since 2014, and it helped me during the mains,” he said. He hopes to work in the health and education sectors.
This year was going to Kruthika’s sixth and final attempt. On Friday, she learned that she had got the 100th rank. “During my fifth attempt, I got into the IRS, but started training in December. It was my childhood dream to join the administrative services, so I knew I could not stop at IRS,” she said, beaming with pride.
She wants to work to uplift women and children and take up environment-related causes. “My preparation strategy involved solving a lot of mock question papers. For the mains, my focus was to answer in a precise manner,” said Ms. Kruthika, who hails from Mysuru.
