“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
There are stories that inspire, and then there are stories that redefine perseverance itself. Stories that remind us that destiny often rewards those who refuse to surrender, even when life appears to have closed every possible door. Deputy Commandant Anshuman Kumar Singh’s IFS journey is one such remarkable tale of resilience, discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering determination.
For 11 years, he carried one dream in his heart – to crack UPSC and serve the nation at an even bigger platform. But the journey was far from easy. While serving in the Indian Coast Guard, he prepared for UPSC alongside demanding duties, limited study time, repeated failures, and endless pressure. There were years when he could not even clear the Preliminary examination.
Then came the toughest phase of all.
In 2024, after years of struggle, all his UPSC Civil Services Examination attempts were exhausted. For most aspirants, that moment would have marked the end of the journey. But Anshuman Singh refused to give up.
Discovering that Indian Forest Service (IFS) attempts were counted separately, he gave one final push to his dream. And in a story that now inspires thousands across the country, the Coast Guard officer secured All India Rank 2 in UPSC IFS-2025 in just his second IFS attempt.
His journey is not just a success story – it is a powerful reminder that perseverance can turn even the darkest setbacks into historic victories. Indian Masterminds interacted with Mr Singh to learn more about his inspiring journey and his message for UPSC aspirants.
Journey So Far: A Dream That Refused to Die
Unlike full-time aspirants, he carried the responsibility of active national service while preparing for one of the toughest examinations in the country.
He reflected on his long and challenging journey – “The journey was actually quite good and very interesting, but it took time because being in active service, I was not able to devote enough time to studies.”
Currently serving as a Deputy Commandant in the Indian Coast Guard, he had spent nearly a decade in service while simultaneously trying to pursue his UPSC dream.
His UPSC journey began in 2016. However, due to professional responsibilities and operational commitments, he struggled to dedicate consistent hours to preparation.
“Since I was preparing while remaining in active service, I simply didn’t have enough time. Earlier, I could not even clear the Prelims stage.”
For years, he continued attempting the examination despite setbacks. Finally, in 2024, he took a break from service and devoted himself fully to preparation.
That year, he managed to reach the UPSC CSE Mains stage for the first time. But fate had another difficult test waiting.
He was not selected, and with that, all his UPSC Civil Services Examination attempts were exhausted.
For many aspirants, that moment would have marked the end of the dream.
But not for Anshuman Singh.
The Turning Point: When One Door Closed, Another Opened
After exhausting all his UPSC CSE attempts in 2024, Anshuman found himself standing at a crossroads.
He had already invested years of effort, sacrifice, and emotional energy into the examination. Yet despite all his hard work, the final goal still seemed out of reach.
Then came the turning point.
Anshuman discovered that the number of attempts for the IFS Examination was counted separately from the Civil Services Examination. That realization changed everything.
“Since I still had some age eligibility left, I wondered what I should do next. That’s when I learned that the number of attempts allowed for the Forest Service is counted separately from those for the Civil Services.”
Instead of mourning his exhausted CSE attempts, he immediately redirected his focus toward the Indian Forest Service examination.
And this decision transformed his life forever.
“I proceeded with that path, and finally – by the grace of God and with everyone’s blessings – I made it.”
His Background: A Brilliant Student Since Childhood
Anshuman’s roots trace back to Jhumri Tilaiya in Kodarma district of Jharkhand, though his family is now settled in Patna.
From an early age, excellence followed him everywhere.
He completed his schooling in Kodarma and was known for his academic brilliance throughout his student life.
In 2009, he passed Class 10 from DAV Public School, Jhumri Tilaiya. Later, in 2011, he became the district topper in Class 12 from Grizzly Vidyalaya.
His educational achievements reflected not only intelligence but also consistency and discipline.
Following school, he pursued graduation at University of Delhi under Ramjas College between 2012 and 2015.
“I studied the basics during graduation. After that, I joined the service,” he said.
Soon after graduation, he cleared the examination process for the Indian Coast Guard and entered national service.
Interestingly, the Coast Guard recruitment process was not through UPSC but through a separate examination and interview conducted by the force itself.
By 2015–16, Anshuman had joined the service, beginning a professional journey that would continue for the next ten years.
Family Support: The Foundation Behind His Success
Behind every successful individual stands a family whose sacrifices often remain unseen.
Anshuman openly credited his parents for shaping his life and values. He dedicated his success to his late father, Vinay Kumar Singh, and his mother, Sunita Devi.
According to him, whatever he achieved was possible only because of their sacrifices, discipline, and unwavering support.
His grandfather, the late Sachchidanand Singh, also carried a legacy of education and service, having served as the Headmaster of Parsabad High School.
Meanwhile, his younger brother, Abhinav Singh – popularly known as “Marcos Sir” – trains Army aspirants in Patna through his own academy.
The family’s contribution toward education, discipline, and nation-building clearly reflects in Anshuman’s journey.
The Biggest Struggle: Balancing Service & Preparation
One of the biggest challenges Anshuman faced was balancing his demanding Indian Coast Guard duties with UPSC preparation. Unlike full-time aspirants, he could not dedicate uninterrupted hours to study while serving in an operational role that required constant alertness and responsibility.
“Being in service, I wasn’t able to devote as much time to studies.” For years, this limitation even stopped him from clearing the Preliminary Examination. The pressure of duty, mental fatigue, and repeated setbacks made the journey extremely difficult.
Yet, he never stopped trying.
His story stands as a reminder that success is not about perfect conditions — it is about persistence even when conditions are far from ideal.
His Preparation Strategy: Smart Study Over Endless Resources
When Anshuman finally dedicated himself fully to preparation, he adopted a highly focused and strategic approach instead of blindly studying everything.
One major realization changed his preparation pattern:
The cutoff for the IFS examination is significantly higher than that of the Civil Services Examination.
“The cutoff for Forest Service is usually 15 to 20 marks higher.”
To tackle this challenge, he joined Forum IAS’ SFG and Simulator programs specifically for rigorous test practice.
He revised standard textbooks repeatedly and focused deeply on limited study materials rather than collecting endless resources.
“I made a conscious effort not to diversify my study resources too much.”
He particularly relied on BYJU’S study material for strengthening his concepts.
This disciplined revision strategy significantly improved his performance.
According to his own calculations, he scored around 150–160 marks in Prelims, nearly 60 marks above the expected cutoff.
Optional Subjects Strategy: Geology and Agriculture
Anshuman chose Geology and Agriculture as his optional subjects for the IFS examination.
For Geology, he enrolled in Planet Geology, which he described as one of the most important pillars of his preparation.
“Planet Geology proved immensely helpful throughout my preparation. They supported me at every single step.”
For Agriculture, he attended offline classes conducted by Mr. Krishna Bhokare. Most aspirants generally combine Geology with Forestry, but Anshuman took a different path by pairing Geology with Agriculture.
That unconventional combination worked brilliantly for him.
His Core Preparation Philosophy
Anshuman’s preparation strategy was rooted in clarity, repetition, and simplicity.
Rather than running behind multiple coaching notes and sources, he carefully consolidated everything into his own notebooks.
“I meticulously transcribed the content from classes into my own notebook.”
His focus was straightforward:
- Revise repeatedly
- Practice answer writing
- Analyze PYQs carefully
- Reproduce concepts exactly and effectively in the examination hall
“After analyzing previous years’ papers, my goal was to reproduce the material exactly as my instructor had taught it.”
Another surprising aspect of his strategy was his approach toward General Studies.
Since the IFS examination primarily rewards optional subjects heavily, he consciously decided not to over-invest time in GS preparation.
“I didn’t devote excessive focus to General Studies.”
Instead, he focused maximum energy on his optional subjects and test practice.
Interview Questions: UPSC Personality Test
In his first UPSC interview, chaired by Mr. Sanjay Verma, Anshuman faced a thoughtful and deeply reflective set of questions that focused on his mindset and suitability for the IFS.
One of the most striking questions he was asked was whether joining the Forest Service might make him “overly disciplined,” and what discipline truly meant to him.
He responded by drawing a balance between empathy and structure:
“Sir, while working with tribal communities and villagers, empathy and compassion are more important than strict discipline. But within the department, discipline is essential for command and control. For me personally, discipline is a way of life—even in small daily tasks, it must be done properly and with care.” This answer left a strong impression on the board.
Later, a female member of the panel, an expert in his optional subject, focused on technical questions related to Geology and allied topics such as island arcs, festoons, the back-cross method, pure-line method, as well as questions on forests and climate change.
Other Key questions included:
- His role and responsibilities in the Indian Coast Guard
- How he managed UPSC preparation along with active duty
- Why he chose the Indian Forest Service after exhausting all CSE attempts
- Situational questions on leadership and discipline in uniformed service
- Questions related to administrative awareness and current affairs
The overall interview remained smooth and conversational, with very little cross-questioning. When he was unsure of certain answers, he openly admitted it, stating that he would revisit those topics later. In some instances, he also politely asked permission before attempting an educated guess.
Message for Aspirants: Never Let Failure Define You
Anshuman Singh advised IFS aspirants to focus first on the Preliminary examination, as the cutoff is usually 15–20 marks higher than that of the Civil Services Examination. He stressed that choosing the right optional subject is equally important and recommended selecting a subject with reliable study materials that can be revised multiple times.
In technical subjects, he said, answers must be precise and objective. “If you are asked what sandstone is, your definition and mine should be exactly the same,” he explained, highlighting the importance of conceptual clarity and repeated revision.
Regarding the interview, Anshuman said that it is not a test of knowledge – this has already been assessed in the Mains – but of confidence and mindset. He advised aspirants to remain cheerful and approach the interview with the belief that reaching that stage itself is a significant achievement.
The Real Victory Beyond AIR 2
Anshuman’s journey carries a powerful message for every UPSC aspirant battling self-doubt and repeated failures.
Your failures do not define your destiny. Your perseverance does.
His life teaches aspirants that:
- Consistency matters more than speed
- Focus matters more than endless resources
- Strategy matters more than panic
- And most importantly, one opportunity is enough to change your entire life
Even after years of setbacks, limited preparation time, and exhausted attempts, he transformed adversity into achievement.
Today, Deputy Commandant Anshuman Singh is not just an AIR-2 holder.
He is a symbol of courage, discipline, resilience, and hope. And perhaps that is the greatest achievement of all.
Read Also: Three Exams, One Dream: How Revanth Chandra Cracked the UPSC & Become IFS Officer
