After working in a well-paid job for three years, he left it to pursue his dream. But despite his best efforts, he failed the exam for three consecutive years. It’s a disheartening and hopeless situation for anyone. Yet, true fighters never lose hope. They keep pushing forward. This is the story of Mr. Sushant Sukhadev Bobade, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer from the 2022 batch of Telangana cadre.
His journey is a dream come true for any middle-class boy with big aspirations. From working as a university professor to becoming a civil servant, Mr. Sushant’s path was anything but easy. However, his compassion, dedication and determination helped him overcome the obstacles and crack the IFS exam.
Indian Masterminds spoke with Mr. Sushant to learn more about his inspiring journey. “My journey was a rollercoaster ride,” he shared. “I failed three times in a row, and it left me feeling disheartened. But I knew that consistency and complete dedication would turn things around for me. I kept reminding myself why I had left my job and how important civil services were to me. Finally, I achieved what I had worked for.”
JOURNEY SO FAR
Mr. Sushant’s UPSC journey began in 2017 when he left his job to pursue his dream of becoming a civil servant. Prior to that, he had worked as an Assistant Professor at Vignan University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, for three years, from 2014 to 2017. He decided to prepare for both the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and the Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam simultaneously.
In his first two attempts in 2018 and 2019, he failed to qualify even the prelims. In 2020, he succeeded in clearing the prelims for both IFS and CSE but unfortunately couldn’t make it past the mains. However, in his fourth attempt in 2021, he cracked all three rounds of the IFS exam, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 59 and fulfilling his dream of becoming an IFS officer.
Reflecting on the challenges of preparing for both the CSE and IFS exams at the same time, he shared, “I had an advantage because one of my optional subjects, Agricultural Engineering, was the same as my graduation stream. This allowed me to spend less time on that subject, which was a big boost for me.”
UPSC INTERVIEW
While offering advice to aspirants currently undergoing interviews for the UPSC CSE 2024, Mr. Sushant shared, “Don’t try to pretend that you are a master in something. Nobody is a master of everything. Be real, don’t be fake. Aspirants should be genuine and answer politely. If you don’t know the answer, simply humbly admit it.”
He further emphasized the importance of studying and analyzing previous years’ transcripts. “If your background matches, it can be very helpful. For example, I’m an Agricultural Engineer, so if my background aligns with that of another aspirant, I should look at their transcripts as well. Some questions might repeat. It can be beneficial.”
Mr. Sushant also highlighted the significance of thoroughly reading the DAF (Detailed Application Form). “Even one word can lead to multiple questions. In my DAF, I mentioned that I was the audit chairman for a cooperative mess during my graduation. This led to questions like, ‘What is a clean audit?’ and many more. Every word in your DAF is important.”
BACKGROUND
He hails from Islampur, a town in the Sangli district of Maharashtra. His father, a retired pharmacist, now works in farming, while his mother is a homemaker. He completed his basic education in his hometown, attending a Marathi medium school.
He graduated with a degree in Agricultural Engineering from Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV) in Rahuri, Maharashtra. In 2014, he pursued post-graduation from Food Process Engineering at The The National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management (NIFTEM) in Kundli, Haryana. After completing his studies, he entered the teaching profession.
UPSC PREPARATION
Mr. Sushant began his focused preparation for the UPSC in 2017. He never enrolled in any coaching classes and relied solely on self-study at home. YouTube became one of his key resources for learning. He regularly watched Rajya Sabha (Sansad) TV and All India Radio, taking notes to stay updated with current affairs.
He diligently made notes and solved Previous Years’ Questions (PYQs), emphasizing that PYQs are the most important aspect of this examination. He advised aspirants to thoroughly study the syllabus in the beginning and focus on PYQs to better understand the exam structure and question patterns.
For his mains preparation, he concentrated on answer writing, making it a regular habit. As for essay preparation, he committed to writing at least one essay every week.
In the CSE, his optional subject was Anthropology, while for IFS, he chose Agriculture Engineering and Forestry.
HIS INTERVIEW
His interview went well, although he was thoroughly grilled by the panel. The questions ranged from his DAF to his optional subjects and current affairs.
He answered questions on Agro Forestry very well. The board members then asked him about soil and water management, to which he responded confidently. They also inquired about his experience working with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), as he had previously been involved with some of them. One panel member even asked about the concept of a clean audit, followed by related questions on the topic.
MESSAGE
Giving advice to aspirants, Mr. Sushant said, “Just keep studying and working hard, and success will follow. Trust the process and give your 100%. Study regularly and don’t break the chain. In this journey, if you lose track even once, you may limit your chances. There’s no such thing as ‘more time’ – for a goal, you need to think ahead.”
He further added, “Always have a Plan B when preparing for UPSC, as this journey is long and unpredictable. Having a backup plan can lead to better results and less disappointment.”
