Success in the UPSC examination is often associated with years of dedicated preparation in Delhi’s coaching hubs, access to extensive resources, and uninterrupted study schedules. Ravinandan Gupta’s story challenges that perception.
The son of a small shopkeeper from a village in Madhya Pradesh’s Singrauli district, Ravinandan not only cracked the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2025 with an impressive All India Rank 17 but did so while balancing a demanding government training schedule, field responsibilities, and a professional career.
A Village Dream Takes Shape
Ravinandan Gupta grew up in Sarai village in Singrauli district. His father runs a small shop in the village, while his mother is a homemaker. Like many students from rural India, he viewed education as a path to wider opportunities.
After completing his schooling from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sidhi, he secured admission to IIT Guwahati, where he pursued mechanical engineering. Graduating from one of India’s premier institutions opened the door to a successful corporate career.
He joined Reliance Industries Limited and spent four years working there.
Yet, despite a stable career and promising professional growth, another goal continued to occupy his mind.
“I chose UPSC as a career because it provided prestige in society, especially in rural areas like my village,” Ravinandan told Indian Masterminds.
The idea of joining the civil services was strengthened by someone he looked up to.
“I was inspired by one of my seniors from the same village who was selected for the IRS eight years ago.“
That inspiration eventually led him to leave Reliance and begin pursuing a different path.
Early Failures and Hard Lessons
Like many successful civil servants, Ravinandan’s journey included setbacks.
His first two attempts at the UPSC examination ended before the Mains stage. He could not clear the preliminary examination while managing preparation alongside his job.
Many aspirants might have viewed repeated failures as a sign to reconsider their plans. Ravinandan saw them differently.
The unsuccessful attempts helped him understand the examination better and identify the gaps in his preparation.
“It was my third attempt. In my previous attempts, I was unable to clear even prelims because I was preparing alongside my job.“
The lessons learned during those years would later become crucial to his success.
Balancing Forest Service Training and UPSC Preparation
One of the most remarkable aspects of Ravinandan’s story is the environment in which he prepared.
After being selected through the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission as a Range Forest Officer (RFO), he entered a rigorous training programme. Most people would assume that such a schedule leaves little room for UPSC preparation.
His daily routine tells a different story.
The day began at 6:00 AM with physical training. It included nearly seven hours of academic sessions and concluded around 6:00 PM with sports and outdoor activities. The training also involved a 120-day all-India tour.
Despite these commitments, Ravinandan continued preparing for the IFS examination.
He never moved to Delhi. He studied primarily from home, the training academy, and online courses.
“I studied from standard sources and online platforms. I never felt that moving to Delhi was necessary.“
What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that he excelled simultaneously in both pursuits.
During his RFO training, he earned a gold medal for academics and won two silver medals, all while preparing for one of the toughest examinations in the country.
The Power of Guidance and Peer Support
Ravinandan believes that having the right guidance made a significant difference.
For preliminary and mains preparation, he relied on standard sources and consistent revision. However, he also benefited from the support of friends who had already entered the civil services.
“I have a few friends in the IFS, IRS, and IPS. They helped me a lot throughout my preparation.“
Their experience helped him understand the demands of the examination and refine his strategy.
For Mains, his preparation was strengthened by focused guidance from serving officers and selected candidates who had already gone through the process.
Turning Professional Experience into an Interview Advantage
By the time Ravinandan reached the interview stage, he was already serving as a range forest officer.
This practical experience became one of his strongest assets.
“It was my first mains and first interview. Most questions were related to forests, tiger conservation, tribal development, forest fires, and my work as an RFO.“
Instead of relying solely on theoretical knowledge, he could answer from direct field experience.
His optional subjects also reflected his professional interests and training.
He chose forestry, a subject he had already studied extensively during RFO training, along with geology as his second optional.
The combination helped him build a strong foundation for the examination.
An Unforgettable Moment for His Family
Perhaps the most emotional chapter of Ravinandan’s story came when the results were announced.
For a family with no prior history of government service, the achievement felt almost unbelievable.
“My parents were really, really happy because they never thought anyone from our family would enter government service, let alone clear an examination like UPSC.”
The result represented much more than a rank. It symbolised years of sacrifice, aspirations, and faith shared by an entire family.
A Message for Every Aspirant
Ravinandan Gupta’s journey demonstrates that success is not reserved for those with perfect conditions. It belongs to those who keep moving forward despite imperfect circumstances.
From a village in Singrauli to IIT Guwahati, from a corporate job at Reliance Industries to service as a Range Forest Officer, and finally to securing AIR 17 in UPSC IFS 2025, his path has been defined by focused effort and disciplined execution.
His message to aspirants reflects the belief that guided his own journey:
“If you desire something with all your heart, the whole universe will conspire to help you get it.”
Or, as he puts it in Hindi:
“Kehte hain agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho, toh poori kainaat use tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.”
For thousands of young aspirants studying from small towns and villages across India, Ravinandan Gupta’s story offers a powerful lesson: your starting point does not determine your destination. What matters is the determination to continue, even when the path is difficult.
