https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Teachers Day Special: How CISF Officer Rakesh Nikhaj Guided 86 Aspirants to UPSC CAPF Glory

This Teacher’s Day, meet CISF officer Rakesh Nikhaj, whose Invisible Helping Hand guided 86 UPSC CAPF aspirants to success in 2024, shattering records with late-night mentorship and free virtual interviews
Indian Masterminds Stories

In the demanding world of UPSC preparation, where even the best falter at the final hurdle of the personality test, one man has been quietly scripting success stories. Rakesh Nikhaj, a 2012-batch CISF Deputy Commandant currently posted on temporary assignment at Srinagar’s central jail, has created an initiative that has become a lifeline for aspirants across India.

His voluntary campaign, ‘Invisible Helping Hand’, has this year propelled 86 candidates into the Central Armed Police Forces, shattering last year’s record of 53. For aspirants staring at rejection after clearing written tests, physicals, and medicals, this initiative has been the difference between a dream realized and a dream deferred.

It’s about serving society beyond duty. Whatever change we are bringing about may not seem significant in quantum, but when more people come together to contribute, the impact becomes visible,” he shared in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.

THE SPARK BEHIND THE MISSION

The idea for Invisible Helping Hand was born out of a simple yet powerful observation: the stark gap in exposure between rural and urban candidates. While some aspirants polish their personalities in the best colleges of Delhi, others arrive from modest schools in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, or the interiors of India with little guidance on how to face the UPSC board.

The level of competition is the same for everyone,” explains Nikhaj. “But someone from Delhi University has an edge simply because of the exposure they have received. Those from rural backgrounds lack that chance, and we try to fill the gap.”

What began as a small attempt to guide candidates has today become a structured exercise with mock interviews, personality-building sessions, and instant feedback loops, all conducted virtually through Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

A POWERHOUSE OF GUIDANCE

This year, Invisible Helping Hand was not just Nikhaj’s effort. It became a collective movement. Devendra Kumar, Director in the Cabinet Secretariat, joined in. So did academicians like Amit Akshay, exam mentors, and past UPSC toppers such as Arpita Gupta, a geophysicist. Officers from the Indian Revenue Service, experienced faculty, and even fresh recruits awaiting training stepped forward to contribute.

Together, they simulated real UPSC interview boards, complete with three to five panellists, tough questioning, and sharp feedback. “We replicate everything except the physical setting of Dholpur House,” Nikhaj explains.

This season, the initiative conducted 121 hours of mock interviews, reaching 262 out of 1,514 CAPF interviewees nationwide. Each candidate received at least 30 minutes of grilling and feedback and sessions that often stretched to 40 minutes despite Zoom’s time caps.

THE HUMAN SIDE OF SERVICE

Running such an initiative comes at a personal cost. With a demanding job, Nikhaj squeezes sessions into his evenings, often eating into time meant for his wife and children. Yet, he sees it as a responsibility.

Whatever time I am stealing from my family, I am using for a good purpose. If large numbers of people come forward, we will be able to see something truly meaningful happen,” he told Indian Masterminds.

This year, the outcome spoke louder than words. Over 95 candidates cleared the CAPF interview successfully, and 86 made it into the final list, an achievement that drew national media attention.

NOT JUST COACHING, BUT CAPACITY-BUILDING

Invisible Helping Hand is more than just interview practice. It is about shaping mindsets. Aspirants are taught how to handle questions on current affairs, how to present their Detailed Application Forms with confidence, and how to project the attributes needed for uniformed service. Motivational sessions with officers and experts from different fields add another layer of learning.

We want them to walk into the UPSC interview room with the belief that they belong there,” says Nikhaj. “It’s about convincing the board that you have the qualities for the job you aspire to.”

BREAKING RECORDS, INSPIRING FUTURES

In 2023, the initiative celebrated when 53 aspirants made it into CAPF through its guidance. In 2024, the number shot up to 86, nearly doubling! For many, it was the difference between disappointment and donning the uniform.

But for Nikhaj, numbers are secondary. What matters is whether those who once struggled now look back and extend a hand to the next generation. “It is incumbent upon all of us to contribute in whatever ways we can,” he says. “We all remember our struggles. Why not make it easier for those who come after us?”

A TEACHER’S DAY TRIBUTE

On Teacher’s Day, when the nation salutes those who shape futures, the story of CISF Deputy Commandant Rakesh Nikhaj reminds us that teaching need not always happen in classrooms. Sometimes, it takes place on a Zoom call at 9 PM, where an officer in uniform, after finishing a long day of duty, prepares another young mind to face one of India’s toughest interviews.

And sometimes, that unseen act of mentorship helps 86 dreams take flight in a single year.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CRPF_resized
Debate Erupts Over CRPF DG’s Leh Visit, Sparks Allegations of Misuse of Resources
IPS GK Goswami
Leadership Transition at UPSIFS? Uncertainty Looms as Director IPS GK Goswami Nears Retirement
bureaucracy news
Maharashtra Govt Promotes 4 IAS Officers of 1995 Batch to ACS Rank, Including Ashwini Bhide and K H Govinda Raj
Delhi High Court-resized-DelhiHC
Justice Vikram Nath Calls on Delhi High Court to Restart Live-Streaming for Greater Transparency
SBI_resized
EPFO Employees to Receive Insurance Cover up to ₹1.6 Crore Through New SBI MoU
Ajay Kumar Jaiswal CVO NCL
Northern Coalfields Limited Appoints New CVO as Ajay Kumar Jaiswal Assumes Office
CONCOR Logo Resized
CONCOR to Operate and Manage Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port in Gujarat Under New MoU
BMC Cleanliness Drive
BMC Conducts Overnight Cleanliness Drive at Azad Maidan with 1,000 Workers, Toilets & Medical Units
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Shikha Goel
Decoding Digital Dangers: Insights from IPS Shikha Goel on Cyber Crimes
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
Managing Elections, Communal Tensions, and Public Safety – Meet IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Operation Hunt: IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela’s Mission to Nab Valsad’s Most Wanted
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
IAS Sakshi Sawhney Amritsar DC
Punjab Floods: IAS Sakshi Sawhney’s Emotional Appeal to Elderly Man Wins Hearts, Video of Humanity Goes Viral
Viral Video Captures Emotional Moment as Amritsar DC Shows Sensitivity and Courage Amid Relief Effor...
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CRPF_resized
Debate Erupts Over CRPF DG’s Leh Visit, Sparks Allegations of Misuse of Resources
IPS GK Goswami
Leadership Transition at UPSIFS? Uncertainty Looms as Director IPS GK Goswami Nears Retirement
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Shikha Goel
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT