https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The Story of a Friendship, a Tragedy, and a Dream That Refused to Die

Shubham Shukla cracked UPSC 2024 with AIR 116, turning heartbreak into hope after losing his IPS friend Harshvardhan just months before the interview.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Two years ago, Shubham Shukla and Harshvardhan Singh were just like any other pair of driven young friends — one dreaming of IAS, the other donning the IPS uniform. They shared notes, plans, long study hours, and a vision to serve the country. Harshvardhan had already made it. Shubham was next in line.

But fate had other plans.

Just five months ago, Harshvardhan, posted as an IPS officer, died in a road accident in Karnataka while heading to join his first assignment. The news shook the nation and broke something inside Shubham. But what it couldn’t do was stop him.

Today, with an All India Rank of 116 in UPSC 2024, Shubham’s story has come full circle. soaked in celebration, stitched with the silence of loss.

THE REWA BOY WITH BIG DREAMS

Hailing from Urrahat Mohalla in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, Shubham Shukla grew up in a modest household. His father, Ajay Shukla, runs a business. His mother, Sangeeta, is a homemaker. From the beginning, Shubham stood out not for being loud or flashy, but for his focus.

A student of Bal Bharti School, Rewa, and later a civil engineering graduate from IET DAVV Indore, Shubham was the kind of student teachers remember. His grandfather once hoped he’d become a successful engineer, but Shubham’s heart was set on public service.

ENGINEERING BY DEGREE, IAS BY PASSION

While his batchmates at college were preparing for GATE or applying for jobs, Shubham quietly started laying the groundwork for his civil services journey. His sister Shivani recalls how he would come home from college, skip the Netflix sessions, and head straight to his desk.

Delhi came next. Books, coaching classes, and the relentless grind of Mains and Prelims became his world. But through every exam, every rejection, and every sleepless night. there was one constant: Harshvardhan.

THE LOSS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Harshvardhan Singh wasn’t just a friend, he was Shubham’s sounding board, his daily check-in, his fellow warrior in this long, uncertain fight. When Harsh cleared UPSC and joined the IPS, it felt like a joint victory.

So when the accident happened, it hit Shubham hard. Just months before his own interview, he lost his closest friend.

He couldn’t talk for days. He wasn’t crying. He was just silent.

But Shubham didn’t let that silence drown his dream. He picked up where he left off, this time, carrying not just his hopes, but Harshvardhan’s memory too.

FOURTH TIME. FINAL TRY. THIS TIME, IT WAS DIFFERENT.

Shubham had cleared the UPSC Mains four times before. He had reached the interview stage thrice. Each time he came close but not close enough.

This time, in his final attempt, the result was different. AIR 116. The dream was real. And the first thing he did? He dedicated the success to three people — his parents, his sister Shivani, and his friend Harshvardhan.

A MESSAGE THAT GOES BEYOND RANK

Today, Shubham Shukla works as an Assistant Director at the Sports Authority of India. But very soon, he’ll step into a new role as an IAS officer.

There will be a nameplate outside his office. There will be files to clear, villages to visit, policies to implement. But behind it all will always be the story of a boy from Rewa who chose to keep going even when the world around him paused.

His success isn’t just about cracking an exam. It’s about carrying someone’s legacy forward — quietly, powerfully.

NOT JUST A RESULT, BUT A PROMISE

For Shubham, the journey wasn’t just about becoming an IAS officer. It was about proving that even in the face of unimaginable loss, you can still rise.

In his own words to a friend after the results were announced, he said softly:
“Harsh would’ve been proud. This one’s for him.”

And that says it all.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Mohan Yadav Indore Chhath Mahotsav
MP: CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Participates in Indore Chhath Mahotsav, Honors Devoted Mothers and Sisters
CM Mohan Yadav Indore sewerage project
MP: CM Mohan Yadav Lays Foundation for ₹30 Crore Sewerage Project in Indore, Boosts Inclusive Development
Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited AVNL 1
Leadership Updates: Salve Sandeep Recommended as Director (HR) of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited by PESB
Reserve-Bank-of-India_RBI_resized
RBI Deputy Governor Highlights MSMEs as Key Drivers of India’s Economic Growth, Calls for Strengthened Credit Support
Crude oil
India Boosts US Crude Oil Imports to Highest Since 2022, Steering Energy Strategy Beyond Russia
Coal-Production-resized
Govt Releases Draft Guidelines for Underground Coal Gasification to Ensure Sustainable and Safe Energy Extraction
Indian Oil Chairman
US Sanctions on Rosneft, Lukoil Prompt Indian Refiners to Rethink Russian Oil Purchases, Indian Oil Pledges Full Compliance With Global Sanctions
lVigilance+Awareness+Week+2025
BPCL Inaugurates Vigilance Awareness Week 2025, Reinforces Commitment to Integrity and Ethical Governance
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CM Mohan Yadav Indore Chhath Mahotsav
MP: CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Participates in Indore Chhath Mahotsav, Honors Devoted Mothers and Sisters
CM Mohan Yadav Indore sewerage project
MP: CM Mohan Yadav Lays Foundation for ₹30 Crore Sewerage Project in Indore, Boosts Inclusive Development
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT