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
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
SBK Singh IPS CP
Delhi Police Commissioner S B K Singh Bans Aerial Platforms from August 2 to 16 for Security Reasons
IPS-logo-resized_new
10 Senior Cops Get New Roles In Bihar Police; DG Jitendra Kumar Gets Additional Charge of B-SAP
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
Jharkhand IFS Rajneesh Kumar Transferred Amid Ongoing Legal Proceedings - Details Inside
Uttar Pradesh UP Government
17 Review Officers Transferred in Uttar Pradesh Secretariat Administration Reshuffle - Details Inside
IFS-forest-resized
6 IFS Officers Transferred in Odisha to Strengthen Environmental Administration, Jagayandatt Pati Made RCCF, Koraput Circle
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
4 Young IAS Officers Reshuffled in Uttarakhand, Rahul Anand Made Joint Magistrate, Dehradun
Odisha Government
Odisha Elevates Two Promising IFS Officers to Senior Time Scale, Strengthening Forest Leadership - Know More About Them
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
SBK Singh IPS CP
Delhi Police Commissioner S B K Singh Bans Aerial Platforms from August 2 to 16 for Security Reasons
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT