Nothing could stop this Madhya Pradesh police officer from clearing the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination this year. It was his final attempt and he was absolutely determined to crack it. Holding the dream of becoming an IFS officer close to his heart, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ajay Gupta, made his way through his extremely busy work schedule to clear the exam with All India Rank 5 in his final attempt.
Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Gupta shared what inspired him to choose IFS as a career.
BACKGROUND
Born and brought up in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Gupta completed his engineering degree from SGSITS College in Indore. Afterwards, he worked for three years as a Software Engineer in HP, Bangalore. However, his passion for public service led him to embark on a journey to pursue civil services. In 2018, he was selected as DSP in the Madhya Pradesh State Services, a position he has been dedicatedly and responsibly handling since then. Also, recently, when the MPPSC exam 2022 results were declared, Mr. Gupta emerged as the topper with Rank 1.
WHY IFS?
But, despite topping in the state service exam that guaranteed him a post of his choice, Mr. Gupta was still more keen on joining the IFS. Reflecting on his decision to pursue a career in the Indian Forest Service, he shared that his experiences as a DSP exposed him to the shortcomings of the legal justice system in delivering complete socio-economic justice to marginalized communities. “I observed the immense potential of the forest department in addressing these gaps, that’s when I developed a strong desire to contribute to the upliftment of people at the grassroot level,” he said.
His motivation received a further boost after a joint raid conducted by his police team and the excise department in a village known for illegal Mahua liquor production. While the raid resulted in the destruction of a considerable amount of liquor, he couldn’t help but contemplate the adverse impact on the livelihoods of the poor tribal people who were not mafias. This ethical dilemma marked a turning point in his life, spurring him to explore the potential of the forest department in promoting sustainable livelihoods and socio-economic development of the tribal people.
“I talked to many forest officials after the raid and realized that they are already doing many programmes, like using Mahua to boost the tribal people’s livelihoods through the making of Mahua oil,” he said.
PREPARATION STRATEGY
Recognizing the rigorous nature of the Prelims, he solved numerous test papers, delved into fundamental books, and meticulously studied the question patterns of previous years. Online resources, particularly YouTube videos, proved invaluable in his Prelims preparation, providing additional insights.
Mr. Gupta opted for Agricultural Engineering and Forestry as his optional subjects for the Mains examination. He found General Knowledge and English relatively manageable, and drew inspiration from the notes of previous years’ toppers to excel in Agricultural Engineering.
To fine-tune his interview skills, he engaged in comprehensive preparation, seeking guidance from colleagues, senior officers within his department, and even IFS officers. By participating in multiple mock interviews, he gained invaluable experience and honed his ability to navigate challenging questions.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
On the kind of questions put to him by the panelists, he shared that in one of his answers, he mentioned about Halma, a traditional practice in the tribal villages of Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh. It’s a practice where the tribal communities come together to solve a particular problem faced by another member of the community with an exchange of favours. “So, the panelist asked me, how do I see the Halma practice in IT department,” he further shared.
Apart from this, he was also asked about application of blockchain in forestry, application of IT in policing, and how to balance tribal development and preservation of tribal culture.
“I had the motivation and inspiration to join the forest service, no matter how much busy my schedule was! With whatever time I could get on my hands, I utilized it for preparation,” he said in conclusion.
