https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

From Struggling Student to Esteemed IPS Officer: Anil Kumar Rai’s Remarkable Journey

Anil Kumar Rai’s journey from barely passing class 10th to becoming an IPS officer and receiving the President's Police Medal twice is a testament to perseverance and hard work.
Anil Kumar Rai
Indian Masterminds Stories

He was a film enthusiast who showed little interest in studying, often planning to watch the first day first show of new movies rather than hitting the books. Despite barely passing class 10th with a third division, and facing disbelief from his family and relatives, he proved everyone wrong. Through hard work and the unwavering support of his father, he not only became a gold medalist at Allahabad University but also rose to the esteemed rank of IPS officer, receiving the President’s Police Medal twice. This is the inspiring journey of IPS officer Mr. Anil Kumar Rai, who served as the Inspector General of Basti Range, Uttar Pradesh, and as DIG, PAC in the state.

Mr. Rai, now retired, serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, showing that success can be achieved one step at a time. In a conversation with Indian Masterminds, the 2002 batch IPS officer shared his journey. He said, “If you compete with others, you will lose hope and confidence, but if you compete with yourself, no one can stop you from moving forward. I have always believed that diligence is more important than intelligence for achieving success. Just as the sun gradually rises in the sky, anyone capable of hard work will rise from the ground.”

ROLE OF FATHER 

Mr. Rai comes from a humble background and was raised in a joint family. He attended a government school where students had to bring sacks to sit on and clean their own classrooms. He finished class 8th at a Junior High School. When he reached class 9th, his father left the village for work, leaving no one to guide him. As a result, he barely passed class 10th.

In intermediate, he went to stay with his father, who motivated him to study again. He managed to pass class 12th with a second division. Though his marks weren’t great and his family didn’t support further studies, his father believed in him. He encouraged Mr. Rai to take the entrance exam for Allahabad University, and Mr. Rai got in.

Mr. Rai receiving the medal

Despite his family’s protests, his father took him to the university. Mr. Rai recalls, “My father came to drop me off. He was emotional and told me to honor his decision and study hard. He also advised me to move slowly but surely toward the top. These words stayed with me, and I never looked back.”

Mr. Rai graduated with 71% and topped the university in his post-graduation. These achievements strengthened his self-belief, making him realize that with effort, he could achieve anything.

DENIED SCHOLARSHIP 

After completing his post-graduation, Mr. Rai wanted to pursue a PhD. He had a subject and topic in mind, but his family couldn’t support him for another three or four years. So, he applied for a UGC scholarship and secured the first position in the exam. However, he couldn’t get the scholarship because he had a third division in class 10th. “I didn’t believe in this rule. I thought they denied me because I came from a weak family, while the boy who got second place received the scholarship,” said Mr. Rai. This experience sparked his interest in civil services, and he decided to take the PPS exam.

He was selected as a DSP and aimed to pursue UPSC CSE. However, fate had other plans. His father passed away, leaving no financial support for the family. Mr. Rai joined as a DSP and took on the responsibility of supporting his family. Even though he didn’t appear for UPSC CSE, his exemplary work as a PPS officer led to his induction into the IPS in 2002.

JOURNEY AS POLICE OFFICER 

Mr. Rai served as a police officer for 35 years, a career that significantly shaped his personality. He believes there’s no profession like the police for connecting with the public and providing immediate relief. Each law and order situation is unique, making the job challenging but also enriching. “Now that I am retired, I am satisfied with the journey. I don’t regret not appearing for UPSC. I am happy that the government chose me as an IPS officer and allowed me to serve for more than a decade,” he concluded.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Set to Promote Two IPS Officers to Director General of Police
Complaint
Complaint Filed Against Senior IPS Officer for Sending Inappropriate Messages
Jammu and Kashmir Government
Three IAS Officers Assigned New Postings in J&K; Check Names Here
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
Senior IAS Officer Rajendra Ratnoo Opts for Voluntary Retirement
SEBI
SEBI Appoints 3 New Executive Directors: Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey & Sanjay Purao Take Charge
Lateral_entry_resized
No Reservation in Lateral Govt Job Entries, Centre Tells Rajya Sabha Citing Single-Post Rule
DelhiPolice
Top-Level Shake-Up in Delhi Police: 3 IPS Officers Reassigned Amid Security Concerns; Chahal Named DG, Civil Defence
mp
MP’s ₹3 Lakh Crore Infrastructure Boom: 255 km Greenfield Highway, ₹5,500 Cr Tiger Corridor Among Key Road Projects
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
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
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...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Puducherry
Scientific, Strategic, and Sustainable: How Dr Arulrajan is Transforming Puducherry’s Ecology
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Set to Promote Two IPS Officers to Director General of Police
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT