https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Rejections Due to Physical Disability Motivated this Wheelchair-Bound Scientist to Clear UPSC CSE 2021

Kartik Kansal from Uttarakhand cleared UPSC CSE in third attempt by securing AIR 271.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Life took a different turn when Kartik Kansal was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the early age of 8, which made him wheelchair-bound after he turned 14. The disease was genetic and there was nothing he could do about it. He even faced a lot of rejections in life due to his physical condition. This became the main reason in Kartik’s life to appear for the UPSC civil services exam and become an administrator so that he can change perspectives and help people with similar disabilities.

Speaking exclusively to Indian Masterminds, Kartik Kansal spoke about the struggles he faced on his way to UPSC success.

EARLY EDUCATION AND STRUGGLE

Kartik belongs to a small town in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand called Roorkee. Born and brought up there, he completed his schooling from St Gabriel’s Academy. He was from a science background and wanted to pursue engineering at a good college. He appeared for the IIT JEE exam straight after schooling and cracked the prestigious IIT Roorkee. He pursued Mechanical Engineering for his graduation and completed it in the year 2018.

While speaking to Indian Masterminds, Kartik said, “After graduation, as every student wants job placement, I appeared for the Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam along with other exams like GATE, etc. However, after filling out the forms, I later found out that because of my disability, I wasn’t eligible for the posts. People with disabilities were eligible but as both my legs did not work, I wasn’t eligible.”

He even went for various PSU interviews but was rejected due to the same physical condition. As he was exploring other options, Kartik cleared the ICRB and IOCL exams at the same time. He chose to get into the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2018 and started working at the Spaceport of India, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. He even cleared the UPSC exam while working here.

UPSC MOTIVATION

While speaking about the motivation for the UPSC exam, Kartik said, “While appearing for the engineering services, I felt that such criteria should not have been there. I thought that if I can be a part of policy making and work as an administrator, I could change the mentality of people and help people with similar disabilities get opportunities in such exams. Also, I felt a bit discriminated after performing so well in exams.”

Hence, being a scientist, he thought he could not have done much for people with similar conditions, in comparison to a civil servant and being a part of policy making. He, therefore, started his preparation for CSE while working a 9-5 job at ISRO.

“Since I am a working professional, I had a different strategy from others. During weekdays, as I didn’t get much time, I used to study for two hours before going to the office and after returning, I used to study till 11 pm. I used to get a lot of time during weekends, which I utilised for reading. This is how I maintained consistency during the preparation,” he said.

CLEARING UPSC

Kartik appeared thrice for the civil service examination with Mechanical Engineering as his optional subject. In his first attempt in 2019, he managed to secure AIR 813. Though he was getting a decent post, he wanted to improve his marks and get an administrative post.

He again sat for the exam in 2020 but couldn’t make it to the final list even after appearing for the interview. Finally, in the 2021 exam, he cleared all the stages and secured AIR 271.

His mother, Mamta Gupta, has been his greatest support since childhood. It was because of her strong will that he has been able to achieve his dreams while fighting all odds. He also said that his father LC Gupta, who works in the Revenue Department, and brother Varun Kansal are his pillars of support.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
GST Council
GST Reform 2025: New 5% & 18% Slabs Announced | Essentials Get Relief, Luxury Items Taxed at 40% | What’s Changing from Sept 22?
IPS Deepak Bhargav Rajasthan
Who Is IPS Deepak Bhargav? Rajasthan Gaurav Samman Awarded for Stellar Police Service
Uttarakhand ropeway
Uttarakhand Embarks on New Era of Ropeway Infrastructure: 50 Projects Proposed for Green Transport Revolution
Government of Tripura
Major Bureaucratic Shake-up in Tripura: 14 TCS and One IAS Officer Transferred Across Key Posts; Dwij Goel Appointed OSD to DM, West Tripura
Fake IAS
'Take My Visiting Card, I'm an IAS' - What Happened Next Shocked Lucknow Police
PM mitra Park
PM-Mitra Park in Dhar Attracts Rs 12,508 Cr Investment Proposals; Madhya Pradesh Positioned as Textile Hub
Bihar cabinet
Rajgir Stadium to Host International Cricket; Rs 574 Crore Sanctioned for Sports Complex in Punpun
RCIL RAILTel
RailTel Corporation Secures Rs 14.94 Crore Order from Ministry of Home Affairs for IP-Based CCTV Surveillance
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
GST Council
GST Reform 2025: New 5% & 18% Slabs Announced | Essentials Get Relief, Luxury Items Taxed at 40% | What’s Changing from Sept 22?
IPS Deepak Bhargav Rajasthan
Who Is IPS Deepak Bhargav? Rajasthan Gaurav Samman Awarded for Stellar Police Service
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