Better late than never – this popular saying sits perfectly on Apurv Singh, a topper of UPSC IFS -2022. He secured AIR 21 in the exam and is all set for the training. However, this service was not his priority until lately!
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Singh, who is BDO, West Champaran, Bihar, said that he was misinformed about the scope of the forest service and, hence, he didn’t give his 100% to this exam earlier. It’s a mistake he does not want anybody else to make, because although he made it in his final attempt, not everybody might be this lucky.
SUCCESS IN FINAL ATTEMPT
After finishing Integrated M. Tech ( B. Tech and M. Tech combined ) in Geological Technology from IIT Roorkee in 2015, Mr. Singh started focusing on civil services. He was sure that civil services is the career for him because earning “too much money” was never a priority for him. He just wanted to feel satisfied with the work he does. So, he first gave an attempt in 2015, then in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2021. But, couldn’t clear any of these exams. UPSC CSE 2022 and UPSC IFS 2022 were his final chance to make his dream come true.
In all the previous attempts, even after clearing prelims of IFS , he never attempted all the subjects in mains for the forest services exam. Recalling the reason, he said, “When I was in the early stage of my preparation, somebody told me ‘jungle me mor nacha kisne dekha’. I was not aware of this service at all and I was told that it doesn’t have much scope. This misinformation kept me from appearing for the Mains with total enthusiasm. Besides, the gap between civil and forest services’ Mains is just 1-2 months. So, I could not prepare the two Optionals for the forest exam.”
That’s the reason that in few attempts, he just gave Mains for Essay, or GS, or English. In UPSC 2019, for the first time, he attempted all the papers of forest service exam and reached till the interview stage. Then in 2021, he skipped the exam of IFS and only focused on CSE. Finally, in 2022, he gave his 100% to both the exams and missed CSE by 25 marks, but secured AIR 21 in the IFS.
NATURE DID NOT COME SO NATURALLY
Having roots in Vaishali, Bihar, Mr. Singh spent most of his growing years in Ranchi, Jharkhand, due to his father’s job. The state is known for its rich tribal culture and dense forests. He said, “Love for nature should have come to me naturally. Unconsciously, it was always there, but it became a passion very late in my life, only after I was exposed fully to this service.”
Topper of BPSC 2021, Mr. Singh said that reading about the work of IFS officers inspired him. Slowly, he got to know all the facets of this service and is now fully ready to join IFS. Even though he is working as BDO and have a chance to get promoted to DDC ( district development commissioner), if he continues he will quit. Explaining the reason, he said, “I am hopeful that as an IFS officer I will get opportunity to take initiatives on my own. The job has a possibility of diversification and it will allow me to be the voice of the unvoiced (flora and fauna) and the less voiced (tribals).”
HANDWRITING BECAME HINDRANCE
The journey was really tough for him. Even after clearing Prelims, he wasn’t getting any any further. However, it didn’t break him. He always believed that he can crack the exam. The only problem was his handwriting. “When I used to see the answer sheets of toppers, it gave me confidence. I was writing the same way, in terms of content and structuring, but it was not transforming into actual marks. I felt one of the reasons was my handwriting. It is borderline illegible,” he said.,
He worked on it and even tried different pens available in the market. This may not seem like a problem to others, but, for him, it was an issue. Also, he had changed his optional from Geography to Geology before his UPSC 2021 attempt. He continued with this optional for forest services in addition with Forestry.
VISION AS IFS OFFICER
Being in IFS has been his dream lately and he has planned many things for his upcoming journey. Sharing few with us, he said he wants to work towards some sustainable and lasting changes that may continue to positively affect lives even after his tenure of a post ends. Also, he has a plan to beautify the government offices which will send positive vibes to every visitor. He is also planning to work inclusively with his team and be there for them every time so that they go extra miles for him. He also wants to work towards establishing a system of mentoring tribal youth, so that they may be able to realise their potential
MESSAGE FOR ASPIRANTS
The only advice he wants to give to all aspirants is to have a back-up plan ready after multiple attempts. According to him, after a point, it’s not the time for preparation that matters, it’s the approach that helps in clearing the exam.
