All it took for Mr. Shreyans Kumat to get into IIT and then IAS is just one attempt. He cleared both the qualifying exams in the very first attempt, and that too with flying colours, securing top ranks. An alumnus of IIT Bombay, Mr. Kumat got AIR 4 in UPSC CSE 2018. He was allotted IAS and Madhya Pradesh cadre and is currently serving as SDO (Revenue) in Saunsar, Chhindwara.
Indian Masterminds brings to you the success story of the brilliant boy from Rajasthan who cleared IIT and UPSC CSE in his first attempt securing top all-India ranks.
WHAT INFLUENCED HIM TO JOIN CIVIL SERVICES
It’s not easy to clear any UPSC exam. And when it comes to CSE, it’s all the more difficult. It requires great focus, motivation and dedication till the end. The journey from preparation to clearing the interview is full of ups and downs for all aspirants. With each passing day and attempt, pressure only builds up giving rise to a lot of self-doubts.
While the journey is tougher for those who takes multiple attempts at the exam, it is not as smooth sailing as it looks for those who clear it in their first attempt. Mr. Kumat, who hails from Kishangarh, Rajasthan, is a good example of how a difficult journey can be made to look easy with the right focus and proper preparation.
He was a bright student from his childhood. After completing his B.tech (Mechanical) from IIT Bombay, he got a high paying job. He was already leading a well-settled life with a great future. While travelling a lot for work, he came in touch with various government officials. The interactions with them aroused his interests in civil services. Also, his grandfather’s brother was a retired IAS officer. And, so, his grandfather always wished that his grandson should become an IAS officer one day. However, he never put any kind of pressure on young Shreyans.
In an interview to a media organization, Mr. Kumat had said, “During the second year of my job, I started exploring options about what to do next. That was the first time when I considered civil service as an option. I talked to my grandfather’s brother and asked about his experiences. He told me that there is less money but no other job in this country offers this kind of satisfaction. And since money is not the only thing required to lead a meaningful life, so I should consider it. His words remained in my mind.”
HOW HE PREPARED FOR THE BIG DAYS
Mr. Kumat said that there is no secret behind his success in the very first attempt. He gave his attempt when he was fully prepared and focused. He believes that was it! Sharing some tips from his preparation strategy, he said, “The first thing I did was limit my resources for the prelims. This allowed me to revise multiple times. I also gave importance to previous years question papers and considered them as a holy grail”. He also mentioned that experiences gained during the preparation period matter a lot during the exam. “For the interview, you should focus on presenting yourself in the best possible way. See, you are definitely going to be asked why you want to come into civil services. This seems a common question, but, sometimes, it becomes the deciding factor. First, you need to be convinced about why you want to enter it and then you need to reflect the same in front of the interviewer. The interview can make you nervous, but you need to keep your calm. I told myself that it is just like talking to my grandfather and handled it in the same way. Other aspirants can also try this.”
