https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Having Fought Insurgents Once, He Is An IAS Now

After two decades in the Indian Army, IAS Amol Awate joined civil services last year. The former Lt. Col while serving in UN peacekeeping forces came under heavy attack. Having served in anti-insurgency ops in J&K, Meghalaya, Assam, he has a unique understanding and skillset .
Indian Masterminds Stories

The journey of Former Lt. Col Amol Awate, who served 20 years in the Indian Army before cracking the UPSC CSE with an AIR-678 in his only attempt in 2021 is awe-inspiring. Born and brought up in Maharashtra, Mr. Awate always wanted to serve his country.

Having joined the Rashtriya Rifles in 2008, he was part of the counter-insurgency operations in J&K besides the Northeastern states. The Army Veteran, who joined the Civil Services at the age of 41, is a complete team player and believes in “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”

In this second part of his interaction with Indian Masterminds, we come to know some of the key battles he fought before joining IAS.

EMBRACING CHALLENGES

Mr. Awate’s journey as an army officer was fraught with challenges. He says every position has a distinct flavour, especially in its first few years. What the armed forces do is train you to enjoy your challenges, he explained.

“The job can be emotionally draining at times. It isn’t easy to stay away from family. It is a physically demanding job, but it also is enjoyable. I relished every obstacle that came my way and savoured every moment,” the veteran officer recalls.

INVOLVEMENT IN OPERATIONS

In a twist of events, Mr. Awate was also injured during one of his key operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Now fully healed, he is eager to begin his new career as an IAS officer.

Aside from the Congo operation, he was also involved in counter-insurgency operations in Assam and Meghalaya and spent over a decade working along the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan and Punjab. His life, he says, has been very interesting, and he truly loved his time in the army.

WINNING LBSNAA POLO

As he prepares for his stint as a civil servant, he continues to gather accolades along the way. Recently, LBSNAA introduced Polo in the academy curriculum. Last played at the institution under the British administration, the Polo tournament was held on April 8th this year. 

In the inaugural match, the LBSNAA team won the trophy after defeating IMA Dehradun, and Mr. Awate’s horse won the tournament’s Best Polo Pony title. His training with army horses came handy in winning the trophy.

As he continues to serve as an inspiration to many his journey from a military man to an IAS officer demonstrates that everything is attainable with hard work, devotion, and a sense of purpose.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
Bihar: 12 IPS Officers Transferred in Major Reshuffle, Vaibhav Sharma Made SP, Research Control, CID, Patna
Mohan Yadav
CM Mohan Yadav Inaugurates “Building Cities of Tomorrow” Exhibition at MP Growth Conclave 2025
Mohan-Yadav-resized-1
MP CM Mohan Yadav: Under PM Modi’s Vision, MP Working to Secure a Golden Future for Children
MP Growth Conclave 2025
MP Growth Conclave 2025: Rs30,000 Cr Investment Proposals & Urban Push in Indore, CM Yadav Vows Real Estate & Infra Boom
TAX
India’s Direct Tax Collection for FY 2025-26 Reaches ₹6.64 Lakh Crore
hindustan aeronautics limited - HAL
HAL Declares Rs15 Final Dividend for FY25, Total Payout Reaches Record Rs40/Share; Shareholders Must Submit Tax Declarations by Aug 21
Numaligarh Refinery
Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) Wins ‘Efficient Refinery of the Year’ at GRPC 2025
Railtel
RailTel Gets Rs10.27 Cr Work Order from Indian Overseas Bank, Execution by Aug 7
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Ravi Kapoor
Why Ex-IRS Officer Ravi Kapoor Walked Away from Power
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-07 at 3.15
The Martial Artist IRS Officer Who Conquered North East India on a Cycle
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
IRS Sanjay Bahadur: The Officer With a Pen That Bites | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sushmitha and Ishwarya Ramanathan
Their Home Was Washed Away — Sushmitha & Ishwarya Built a Legacy Instead
Sushmitha and Ishwarya lost their home to the 2004 tsunami. But with books, belief, and each other, they...
IAS SHWETA BHARTI Bihar
From Wipro to Civil Services: How Bihar's IAS Shweta Bharti Juggled a BPSC Job While Preparing for UPSC
IAS Shweta Bharti, from rural Bihar, balanced a full-time job and UPSC prep with discipline, cracked...
IPS Deepak Meghani
Deepak Meghani, IPS: A Journey of Focus, Failure, and Quiet Discipline
A passionate writer, he has authored several books in Gujarati, ranging from exam strategy guides to...
Social Media
G S Roshni
Kerala’s Fearless Forest Officer G.S. Roshni Rescues 16-Foot King Cobra with Bare Hands, Garners Praise & Critique
Beat Forest Officer G.S. Roshni’s first-ever king cobra rescue goes viral, earning her the title of ‘Green...
Kaziranga Baby Elephant
Chotu the Baby Elephant Reunited with Mother in Kaziranga: Retired IFS Officer’s Post Goes Viral
A baby elephant's emotional reunion with its mother in Kaziranga, shared by retired IFS officer Susanta...
PV Sindhu
PV Sindhu’s Visit to NADT Turns into a Wholesome Tribute to Legacy—and ‘Moolchandj
The Olympic champion shared nostalgic memories, met aspiring IRS officers, and sparked viral laughter...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
Bihar: 12 IPS Officers Transferred in Major Reshuffle, Vaibhav Sharma Made SP, Research Control, CID, Patna
Mohan Yadav
CM Mohan Yadav Inaugurates “Building Cities of Tomorrow” Exhibition at MP Growth Conclave 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Ravi Kapoor
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-07 at 3.15
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT