https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A Rare Distinction: Clearing Civil Services And Forest Services Simultaneously 

Indian Masterminds Stories

UPSC conducts exam for civil services and cracking it gives you the opportunity to be in services like IAS, IPS, IRS, Indian Foreign Services and others. For getting into Indian Forest Services also one has to clear the UPSC’s exam, in which the preliminary round is common with civil services but the Mains and Interview round is different. So, it becomes difficult for an aspirant to even attempt both as they have to take two different optional subjects for forest services. 

However, this young man from Aurangabad (Bihar) made this difficult possible for him and cracked both  Civil Services and Forest Services this year.  Mr. Ankit Sinha secured AIR 472 in Civil Services and AIR 43 in the Forest Services exam. 

In a conversation with Indian Masterminds, he spoke about his journey and why he is choosing forest services over civil services. 

THE URGE OF WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE

Mr. Sinha comes from a humble background and was following the same path like everybody else. After finishing 12th from his hometown Aurangabad, he went to NIT Jamshedpur for pursuing B.tech. Talking about it he says, “If you are a good student from Bihar then you have majorly two options, either go for medical or engineering. I was good in Maths so I chose the later. After spending one year  in college, I realized I wasn’t suited for it. However, given the circumstances I had to finish my studies and get a job to sustain myself.”

Till then, he had not given any thought about trying for civil services. For improving his communication skills, he started to read newspapers and magazine and that is when he realized that everything is not right with us and he felt an urge to work for people’s welfare. Reading world and national affairs evolved him as a person.  Remembering those days he said, “First time, I read about the Global Hunger Index and how India stands too low in the list even though we have 10% of the global agricultural land. These issues disturbed me and I began to ask myself how can I contribute to make it better. Besides this, my college was also around a rich vegetation area and lots of tribal villages were around it. I got the chance to volunteer for an NGO named Sankalp run by a college alumni. I got the opportunity to observe their lifestyle and decided to work towards it.”

He had two choices, NGO or civil services. He chose civil services thinking that it will allow him to make greater impact. 

TOOK FIVE ATTEMPTS

Meanwhile, he completed B. Tech. and came to Gurgaon for a job. He decided to take up a job so as to sustain himself while preparing for UPSC. In his first attempt, while managing the job, he couldn’t get through Pre but it gave him confidence that with focused preparation he can make it. After doing the job for 18 months, he quit and dedicated himself for the preparation. The second attempt also didn’t bring any luck but in in 2019 he got first opportunity to write Mains. Again in 2020 he couldn’t clear Pre but in 2021 he made it to the final list. 

CHOOSING A SUBJECT OF HUMANITY AS OPTIONAL

Mr. Sinha says even though he could have taken engineering subjects as optional but he chose Economics instead. “ I really wanted to know why we are still a developing nation while the other nation who were at the same point as us during 50s are way ahead. Economics gave me the opportunity to understand the situation better and be prepared to do things when I enter the services”, he added.

He hails from Aurangabad, Bihar

WHY FOREST SERVICES?

Initially when Mr. Sinha started preparation for civil services, he was not much aware about what Indian Forest Services offiers and how it works. Eventually, he explored and came to know about it. In 2019 also he was qualified for giving the Mains for it but he couldn’t due to lack of preparation. This time he had decided that he will give his best. Even though there was two months gap between both the Mains, he did it. It was difficult to prepare both optionals, Geology and Forestry in the given time but with targeted studies he made in the final list of both the exams. 

When asked about what is he going to choose he said, “I am definitely going for Forest services. I don’t which service will be assigned to me in civil services still IFS is a better choice for me. Here, I am going to work for tribals and rural areas which are depended on forest for their day-to-day life. It allows me the opportunity to work in the area which initially pushed me towards civil services. Besides this, all the work done by forest department (Conservation of natural resources, forest and wildlife) takes future generation and sustainable development in its account. No, other services could offer it”. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
psuwatch_import_wp-content_uploads_2022_02_RBI-recruitment-2019
Minors Above 10 Can Now Open and Operate Bank Accounts Independently: RBI
Inter caste marriage promotion scheme
Inter-Caste Marriage Promotion Scheme: Financial Aid of Rs 2.5 Lakh Granted to Two Couples
KVIC Khadi and Village Industries
Khadi and Village Industries Achieve Historic Growth, Sales Cross ₹1.70 Lakh Crore in 2024-25
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
ED Uncovers Fresh Evidence in Peyjal Scam: IAS Manish Ranjan Under Scanner Again
UPPSC_UPPCS_resized
UP-PSC 2024: Record Number of Posts Reserved for Women in UP PCS Exam, 181 Out of 947 Vacancies Allocated
ONGC
IRTS Officer Ranjan Prakash Thakur's Tenure as CVO of ONGC Extended Until 2026
UPSC Image IAS IPS IFS
UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024: Final Results Expected Soon; 1056 Vacancies at Stake - How to Check
tv-somanathan
Is India’s Bureaucracy Future-Ready? Cabinet Secy T.V. Somanathan Calls Reform Inevitable
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
UPSC Stories
images (14)
Utsav Anand, the UPSC Topper Who Chose Public Service Over a Plush Career
From IIT Bombay to the 2022 IAS batch (Haryana cadre), Utsav Anand’s journey is proof that sharp minds...
pushplata-yadav-ias
How IAS Pushp Lata’s Strategy and Spirit Took Her to AIR 80
From rural Haryana to IAS, Pushp Lata Yadav’s journey reflects focused planning, adaptation, and the...
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
IRS officer Padmapani Bora's 16-year career transcends typical bureaucracy. Discover his surprising journey...
Social Media
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
psuwatch_import_wp-content_uploads_2022_02_RBI-recruitment-2019
Minors Above 10 Can Now Open and Operate Bank Accounts Independently: RBI
Inter caste marriage promotion scheme
Inter-Caste Marriage Promotion Scheme: Financial Aid of Rs 2.5 Lakh Granted to Two Couples
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT