18 October 2026
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First a Doctor then a Civil Servant

Nitin Shakya was an average student till he realised that he can change it with a lot of hard work. He was refused to appear for the class 12 board exam by the principal. But, he cleared it with flying colours
Indian Masterminds Stories

The school principal who questioned and refused the admit card of Nitin Shakya when he was in class 12, must have been stunned to hear Nitin’s successful journey of becoming a civil servant. At that time, the principal underestimated the caliber Nitin had and simply refused him to sit for his senior secondary exams due to his average performance in school. However, the questioning and getting refusal to appear for the exam hit Nitin internally, as his mother had to request the principal to let him sit for the examination.

No wonder Nitin worked hard for the exam and not only did he clear it but topped various subjects. That is when he realized that a person can achieve anything if he works hard for it.

MEDICAL FIELD

Soon after completing his schooling and proving his critics wrong, he appeared for the Medical Entrance Exam (PMT) to get into a medical college to pursue further education. He secured a rank and got into the Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi. He completed his MBBS from MAMC and also pursued post-graduation in anesthesia and critical care.

He completed his post-graduation and became a full-blown doctor and even got associated with Lok Nayak Hospital, Guru Nanak Eye Centre, and Sushruta Trauma Centre. With a generous feeling for the people, Nitin started providing free medical services to poor children living in slums. However, he soon realized that only medical services would not help these deprived children. They require education and other basic facilities to change their life.

This is the time when Nitin started exploring other services through which he could become a messiah for such people. According to him, clearing the UPSC exam was the best option, and he started preparing for it. He did not leave practicing in the medical field as UPSC is one of the toughest competitive exams in the country and it’s important to have a backup plan in case things don’t pan out.

CLEARING UPSC CSE

In the very first attempt, Nitin cleared the preliminary and mains stage but was unable to crack the interview and fell short of just 10 marks. He prepared for the exam once again but couldn’t clear it in the second attempt. In his third attempt in 2018, he managed to clear the exam and became a bureaucrat in the year 2019.

Advising other aspirants, he shared with the media, “Civil Services Exam is not merely an intelligence test but the eligibility test for an administrative officer. So, when you write answers for the exam, it’s not enough to show off how much you know about the problem. It is equally important to offer solutions for the given problem.” After the incident he faced in his class 12th, Nitin realized that hard work can take a person to heights and can make them taste success of any kind.


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