https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

IPS Mahesh Bhagwat’s Personal Touch in UPSC Prep Catapulted Devanand Telgote From ICU To Acing IFS Exam – Know the Story

Mr. Mahesh M. Bhagwat (1995-batch IPS officer) is presently Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Telangana
Indian Masterminds Stories

In the midst of the deadly second wave of COVID-19 in April 2021, civil services aspirant Mr. Devanand Telgote found himself fighting for his life. While preparing for the UPSC Civil Services interview in Delhi, the worsening pandemic forced the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to postpone the schedule. Mr. Devanand returned to his hometown, Akola in Maharashtra, where he contracted the virus.

Also Read: Delhi University’s SOL Launches Free Civil Services Preparation Program in Collaboration with Samkalp NGO – Know More Details

What began as a moderate case escalated quickly. His chest severity score, initially manageable at 10, shot up to 20 — signifying nearly 80% lung damage. His condition deteriorated despite multiple negative RT-PCR results and the worsening lung involvement pushed him onto a ventilator.

At this critical moment, Mr. Mahesh M. Bhagwat (1995-batch IPS officer), Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Telangana, intervened. A strong advocate for mentoring aspirants, Mr. Bhagwat arranged an emergency airlift to KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad, where Mr. Devanand remained in the ICU for four months, requiring ECMO support twice.

Despite the prolonged and near-fatal ordeal, Mr. Devanand bounced back. He resumed preparation, cleared the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Mains, and secured an All India Rank (AIR) 112 in his first interview attempt. Throughout his recovery and preparation, Mr. Bhagwat maintained regular contact, motivating him to stay focused.

“He would call regularly and ask, ‘Are you preparing? How is your health?’ His support was unwavering,” Mr. Devanand said.

A Mentorship Programme That Changes Lives

Mr. Bhagwat’s commitment extends beyond individual gestures. He runs a mentorship initiative for Civil Services, Indian Forest Service (IFS), and CAPF aspirants. The programme functions primarily through WhatsApp groups and personal calls, with one-on-one attention as its cornerstone.

“Each candidate gets personal attention. I speak to each one of them for at least 45 minutes to an hour,” said Mr. Bhagwat.

His efforts have yielded remarkable results. In the latest Civil Services results:

  • 220 out of 1,009 selected candidates were mentored by Mr. Bhagwat
  • Over 80 of 143 selected candidates in the IFS were part of his mentorship circle

Notable success stories include Mr. Chadha Nikhil Reddy (AIR 11, CSE) from Nalgonda, and Mr. Cheruku Avinash Reddy (AIR 40, CSE) from Karimnagar.

Toppers Credit Mentorship for Their Success

Ms. Kanika Anabh, who secured AIR 1 in the Indian Forest Service Examination, attributes her success to both persistence and mentorship. Starting her preparation in 2021, she initially struggled to qualify in both Civil Services and Forest Services attempts. On her third attempt, she finally cracked both prelims and mains for both exams. Though she missed the Civil Services final list, she topped the IFS.

“I was introduced to Mr. Bhagwat’s programme by a friend. He would do one-on-one sessions with each of us. That kind of attention made a big difference,” she said.

Ms. Kanika emphasized the overlapping nature of the Civil and Forest Services prelims, which allowed her to prepare efficiently. Her journey reflects the structured guidance that Mr. Bhagwat’s mentorship provided.

A Beacon for Aspirants

Through his tireless efforts, Mr. Mahesh M. Bhagwat has become a guiding force for hundreds of aspirants across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and beyond. His mentorship is more than academic — it’s deeply personal, grounded in empathy, and driven by a sincere commitment to public service.

Whether it’s airlifting a critically ill aspirant or conducting hour-long strategy sessions, Mr. Bhagwat’s support is reshaping the landscape of civil services preparation in India.

Also Read: Who Is IPS M.A. Saleem, the New DG-IGP of Karnataka? Seasoned Officer to Lead State Police


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
ACC Approves Promotion of 16 IRS (Customs & Indirect Taxes) Officers to Apex Grade of Principal Chief Commissioner/Principal DG
IAS Vishakha Yadav
Meet IAS Vishakha Yadav (UPSC AIR 6): The Engineer-Turned-IAS Officer Who Welcomed PM Modi in Arunachal
Ministry of Coal
Coal PSUs Announce Performance Linked Reward of Rs 1,03,000 for 2.5 Lakh Non-Executive Workers; PLR to Boost Morale and Productivity
BSNL
BSNL to Roll Out 97,500 Indigenous 4G Towers Worth ₹37,000 Crore; PM Modi to Inaugurate in Odisha
OP Singh Mumbai
International Fire Safety Conference 2025: Former DGP O.P. Singh Advocates for Drones and Digital Solutions
Indias Automobile sector auto segment
Big News for Auto Sector: India Tightens CAFE 3 Norms from 2027; Relief for Small Petrol Cars, Boost for EVs & Hybrids
NBCC Holds 65th AGM
NBCC Holds 65th AGM; Reports Record Revenue, Declares Highest-Ever Dividend and Expands Global Presence
IAS Vikas Sheel
Who Is Vikas Sheel? The IAS Officer Recalled from Abroad and Appointed Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh, to Assume Charge on Sept 30
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
From Extinction to Exhilaration: The Untold Story and Future Vision of Project Cheetah | Led by IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma | Eco Warrior Awards 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Abhay Daga IPS UPSC Success Story
IIT Graduate, Microsoft Alum, Actor, to Cracking UPSC CSE: The Story of Abhay Daga
Read the inspiring journey of Abhay Daga, an IIT graduate, Microsoft alum, and actor, who cleared UPSC...
Rishav Awasthi MPPSC Risabh Awasthi MPPCS
Family’s Dream, His Determination: How Small-Town Dreamer Rishav Awasthi Conquered MPPSC 2024 with Rank 2 | Exclusive
After two failed attempts, Rishav Awasthi secured Rank 2 in MPPSC 2024, driven by family support, self-study,...
Harshita Dave MPPSC 2024
The Girl Who Turned Dreams Into a Deputy Collector Post at 22: Meet MPPSC 2024 Women Topper Harshita Dave
At just 22, Harshita Dave topped MPPSC 2024, becoming the women topper and securing Rank 5. Her journey...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
ACC Approves Promotion of 16 IRS (Customs & Indirect Taxes) Officers to Apex Grade of Principal Chief Commissioner/Principal DG
IAS Vishakha Yadav
Meet IAS Vishakha Yadav (UPSC AIR 6): The Engineer-Turned-IAS Officer Who Welcomed PM Modi in Arunachal
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT