Lucknow/Mathura: In an inspiring example of administrative commitment beyond official duty, Pankaj Kumar Verma, PCS (2012 batch), currently serving as ADM (Finance & Revenue) in Mathura, has once again demonstrated how public service can extend into social transformation.
His free coaching initiative Civil Service Margdarshika (CSM), based in Aligarh, has delivered another remarkable result in UPPCS-24, with 16 aspirants successfully clearing the examination under his mentorship.
This latest success adds another major chapter to a journey that has already produced nearly 500 successful candidates in less than a decade, including over 90 UP PCS officers and more than 400 selections across competitive examinations.
Popularly known as “Coaching Wale SDM,” Mr. Verma once told Indian Masterminds, “We have students from Bihar as well. Since 2018, every year we have had at least six aspirants cracking the UPPCS.”
16 Candidates Clear UPPCS 2024 Under Free Coaching Initiative
The 2024 result has brought fresh recognition to the coaching model developed by Pankaj Verma.
Read More: How Aligarh’s ‘Coaching Wale SDM’ Made Officers Of 300+ Aspirants
The officer personally guided aspirants through structured mentoring, strategy building, answer writing support and interview-oriented preparation through CSM, which operates without charging fees.
Officials and former students say the institute has become one of the most trusted grassroots civil services preparation platforms in western Uttar Pradesh.
Civil Service Margdarshika: A Free Coaching Model Built by Officers
The institute was founded in 2016 when Pankaj Verma was posted in Sadar Tehsil Kol of Aligarh.
During his posting, he observed that many talented students lacked:
- Direction
- Mentorship
- Access to quality coaching
- Financial ability to relocate to expensive coaching hubs
Following discussions with fellow officers, the idea of Civil Service Margdarshika (CSM) was born.
The initiative soon became known as a unique administrative experiment where serving officers themselves teach aspirants.
Teachers Include SDMs, BSAs and Deputy SPs
What makes CSM distinct is its teaching model.
The faculty includes serving officers such as:
- SDMs
- BSAs
- Deputy SPs
- Other state officers
This practical exposure helps aspirants understand administration directly from officers working in the field.
Because of this, the institute is often referred to as “UP ka Super 30” by students.
Read Also: UP PCS Result 2024 Declared: Neha Panchal Tops, 6 Women Among Top 10, 932 Candidates Selected
Students Come Not Only From UP, But Also Bihar
Over the years, the coaching centre has attracted aspirants beyond Uttar Pradesh.
According to Pankaj Verma, students from Bihar also regularly join the coaching programme.
He had earlier said in an interview that since 2018, every year at least six students from the institute have cleared UPPCS.
How the Journey Began
Pankaj Verma comes from a farmer’s family in Mitauli Tehsil, Lakhimpur Kheri.
His own background shaped his understanding of the difficulties faced by aspirants with limited means.
He believed civil services could become a tool for wider social reform if talented youth received proper direction.
As he has often said:
Even a commoner can bring social reforms once he or she gets into civil services.
This belief became the foundation of CSM.
The First Batch: 1,200 Applicants, 500 Selected
The coaching formally began in October 2016 after a newspaper advertisement invited applications.
The response was massive:
- Around 1,200 applications received
- 500 students admitted after entrance screening
Two teaching batches were created:
- One batch taught 4 days a week
- Another batch taught 3 days a week
After one month of filtering and regular assessment, the final active batch stood at around 300 students.
No Success in First Year, First Breakthrough in 2018
Despite the enthusiasm, the first year did not produce a UPPCS success.
However, the turning point came in 2018, when a CSM student cleared UPPCS-2017 and was selected as Naib Tehsildar.
That first success became a defining moment.
Following that result, Pankaj Verma and his team refined:
- Teaching strategy
- Test methods
- Interview mentoring
- Subject-specific guidance
This transformed the institute’s long-term performance.
Over 500 Success Stories in Less Than a Decade
Today, Civil Service Margdarshika has achieved:
- Nearly 500 total success stories
- More than 90 UP PCS officers produced
- Over 400 total competitive exam selections
The institute has now emerged as one of the strongest officer-led free coaching experiments in Uttar Pradesh.
Why Pankaj Verma Is Known as ‘Coaching Wale SDM’
Because of his unusual dual role as administrator and mentor, Pankaj Verma earned the popular title:
“Coaching Wale SDM”
The name reflects how deeply his identity became linked with aspirant mentorship.
Even after postings outside Aligarh, he continued supporting the coaching initiative.
A Social Model Beyond Coaching
Pankaj Verma believes each successful candidate creates a ripple effect.
His idea is that every civil servant emerging from modest backgrounds contributes to:
- Better governance
- Social awareness
- Administrative inclusiveness
- Rural upliftment
He describes CSM as a chain reaction of social good.
UPPCS 2024 Adds Another Chapter
The latest 16 selections in UPPCS 2024 show that the model remains strong and relevant even after nearly a decade.
For many aspirants, CSM remains proof that quality civil service guidance can be made accessible without commercial coaching structures.
