Meet Man Who Secured Just 60% In Class 10 But Cleared UPSC With AIR 3- Know All About His Inspiring Story
photoDetails english 2920611 https://zeenews.india.com/photos/education/meet-man-who-secured-just-60-in-class-10-but-cleared-upsc-with-air-3-know-all-about-india-s-one-of-most-inspiring-stories-2920621 Updated:Jun 23, 2025, 02:24 PM IST Who is Junaid Ahmad?
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Junaid Ahmad is a young man from Nagina town in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh, who cracked the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2018 with an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 3. His journey from average student to national topper is an inspiring story of akhs of aspirants across India. His Early Academic Journey
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Junaid was not very good at studies in his childhood, he scored only 60 per cent marks in his class 10th and 12 examination. Then he did his graduation in Bachelors of Technology (BTech) from Sharda University and scored 65 per cent in his graduation as well. Then after graduation, he decided to start preparing for the UPSC examination. UPSC
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The UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of India's most prestigious exams, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. It selects candidates for top government positions like IAS, IPS, IFS, and more. The exam is conducted in three stages, Prelims, Mains, and Interview and tests a candidate's knowledge, personality, and decision-making skills. Four Attempts Of UPSC
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Success just didn't come overnight to him. He got himself enrolled for free UPSC coaching and used to study 8-9 hours and despite all the hard work and dedication, he failed thrice in the UPSC examination and finally cleared it in his fourth attempt. He secured 352 AIR and got an offer from Indian Revenue Service. Becoming An IAS
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Even after becoming IRS, he didn't stop because his dream was to become an IAS officer. So he kept preparing while getting training for his new job and finally in the 2018 UPSC examination, all his hard work paid off when he achieved the AIR 3 in one of the toughest exams of India,UPSC CSE exam. His Strategy To Crack UPSC
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According to a Times Now report, Junaid only sticks to his NCERT books from class 9th for the prelims exam and for mains his advice is to read the newspaper daily and not just read but understand it, understand the issues and solutions. He tailored his strategy to suit his strengths instead of following the crowds. His Family
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Junaid is from Uttar Pradesh and his father, Javed Hussain is a lawyer and his mother, Ayesha Raza is a homemaker. In Spite of failing four times his family never stopped supporting him to fulfil his dream of becoming an IAS officer. Junaid As an Inspiration
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Junaid's story has inspired countless UPSC aspirants across the country. From being an average student to becoming one of India's top-ranked civil servants is a story which many students can relate to and look for. His journey proves that background or past performance is never a limit to what one can achieve. Lesson Learnt
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Junaid is an epitome of hard work, dedication and resilience. His story is an example that just because you couldn't do something as a child doesn't mean you don't have potential and he taught the most important skill of never giving up after a failure.
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Indian Express
2 days ago
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Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on evolution of yoga and Ken-Betwa River Link Project (Week 108)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today's answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at The Ken-Betwa River Link Project represents a significant milestone in India's river interlinking initiatives, aimed at addressing water scarcity in drought-prone regions. Discuss its potential benefits and associated ecological and socio-economic challenges. Discuss the evolution of the term 'yoga' in Indian literature—from the Vedas and Upanishads to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. Introduction — The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction. — It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts. Body — It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content. — The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points. — Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. QUESTION 1: The Ken-Betwa River Link Project represents a significant milestone in India's river interlinking initiatives, aimed at addressing water scarcity in drought-prone regions. Discuss its potential benefits and associated ecological and socio-economic challenges. Note: This is not a model answer. 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NDTV
2 days ago
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Here's What Exactly Helped This Student Crack NEET In The First Attempt
Satyam Singh, a determined student from Varanasi and the son of a retired army officer, has secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 272 in NEET 2025. Speaking to NDTV Education, he shares his success mantras and preparation strategies that helped him crack one of India's toughest entrance exams. Which specialisation are you aiming for, and do you have a particular college in mind? As of now, I haven't finalised any particular specialisation. In terms of college preferences, I am looking at either one of the AIIMS - AIIMS Rishikesh-or IMS BHU. Can you walk us through your NEET preparation strategy? My strategy was centered around setting small, achievable daily and weekly goals. These helped me build consistent momentum toward the larger objective. The structured environment and guidance from my coaching institute were instrumental in maintaining this discipline. Each day, I began by revising the topics covered in class and completing the related practice sheets and assignments. I then reviewed the syllabus for upcoming tests. If time allowed, I also focused on board exam topics and subjects like English. Daily Practice Papers (DPPs), mock tests, recorded lectures, class notes, and performance tracking through the app made my preparation highly efficient. What were the key areas you focused on the most during your preparation? Consistency was my top priority. Staying away from distractions, which can be a major hurdle for students our age, also played a significant role in maintaining focus throughout. On average, how many hours did you study each day? I studied between 8 to 12 hours daily, depending on the day's schedule and intensity. Was this your first attempt at NEET? Yes, NEET 2025 was my first attempt. Which subjects or topics do you think are crucial for scoring well and securing a high rank? All three subjects - Physics, Chemistry, and Biology - are equally important. In order to score a good rank, Physics becomes a deciding factor for the majority of students. However, it may vary from person to person. What would you say to students who couldn't clear NEET this year? This year's paper was one of the toughest, with unpredictable changes in the pattern and difficulty level. Still, many students managed to perform well. It's essential to reflect on what went wrong, identify the gaps, and plan the next steps accordingly. Giving up is never the answer. What advice would you give to students struggling with stress, especially in high-pressure coaching environments? After spending two years in a competitive coaching environment, I've realised that constant comparison is a major stressor. Even if you're improving, comparing yourself with others - whether it's a classmate or topper - can lead to demotivation. Emotional support from family, mentors, or peers is significant. Also, practices like meditation or spirituality can help maintain mental balance. When do you think students should ideally begin preparing for NEET? The ideal time would be from Class 11 onwards. Starting early gives students ample time to understand the syllabus and build a solid foundation. Given the high cost of coaching, do you think NEET is still accessible to students from rural or economically weaker backgrounds? Yes, absolutely. While coaching can be expensive, some platforms like PhysicsWalla have made quality education more affordable. They offer comprehensive online content at minimal cost. Additionally, scholarship exams can help students access offline coaching too.
