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India.com
10-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Meet IAS Sreenath K, worked as coolie, used free railway station Wi-Fi to study, cracked UPSC with AIR..., he is now...
IAS Sreenath K once worked as a coolie at a railway station in Kerala. (File) IAS Sreenath K Success Story: The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is arguably the toughest recruitment test in India, and often requires extensive preparation and dedicated coaching for aspirants to crack the formidable exam. However, there are some who do not even have enough resources to purchase books for self-study, and have to rely on innovative methods to prepare for the UPSC exam. One such heartwarming example of IAS Sreenath K, an IAS officer from Kerala, who once worked as a coolie (porter) at a railway station, and used the free Wi-Fi service at the station to study for UPSC on his mobile phone. Who is IAS Sreenath K? A resident of Munnar in Kerala, Sreenath K came from a poverty-ridden background, and worked as a porter at the Ernakulam railway station, earning a modest Rs 400-500 daily which was barely enough support his family. But despite his adverse financial situation, Sreenath persevered and did not give up on his dreams of becoming an IAS officer. However, the path was arduous as he did not even have enough money to buy the recommended study material for UPSC examination. Yet, the enterprising man devised a way to turn his dire situation into opportunity. How Sreenath K prepared for UPSC CSE? In several interviews post his UPSC success, IAS Sreenath K revealed how he used free Wi-Fi available at the railway station to prepare for UPSC exams on his mobile. Sreenath would toil hard during the day to earn a livelihood, and study for almost the entire night with the help of f YouTube videos, mock tests and free online study material. Sreenath K's hard work and perseverance ultimately bore fruit when he cracked the UPSC CSE in 2018, scoring an impressive 82% in the written part of the CSE, according to reports. While his exact All-India Rank (AIR) is not known, logic dictates that Sreenath K achieved a good rank as he was accorded the prestigious IAS cadre. The heartwarming success story of IAS Sreenath K serves as an inspiration to millions of young aspirants who lack resources to fund their preparation for tough competitive examinations such as the UPSC CSE.
India.com
03-07-2025
- India.com
Meet UPSC topper who used AI for preparation, cracked UPSC CSE twice, became IAS officer with AIR..., name is...
IAS Vibhor Bhardwaj (File) UPSC Success Story: While most aspirants throng coaching center to cover the gigantic syllabus of UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)– one of the toughest recruitment exams in India– a few adopt novel approaches to prepare for the tough recruitment test. One such individual is IAS Vibhor Bhardwaj, a young IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh, who used a completely different approach to prepare for UPSC CSE, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to enhance his subject knowledge and prepare for the final interview. Who is IAS Vibhor Bhardwaj? Born in Uttarawali, a small village in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district, Vibhor Bhardwaj was bright student from his early school days, and earned his MSc degree in Physics from the Hansraj College, Delhi University, and soon began preparations to clear the UPSC CSE and realize his lifelong dream of joining civil services. Vibhor Bhardwaj picked Physics as his optional subject for the UPSC exam, but instead of traditional coaching centers, relied on online classes and self-written notes to prepare for the tough recruitment test. His efficient preparation strategy enabled him to quickly prepare for UPSC CSE prelims, and cover the entire UPSC Mains syllabus within a span of just seven months. In an interview, Bhardwaj revealed how he carefully studied previous UPSC CSE question papers, and used these as a guide to strategize his preparation. He also focused on daily news and current affairs, in addition to regular mock tests, which further sharpened his knowledge. How Vibhor Bhardwaj used AI to crack UPSC? Interestingly, a key part of Vibhor Bhardwaj's UPSC preparation was the use of AI tools like Google's Gemini, which he used for mock interviews. Vibhor revealed that these AI chatbots acted like teachers for him, helping him identify his strengths and weaknesses. The AI mock interviews faced him with a wide-range of questions, which sharpened and strengthened his preparation for the actual interview. IAS Vibhor Bhardwaj AIR Ultimately, Vibhor Bhardwaj's hard work and dedication paid off when he cracked the UPSC CSE in 2022 with an All India Rank of 743. However, this rank could not ensure him an IAS post, so he tried again in 2024; this time jumping 724 ranks to secure AIR 19 and achieve his dreaming of becoming an IAS officer.
India.com
01-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Meet Neha Byadwal, IAS Officer Who Failed In Class 5, Fined For Speaking Hindi, Didn't Use Mobile For 3 Years And Cleared UPSC In 4th Attempt With AIR...
UPSC Success Story: It's a dream for many to clear the Civil Services Exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission and become an IAS officer. The UPSC CSE is one of the world's toughest exams and is taken by lakhs of aspoirants every year. While a few clear it in the first attempt, the majority of the aspirants fail to make the final cut even after exhausting all their attempts. There are lakhs of aspirants who never accept defeat and reach their destination with hard work. One such story is of Neha Byadwal. Who Is Neha Byadwal? Born in Rajasthan and raised in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Neha Byadwal faced her first major setback when she failed in Class 5. Undeterred, she moved to Bhopal with her father, where she joined an English-medium school that fined students for speaking Hindi. Despite the initial language barrier, Neha adapted and learned quickly. Her UPSC Journey Daughter of a senior Income Tax Officer, Neha was inspired to pursue civil services. However, the road was far from easy. She failed the UPSC prelims twice and didn't clear the mains in her third attempt. Determined to succeed, she gave up her phone and immersed herself completely in preparation. On her fourth attempt, Neha cleared the exam with an All India Rank (AIR) of 569, scoring 960 marks. Now 25, she serves as an IAS officer in Gujarat. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, marked by studying 17–18 hours a day and living without a phone for three years. Story Of Preservance Neha Byadwal's story reflects extraordinary dedication and resilience. She failed in Class 5 and then faced multiple setbacks in UPSC—two failed prelims and one failed mains. But she never gave up, showing mental strength and grit. With her routine 17–18 hours of study every day and completely shunning her mobile phone for three years, she showed that nothing is impossible.
Indian Express
16-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
UPSC commences CSE Mains 2025 registration; apply till June 25
UPSC CSE Mains Registration 2025: The Union Public Service Commission has started the registration for the UPSC CSE Mains for those candidates who cracked the stage one- Prelims. This year, 14,161 candidates cracked the UPCS CSE Prelims and will appear for the Mains. Only those students who have cleared the prelims are eligible to apply for the UPSC Mains. Aspirants have to visit the official website that is to fill the application form and register for the exam. The deadline for the application is June 25. UPSC Mains will start from August 22 and will be completed within five days of commencement. For the CSE Mains application form, general candidates have to pay Rs 200; however, aspirants belonging to SC, ST, PwBD categories, as well as female applicants, are exempted from paying the registration fee. Step 1: Search for the official website of UPSC on the browser – or Step 2: Log in to the portal using the registration ID and password created during UPSC registration. Step 3: Enter candidates' details (Name, Date of Birth, Category, etc.) Step 4: Enter your educational qualification and attach the relevant documents. Step 5: Enter employment data. If applicable, provide job title, job description, organisation name, duration of employment, and responsibilities. Step 6: Select service preference. Arrange the services in your preferred order. Step 7: Additional information will also be required, like hobbies, achievements, and extracurricular activities. Step 8: Upload valid and relevant documents like a photograph, signature, Govt. approved photo ID card. Step 9: Carefully review all the information provided and submit the UPSC CSE DAF 2025 and submit form with the registration fee of Rs 200. UPSC Live Results | Jamia Millia Islamia RCA | Meet Toppers | AIR 1 Shakti Dubey | AIR 2 Harshita Goyal Candidates can update details such as scribe information, assistive devices, or large font requirements during this window. Those with name changes can also submit gazette notifications. The UPSC CSE Prelims result is out on listing eligible candidates for Main 2025 registration. Results for four candidates are withheld due to ongoing court cases. READ | AIR 8 Raj Krishna Jha | AIR 89 Ria Kaur Sethi | Choose Plan B | Karnataka Friendsip Goals R Rangamanju, Sachin Basavaraj Guttur | Punjab UPSC Results | AIR 61 Aastha Singh The UPSC will upload marks, cutoff marks, and answer keys for the CSE Prelims on only after the entire Civil Services Examination and Indian Forest Service Examination process is complete, and the final results are declared.
Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Red Sea shipping route and Suez canal — What you must know for UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on Red Sea shipping route and Suez canal. (Relevance: Understanding the geopolitical, economic, and strategic importance of the Red Sea shipping route and Suez Canal is crucial for the UPSC CSE, as it highlights international trade routes and global shipping dynamics, which are key for all stages of the examination, including prelims, mains, and interviews.) Just as global shipping lines and traders had started to breathe a sigh of relief from elevated freight rates, with vessels returning to the crucial Red Sea route from the longer Cape of Good Hope passage, a conflict between two major West Asian powers — Iran and Israel — has reignited fears of surging oil prices and more trade disruptions. Signs of a sustained escalation emerged after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said strikes targeting military and nuclear sites across Iran would continue 'for as many days as it takes'. Experts warn that Iran may respond by closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz . In this context, let's know about the Red Sea route, its significance for global trade and Suez Canal, 1. The nearly 2,000-km Red Sea connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean via the narrow Suez Canal. Before the Suez Canal's construction, ships had to go around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa to travel between Europe and Asia. 2. The Suez Canal is one of the world's busiest waterways. It was officially opened to ships on November 17, 1869. 3. The 193-km artificial waterway that connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean through the Isthmus of Suez cut down the sea route from Asia to Europe by up to 7,000 km by negating the need for ships to travel around the southern tip of Africa to traverse between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. 1. A trade route through Suez connecting Europe and Asia can be traced to antiquity. There is some evidence of a canal being constructed in the region during the reign of Pharaoh Senausret III, who ruled in the second millennium BCE. 2. But the idea for the modern-day canal can be traced to the eighteenth century, during the peak of European colonial expansion. In 1799, Napoleon's efforts to build a canal were thwarted by inaccurate measurements. 3. It was French diplomat and engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, whose efforts to win over the support of the Egyptian viceroy Sai'id Pasha for support for the canal's construction that eventually bore fruit. In 1858, the Universal Suez Ship Canal Company was tasked to construct and operate the canal for 99 years, after which rights would be handed to the Egyptian government. 4. After more than ten years of construction, which claimed thousands of lives and was faced with many obstacles including crippling financial difficulties, the canal was opened for international navigation in 1869. 5. Upon its construction, the Suez Canal became the lifeline for all trade between the East and the West. 1. The Suez Canal accounts for nearly 12-15 per cent of global trade, according to IMF data. It is also a key passage for 8-9 per cent of global energy flows. 2. As of May 11, 2025, Suez Canal's daily transit trade volume (TTV) stood at 484,137 mt, compared with 1,349,086 mt a year ago, shows data from PortWatch, a live conflict tracker maintained by the IMF and Oxford University. TTV denotes the total volume of goods transported through a shipping route. 3. Like various other countries, India was also heavily reliant on the Red Sea shipping route for exports to Europe, with nearly 80 per cent of the volumes going through the Suez Canal. The shifting of trade flows from the Red Sea to the route around Africa have evidently impacted Indian exporters by denting their margins as they now have to contend with higher freight rates for exports to Europe and beyond. With much of India's trade dependent on overseas shippers and foreign-flagged commercial vessels, there is little the country can do in the short term to shield itself from the impact of the Red Sea crisis. 1. Although the Suez Canal is one of the world's busiest waterways, it also has its issues. Such as, the 193 km-long, 205 m-wide, and 24 m-deep Suez Canal is the world's biggest shipping bottleneck. Despite being widened and deepened over the years, it remains perennially congested, with long queues at either end. In March 2021, the mammoth cargo ship Ever Given got stuck in the canal, blocking passage for more than a week. 2. The Suez Canal was also the focal point of both the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli wars and was shut from 1967 to 75. 1. Completed in 1914, the Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the narrow Isthmus of Panama. It is one of the two most strategically important artificial waterways in the world, alongside the Suez Canal. For ships traveling between the east and west coasts of the United States, the canal reduces the journey by 8,000 nautical miles, avoiding the dangerous passage around Cape Horn. 2. The Panama Canal is more than just a channel of water that links two larger bodies; it is a complex, highly engineered system that incorporates locks and elevators to transport ships from one end to the other. This design is necessary because the two oceans connected by the canal are not at the same elevation, with the Pacific Ocean being slightly higher than the Atlantic. 3. The Panama Canal needs massive amounts of fresh water to facilitate the passage of ships using this system of locks. Most of this water is supplied from Lake Gatun using the force of gravity (no pumps are needed). 1. The strait lies between Oman and Iran. It links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond. 2. It is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just two miles (three km) wide in either direction. 3. It is key passage through which 20–25 per cent of global oil supply transits, as well as a critical corridor for LNG shipments from Qatar and the UAE. Qatar, notably, is among the top LNG suppliers to India. (1) The Great Bitter Lake is associated with: (a) Panama Canal (b) Black Sea (c) Pacific Ocean (d) Suez Canal (2) Which of the following statements are correct about the Panama Canal? 1. It saves approximately 12,600 km in a trip between New York and San Francisco. 2. Lake Superior acts as the artificial reservoir of the Panama Canal system. 3. The Panama Canal system uses a system of locks and elevators to take ships from one end to the other. 4. The canal connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 2 and 3 only (Sources: Renewed Iran–Israel conflict threatens Red Sea shipping route recovery, impact India trade, Explained: History of Suez Canal, its economic importance, Knowledge nugget of the day: Panama Canal) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
