by Syed Shadab Ali Gillani
SRINAGAR: As many as 16 residents from Jammu and Kashmir have qualified for the UPSC 2022 civil service examination. While six of them were already in the probation period of Jammu and Kashmir Administration Services (JKAS), the topper at AIR 7 is already an IRS officer.
Of the 16 candidates, three are from Kashmir and 13 are from the Jammu region.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the Civil Services Final Result 2023 for the UPSC 2022 Exam on its official website on Tuesday.
Waseem Ahmad Bhat, the candidate who got seventh all-India rank has put in a lot of effort to make it in the top 10 list. Earlier, he had qualified for UPSC 2021 and got AIR 225 and is presently posted as Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Waseem hails from Brahgam village in Dooru, Anantnag and comes from a humble background. Son of Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, an employee in the department of agriculture, Waseem is an engineering graduate from the National Institute of Technology Srinagar. He did his B Tech (2019) and quickly started preparations for UPSC.
His basic education up to the primary level took place at Sir Syed Mission School Nathipora and later he joined Iqbal Memorial Institute (IMI), Dooru. Later, he joined Government Higher Secondary School Dooru for his 10+2 and went to NIT in 2015.
Celebrating her son’s success, his mother told Kashmir Life that Waseem’s success was due to his hard work and the prayers of his grandfather. “I appeal to him to work for the poor as a civil servant,” she said.
However, the most interesting success is that of another topper, Prasanjit Kour, a Poonch resident, who did JKAS and UPSC simultaneously. Kour has recently qualified for the JKAS examination in the first go and was serving her probation in Srinagar.
“I completed my master’s in Chemistry from Jammu University in 2022. In 2021, I had written the examination for JKAS, the results of which were out in 2023,” Kour told this reporter. “In 2022, I appeared for the UPSC exam and I am really thankful that I got selected.”
Kour has never gone for coaching or any sort of tuition for civil services. She said she took help from the internet whenever she required it.
“From my childhood days, I wanted to qualify for civil service examinations,” Kour, whose parents are serving in the medical department, said. “Even during my college and university days, I used to spend some 3-4 hours on a daily basis studying for civil services.” Her younger sister is a tenth grader, right now.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha congratulated Waseem Ahmad Bhat and Parsanjeet Kour for the achievement. “Congratulations Waseem Ahmad Bhat and Parsanjeet Kour. With 7th and 11th rank respectively in the UPSC Civil Services examination, you have done us really proud. Your achievements will inspire all the youth of J&K. Best Wishes to all those who successfully cleared the exam,” LG Tweeted.
The other successful candidates from Jammu and Kashmir include Nitin Singh with AIR 32, Naved Ahsan with AIR 82, Manan Bhat with AIR 231, Manil Bejotra with AIR 314, Irfan Choudhary with AIR 476 and Nivranshu Hans with AIR 811 and Iram Choudhary with AIR 852.
Irfan Choudhary, a resident of Jammu district has also qualified JKAS exam recently and is also serving his probation in Srinagar.
“After completing my engineering degree, I appeared in the UPSC exam in 2019 but I failed to clear on my first attempt, as I was not prepared. Then I got more serious about my preparations, and after two more attempts and a lot of hard work by the grace of the Almighty this year I cleared the UPSC examination,” Irfan said, insisting that the UPSC examination needs a lot of hard work. “Those who want to clear this exam need to be consistent and I suggest always choosing someone as your mentor who will guide you further and help you in this journey.”
Apart from Kour and Irfan, other candidates who were JKAS probationers when the UPSC results came, included Nitin Singh, Manan Bhat, Manil Bejotra and Nivranshu Hans. All of them were in a training programme at IMPARD in Srinagar.
The UPSC 2022 examination, the results of which were declared on May 23, 2023, declared 933 candidates successful including 613 males and 320 females. Among the achievers, Ishita Kishore has emerged as the overall topper with an All-India Rank (AIR) 1. Remarkably, the top three spots have been secured by women candidates, showcasing their exceptional achievements.
The services they are to be posted to include IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other civil services posts.
The list included a total of 30 Muslim candidates of whom five belong to Jammu and Kashmir. In 2021, only 25 Muslims qualified for the coveted civil services.
Local news gatherer GNS, however, said 16 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir made it to the central service. It identified the selected candidates as Waseem Ahmad Bhat (Rank 7), Prasenjit Kaur (Rank 11), Nitin Singh (Rank 32), Naved Ahsan Bhat (Rank 82), Ambika Raina (Rank 164), Navneet Singh (Rank 191), Arjun Gupta (Rank 228) Manan Bhat (Rank 231), Manil Bejotra (Rank 314), Irfan Choudhary (Rank 476), Dwarika Gandhi (Rank 505) Anjit Singh (Rank 565), Abhinandan Singh (Rank 749) Nivranshu Hans (Rank 811), Iram Choudhary (Rank 852) and Aadesh Basnotra (Rank 888).
Naved Ashan Bhat is from Sopore, Ambika Raina, Namneet Singh is from R S Pura, Manan Bhat is from Soura in Srinagar, Arjun Gupta is from Trikuta Nagar Jammu, Manil Bejotra is from Bishnah in Jammu, Mohammad Irfan is from Thathar Bantalab in Jammu, Dwarka Gaadhi is from Bishnah in Jammu, Anjeet Singh is from Bhalesa in Doda, Abhinandan Singh is from Nardi Bala, Akhnoor, Nivranshu Hans, Dr Iram Choudhary are from Rajouri and Aadesh Basnotra.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leaders felicitated the candidates who have cracked the prestigious UPSC examination. “I congratulate Waseem Ahmed Bhat from Anantnag, Prasanjit Kour from Poonch and other qualifiers from J&K and the rest of the country for their success. Hard work, determination and perseverance always pay. I’m sure that they will strive towards creating a distinctive work culture wherever they are posted in whichever capacity. I am convinced that the successful candidates will render their duties with utmost professionalism and compassion. I wish them all the best in their future endeavours,” Dr Farooq Abdullah said. Omar Abdullah added: “Civil servants are the extended arms of the government. They are responsible for managing resources, delivering services. People expect them to function fairly, impartially, and efficiently. I hope that the UPSC qualifiers including those from J&K will maintain high standards of professionalism, responsiveness, and impartiality while serving the people.”
