SRINAGAR: Muneeb Afzal, a Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, has secured All India Rank (AIR) 581 in the Civil Services Examination 2025, the results of which were declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday.
Muneeb, who hails from the rural village of Krandigam in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag, described the achievement as humbling and said clearing the examination reflects a long journey of discipline, patience and self-reflection.
“The Civil Services Examination is not merely an exam but a journey. More important than qualifying is the responsibility that comes with the opportunity to serve,” he said.
He completed his Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Kashmir in 2024 and is currently serving as a JKAS officer. This was his third attempt at the examination and his second appearance in the personality test. In his previous attempt, he had reached the interview stage but did not make it to the final list.
Speaking about his preparation strategy, Muneeb said he followed three guiding principles — clarity, consistency and reflection. For the preliminary examination, he focused on building a strong conceptual foundation along with factual understanding, while for the mains he worked on developing analytical thinking and structured answer writing. For the interview stage, he emphasised cultivating balanced perspectives and clarity of thought.
His optional subject was Political Science and International Relations, which aligns with his academic background and the subject he had also chosen during the JKAS examination.
Muneeb said sustaining motivation throughout the long and uncertain preparation process was one of the biggest challenges. According to him, the Civil Services Examination tests not only knowledge but also patience and emotional resilience.
“In moments of doubt, I reminded myself that this journey is not only about success but also about personal growth. Reading, reflection and conversations with family and friends helped me maintain balance,” he said, adding that already being in government service also eased some of the stress.
He said he relied entirely on self-study and did not attend any coaching at any stage of the examination, instead focusing on standard books and online resources.
“I have always tried to study my subjects on my own, and if I talk about both Kashmir Administrative Services and UPSC I applied the same method of self-studying,” he said.
Muneeb credited his family, friends and teachers for their constant encouragement throughout the journey. “Their unwavering faith gave me the courage to continue even when the path seemed uncertain,” he said.
Addressing civil services aspirants, he advised them to approach the examination with patience, discipline and sincerity. He said the process not only tests perseverance but also offers an opportunity to understand society and oneself more deeply.
On his future role as a civil servant, Muneeb said he hopes to contribute towards inclusive development, improving education and ensuring governance becomes more responsive and accessible, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised sections of society.
“Making small changes in people’s lives and bringing governance closer to citizens is the real reward of public service,” he said.
Muneeb’s academic journey began in Bijbehara. “I was born and raised in Bijbehra, I studied in a local school in Krandigam, than I went to Government High school Veeri, and later joined Government Degree college where I completed my Graduation in Political Science and Economics,” he said.
He said his interest in political science developed early in his academic life. “After I completed my Matriculation, I opted for Arts strem in my 11th and 12th classes and during that period I developed a keen interest in Political Science and since then I tried to understand the subject as better as I can. When I completed my Higher studies I joined GDC Bijbehra to pursue Bachelors in the same subject which had become my most interesting part of the life,” he said.
He later moved to Srinagar to pursue higher studies and completed his Master’s degree in Political Science from Kashmir University in 2024.
“After I completed my masters in 2024, I subsequently appeared for KAS and qualified it too,” he said.
Following his selection in the JKAS, Muneeb continued preparing for the UPSC examination and appeared three times before qualifying this year.
“After passing the KAS examinations, I started my preparation for UPSC. Both exams have a huge similarity between them, and due to my KAS background, studying for UPSC became a bit easy. Also, because I had studied Political Science since Graduation and had a good hold on it, the UPSC journey and few subjects became easier to understand,” he said.
Reflecting on the demanding nature of the examination, Muneeb said aspirants must remain patient throughout the process.
“See UPSC as we all know is the most difficult exam of our country and it often tests your patience, but all those things are part of this journey,” he said.
He also spoke about the challenges he faced during preparation. “See I also faced difficulties during my journey, there were moments when my motivational levels weren’t so high, and my brain was exhausted but again one has to face all of this in order to fulfil his dream. I always tried to keep myself motivated and never let negativity surround my brain,” he said.
The moment the result was declared brought celebrations at his home in Krandigam. “Right now every closed one I know is happy and is smiling because of my success and what bigger happiness than this can you dream and aim for in your life,” he said.
Apart from his academic and administrative responsibilities, Muneeb’s interests include reading philosophy, Urdu poetry, playing chess, travelling and writing for newspapers.
Meanwhile, the Union Public Service Commission on Friday declared the results of the Civil Services Examination 2025, with Anuj Agnihotri securing the top rank, followed by Rajeshwari Suve M and Akansh Dhull in second and third positions respectively.
The Centre had reported 1,087 vacancies to be filled through the examination.
According to the Commission, more than 9.3 lakh candidates applied for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination held on May 25, 2025. A total of 958 candidates — including 659 men and 299 women — have been recommended for appointment to various services. Of them, 16 candidates belong to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
