At the age of 25 Merin Joseph became youngest IPS officer of Kerala cadre after clearing the Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC. Her home state is Kerala. However, she has been living in Delhi from her childhood with her working parents, her father and mother are principal advisor to ministry and teacher of economics respectively.

Merin Joseph with her success in UPSC Exam has become a source of inspiration for many. She mentioned that she always wanted to become an IAS but was destined to IPS and she loves this service very much. Currently she is serving as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

IPS Training Days

She remembers her days at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad where she took training to become a tough IPS officer. The routine at the academy was pretty tough as the wakeup call was at 4:45 am followed by physical activities like running and exercises. She mentioned that the training not only make you physically strong but also makes you a tough soul it introduces you to your stronger side. Other activities includes horse riding, weapons training, swimming, driving, 40 km route marches, jungle attachments (living in jungle with minimum supplies) etc. Minor injury during training period was common thing to see at academy.

During her academy days she got an opportunity to lead the Indian delegation for the Y20 summit. Y20 is an official youth engagement programme of the G20 Countries which believe in the power of youth.

Education

Master of Arts in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. She did graduation from the same college.

Also read: Tips and Tricks for Quantitative Aptitude Tests

Marks obtained by Merin Joseph in Mains Exam

Merin is 2012 batch IPS and she got 188 rank in the UPSC exam. Merin got a total of 991 marks out of 2300 marks in her mains exam which is 43%.

She was interviewed by the board of IMG Khan on the 6th of March, 2013, once she mentioned that she was not very satisfied with interview but she cracked it successfully with 188 rank and became IPS.

Last year she became a trending topic in media because of her beautiful look. Along with many other news media even The Hindu came up with an story titled Pretty Tough Cop highlighting her beauty quoted her as the dashing young IPS officer who took social media by storm.

Also read: How to prepare for IAS Exam? – by Rachit Raj, UPSC Exam Rank 3

Nitika Pawar obtained 18th rank in Civil Services Examination 2011 in her first attempt for the most prestigious position of Indian Administrative Services (IAS). A Manav Rachna International University alumnus, Nitika Pawar had completed her B.Tech in Biotechnology from Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET).

Nitika Pawar narrated her success­ story as it seemed as if Civil Services Examination was a child’s play and success in Civil Services Examination was not that difficult. With hard ­work reflecting in her eyes as well as in her talks, she recalls, “it is not as simple as it appears today. I am glad that I have enjoyed the complete journey and that is going to be conducted throughout my life, it is just the beginning. I have a long way to travel and I achieved this success at an age where actually many candidates start thinking seriously about Civil Services Examination” Nitika Pawar said.

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Marks Obtained

Optional Paper

Nitika Pawar chose her optional subjects based on inter-­relation between them as well as their similarity with General Studies syllabus. Nitika Pawar opted for Law and Political Science & International Relations as her optional subjects. She says, “If one makes the choice in such a manner, one can save a lot of time. Other factors that one should base their choices on, include availability of study material and personal interest too”.

Attempts

This was Nitika Pawar’s first attempt at UPSC.

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Preparation Strategy of Nitika Pawar

Nitika Pawar had adopted an unidirectional approach the moment she got serious about Civil Services Examination. From November 2010 onwards, it was nothing but CSE that occupied her mind. Nitika Pawar prepared full time for one whole year and had ample time for Prelims as well as Mains Exam. Year 2011 was the first time the Preliminary Examination was staged with the new pattern and there really were a lot of apprehensions about the changed Prelims pattern by the time she started her preparation. But, she decided to keep herself focused on her preparation based by her own understanding

As Nitika Pawar was well ­versed with the components of CSAT paper, she decided to go for regular practice of comprehension and quantitative aptitude. She focused more on Paper I (General Studies) and current affairs. And she was confident of doing really well in Paper II.

Nitika Pawar says, “UPSC’s decision to introduce the aptitude test is based on the fact that there are certain qualities a civil servant must have such as good decision making abilities, aptitude etc. I welcome the change introduced by UPSC”.

For Mains, Nitika Pawar focused more on optional subjects. She shifted her focus from factual contents to issues and concepts based learning for GS. Also, she started practicing answer writing regularly

Nitika Pawar relied on newspapers reading for Essay and to stay in touch with the current affairs. Apart from this, she brushed up her optional subjects and gave a few mock interviews for practice.

Tips for Young Aspirants

• Discover yourselves and consciously try to decide what they want to be in their life.
• Not to get disheartened by failures and constantly put efforts to achieve your goals.
• If you are preparing diligently, there is nothing that is obscure.
• Be an avid reader of newspapers.
• Gain self­-belief that your success is in sight.

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Shubham Chaudhary, an Assistant Professor at Delhi University cracked the Civil Services Examination  conducted by Union Public Service Commission and secured the All India Rank 11th in 2013. Shubham Chaudhary said, “I am glad that I got the opportunity to undergo IPS training before I got into IAS. It was a thoroughly enriching experience.”

Must Read: Success Story of Haulianlal Guite IAS, AIR-33, 2011

Educational Background

Shubham Chaudhary did her schooling till class 10 from DPS Vasant Kunj and after class 10 she did International Baccalaureate (11th, 12th grade) from the American School of Warsaw, Poland. She studied over there because her father was on deputation over there. After that, she did her BA (Hons) in Economics from St. Stephen’s college. At last Shubham Chaudhary got into Delhi School of Economics and completed MA in Economics.

When Shubham Chaudhary was pursuing her MA in Economics, from Citibank she got a pre placement offer. She worked at Citibank for one year, and then she joined as an Assistant Professor at Delhi University. While teaching Shubham Chaudhary started preparing for UPSC Exam.

When Shubham Chaudhary was in 11th grade and while studying Development Economics she decided that she would make her own contribution to the development of India, but at that time she was not sure what precise path she would take.

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Optional Paper

Shubham Chaudhary opted for Economics and Public Administration as her optional subject. Before the Preliminary Exam, she spent around 2-3 months for revising GS, including current affairs. Shubham Chaudhary focused on updating current affairs, and revising the optional after the Preliminary Exam. She read daily newspaper and a couple of magazines regularly.

Attempts

In her first attempt only Shubham Chaudhary made her name through the reserve list. She got IPS, in her second attempt and joined National Police Academy in December 2013. Finally Shubham Chaudhary got IAS which was her first service preference in her third attempt.

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Preparation Strategy of Shubham Chaudhary

Before Prelims Shubham Chaudhary tried to revise General Studies  3 to 4 times. With the optional she was extremely thorough, and usually she used to update the core topics in that. Writing practice of some answers and mock tests also helped in qualifying.

For Preliminary Exam

The core areas of History, Geography and Polity were focused and also read the NCERT books and Wizard series for all three subjects. On her optional subject Shubham Chaudhary did not focus much on Economics and she was more comfortable with it. She read magazines like Frontline and Wizard and The Hindu, the editorial of Economic Times for current affairs. As for CSAT, subjects like Mathematics and English she was comfortable with both, and did not feel to focus too much on these subjects. However, for practicing CSAT-related questions, past years’ questions papers and test series available in the market helped a lot.

For Mains Exam

Shubham Chaudhary preferred to revise core subjects from the same books as for the Preliminary exam. She felt that not to get engaged with multiple sources, so it was better to read and re-read the same books. For Economics, she kept updated herself using Economic Survey and Economic Times and read the standard Honors level textbooks. Shubham Chaudhary kept updating herself and must not be ignored at any cost she felt.

For Interview

While Shubham Chaudhary was at National Police Academy in those days so she did not get much time to prepare. She could barely glance at the newspaper, or not get the chance at all while those days. Then she installed some news application (APPs) on her phone, whereby she got intermittent updates, and she also read some online portals, especially for current affairs related to Economics. It was enough and her interview went quite well.

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Message for UPSC Aspirants

• One will clear the exam if one reads a good series of books for core areas (especially NCERT study material) and a couple of good newspapers/magazines for GS, and is thorough with the optional.
• Try to revise General Studies 3 to 4 times from the same books if possible.
• Be extremely thorough with the optional subject, and update the important topics, if not all topics in the optional using newspapers/magazines/surveys/internet.
• Some answer writing practice also helps.

Three Agenda

Food security will be her first agenda. The figures for malnourished, underweight and anemic children are shocking, and behind each figure lie millions of faces. Shubham Chaudhary think hunger is the most demeaning, inhuman experience. It is only when we get rid of this problem that we can think of investment in human capital in any meaningful way. You cannot educate a child who is hungry.

Health will be her second agenda, which includes public health facilities, sanitation as well as drinking water. It is inextricably linked to education too. And third agenda will be education (both in terms of quantity and quality), particularly at primary and secondary level. Thereby, we can build a healthy, trained, educated labor force, and make use of the window of opportunity accorded to us by demographic transition.

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Paramvir Singh is the second topper of Panchkula, who has been ranked 29th in the most prestigious position of Indian Administrative Services (IAS). Rishav’s strong determination led him to become an IAS officer. Becoming an IAS offficer was the result of his, true struggle and hardwork. He is a practising lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana high court and had passed out from National Law School, Delhi.

Indian Administrative Service can serve people better being a bureaucrat. Paramvir Singh would like to contribute to best of his abilities towards Public Service. He want to bring merit and honesty to the forefront.

Marks Obtained

Must Read: UPSC Board Interview of IAS Topper Chanchal Rana, Rank 7

Family Background

Paramvir Singh comes from a quintessential middle class family from Panchkula, Haryana, which moved to the city only twenty years ago. His father Satpal Singh, was a senior lawyer in the High Court, and was always very concerned about his education. His father had expired in 2012. His mother Kamlesh is a housewife. His father was the one who prompted Paramvir Singh to choose a career in law after school, even though he always had his eyes set on Engineering, and Paramvir Singh finally ended up by joining National Law University, Delhi.

Educational Background

Paramvir Singh completed his schooling from KBDAV School. He then graduated in Law from National Delhi Law University (DU) in 2013 and has also topped the Law entrance exam at DU. His schooling was average, with limited exposure, and Paramvir Singh had to really slog through the initial few months of college life. However, those few months of hard work and the resulting confidence, enabled him to aspire for the most coveted government job available.

Paramvir Singh practices as an advocate in the Punjab and Haryana high court with his uncle. His father wanted Paramvir Singh to join Civil Services and he have fulfilled his dream. It was his dream also to become an IAS officer. He is happy to reach this place today. Regular studies are a must to clear such an exam. He used to give about five hours daily for studies.

Also Read: Read UPSC Board Interview of Akash Patel IAS (2013)

Optional Paper

Naturally, Paramvir Singh was more confident with Law as his optional subject, having studied it during law school, and he believe that this familiarity with the subject made the whole preparation process much easier as compared to those candidates who chose a totally new subject for their optional.

Attempts

Having cleared the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination in 2013 as well, when he got rank 619, Paramvir Singh was selected to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). But Paramvir had bigger plans and was eyeing the Indian Administration Services. He did not join the IRS and continued with law.

He decided to appear again for this exam and in the year 2014, he was successfully ranked AIR 29 and he is currently undergoing his training period at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. He will be soon joining the Punjab Cadre after the completion of the training.

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Advice for Aspirants

• One should not hesitate to ask for guidance from their seniors, but should always take it with a pinch of salt.
• There is a certain level of reading basic books and familiarity with the syllabus and past question papers which one must reach before going for advice from others.
• The preparation is no doubt a stressful process, and one should dive into it only after taking stock of their capability to work hard consistently over a period of at least 4-5 months. If a candidate is doubtful, it can end up being a lot of time wasted, reading a limited set of books over and over again.
• If one feels that he has a strong motivation to go into the services, then not with standing his level of academic ability, there is no doubt that anybody can cross this bridge of the UPSC exam, maybe with some extra effort than the others.
• You should keep in mind that the successful candidates are no better or worse than the general crowd which go to law schools today, and they too, with some guidance and hard work, can do it.
• But I would strongly advise against starting the specific studies for the exam too early in the law school; wait at least until the 4th or 5th year, when the requisite level of understanding and maturity has developed.

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UPSC Board Interview of Paramvir Singh by Ms. Kilemsunglu

Chairperson: So you are practicing in high court. Tell me what Article 32 does.
Paramvir Singh: It provides a constitutional guarantee for any citizen to approach the Supreme Court directly in case of violation of fundamental rights.

Chairperson: If posted as part of the IAS in Haryana, what would you do to stop sex determination?
Paramvir Singh: I would firstly enforce the PNDT Act stringently by stopping all illegal sex determination clinics. And secondly, I would try to convince the villagers including the elderly that there is no benefit in the practice and that the government has introduced various schemes by which the girl child is not a burden at all.

Chairperson: What do you think, personally have you seen any improvement in the dowry situation?
Paramvir Singh: Yes, ma’am, as the people have moved from rural to urban areas and have become exposed to progressive ideas, the practice of dowry has waned.

Chairperson: Okay. Also, brides are being purchased from other states. What do you think should be done?
Paramvir Singh: Yes, ma’am, brides are bought from other states such as UP and Nepal… as the practice of sex determination and foeticide reduces, the situation will improve and men will not buy brides for themselves.

Chairperson: What was the UNDP project which you worked for? Was it through the university or independently?
Paramvir Singh: It was part of a research project being assigned to the University.

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Chairperson: What did you do?
Paramvir Singh: We worked on the implementation of the Building and Construction Workers Act and helped in getting them benefits provided under the Act.

Chairperson: What do you think India can learn from the Arab Spring?
Paramvir Singh: I think the Arab Spring showed that there is a yearning for democracy in every society in the modern world, and that only democracy can fulfill the needs of all sections of society, and so India, even though has built itself as a liberal state, is not perfect and should try to achieve an inclusive democracy with equitable distribution of wealth and welfare of all sections. Only then can it sustain.

M2: Tell me, as a lawyer, how can the police be controlled and made accountable through law?
Paramvir Singh: Sir, there are already many provisions in the CrPC, etc. to make it accountable such as the one where the accused has to be produced before Magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.

M2: But what happens practically?
Paramvir Singh: Sir, I have seen that the entries in the register are falsely made. For example, a juvenile was arrested earlier, but an entry was made only just before his production.

M2: Right, so what causes so much delay in trials and what should be done?
Paramvir Singh: Sir, delay is caused primarily due to the fault of the court, as it is primarily responsible for the conduct of case and there are provisions whereby it can deny unnecessary adjournments, etc. But some fault also lies with the lawyers who abuse the system

M2: But judges are few whereas lawyers are many, can they withstand the pressure? What have you seen practically?
Paramvir Singh: Sir, yes, that is the case, but I have mainly worked in the High Court.

M2: Okay. Can a poor man, for example, a rickshaw puller get bail in the court, and if not, then why?
Paramvir Singh: Sir, the judges at lower levels play safe and leave it to the judges higher up to grant bail. There are various provisions for their protection such as where once a person has served the half of his maximum sentence, he has to be compulsorily granted bail.

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M2: But does the High Court grant bail?
Paramvir Singh: Yes sir, they do.

M2: But can a poor man approach them? 
Paramvir Singh: Sir, there are legal aid clinics in place to help in case of need.

M2: Do they work?
Paramvir Singh: Sometimes, but not very efficiently, because the lawyers there are not very competent.

M2: Do you think the legal system needs a lot of reform?
Paramvir Singh: Absolutely, sir.

Member 3: So you are a practising lawyer. Are you independent, or are you working with somebody?
Paramvir Singh: I am working with a cousin of mine.

M3: How many cases have you done in a year?
Paramvir Singh: Maybe around 20-30.

M3: Any important case?
Paramvir Singh: Yes – I challenged the appointment of Additional Advocate Generals and other law officers of state, which is generally done on totally arbitrary considerations.

M3: And you did it independently?
Paramvir Singh: Yes, sir.

M3: Good

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M4: What is pro bono?
Paramvir Singh: When a lawyer takes up a case for free.

M4: So what do you think about making pro bono cases a part of CSR?
Paramvir Singh: Ma’am, that would be a tremendous idea and it can be made as one of the permitted activities under CSR. But there is a slight problem, as CSR is mandatory only for companies with turnover exceeding Rs. 500 crores.It would at the most cover a few firms in India, as the majority of them are not having turnover above 500 crores.

M4: Can Maggi sue for defamation if it is acquitted tomorrow, for the loss of reputation the ban has caused?
Paramvir Singh: No, legally speaking, no, because it is during the process of law that the loss has occurred, and all preliminary findings in many states have found it in violation of law and thus public safety being prime consideration, there could not be any cause for compensation for reputation.

M5: What do you think about the killing of witnesses in the Asaram case?
Paramvir Singh: Yes sir, a lot of witnesses have been killed one after the other and it could prove detrimental to the criminal trial.

M3: (jokingly) Do you think it could be a coincidence?
Paramvir Singh: No sir, clearly the repeated killing is not a coincidence.

M5: So what should be done?
Paramvir Singh: Sir, the responsibility lies on the police to protect all the witnesses, and it should take every necessary action in order to do so. Also, the court should direct the same.

M4: Can the court draw negative inference against the accused?
Paramvir Singh: Ma’am, in a criminal trial, the burden of proof is on the prosecution to positively establish the case against the accused. However, the fact of killing can weigh on its mind while appreciating the positive evidence. The accused cannot, however, be convicted only on the basis of the negative evidence.

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M5: Have you heard of the ”Kiss of Love”?
Paramvir Singh: Sir, it is the public event of kissing in Bombay?

M5: Yes, tell me about it.
Paramvir Singh: Sir, the participants were claiming that it is part of their liberty, that they can kiss in the public, whereas some right wing organisation claimed that it is obscenity and thus tried to interfere.

M5: What do you think is the legal position?
Paramvir Singh: Sir, obscenity is already an offence under the IPC.

M5: Do you think it was obscenity.
Paramvir Singh: Sir, the Supreme Court has adopted the ‘Hicklin Test’ for determination of obscenity, and the test is whether the object arouses prurient feelings in a reasonable man.

M5: So do you think it was obscenity?
Paramvir Singh: Applying the test, no sir, it is not.

Chairperson: That’s all.

Paramvir Singh: Thank you Ma’am and Sirs.

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