Ansar Shaikh: Youngest UPSC Topper’s Inspiring Journey | Edukemy Blog

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Ansar Shaikh is one of the brilliant aspirants who cracked the UPSC exam on his 1st attempt at the age of 21 and this is how he did this.

UPSC(Union Public Service Commission) Exam is one the toughest exams held in India which is highly competitive and thus makes it harder for the students to clear it. Usually, students clear the exam in multiple attempts. But some students cannot even clear the exam after appearing multiple times as well,  as it is very difficult to crack and has several levels of exams like prelims, and mains interview, and all of them need different types of preparation strategies.

There is always an exception, an exception is Ansar Shaikh who has cleared the exam in just one attempt and is the youngest IAS officer in India at the age of 21. It is incredible that Ansar Shaikh cleared the UPSC exam in one go with the rank of 361 in the year 2016 and has become the youngest IAS in India.

What are the marks obtained by Ansar Shaikh?

Sl.no	Subject	Marks obtained
1	Essay	129
2	General Studies Paper 1	095
3	General Studies Paper 2	079
4	General Studies Paper 3	079
5	General Studies Paper 4	83
6	Optional Subject Paper 1	104
7	Optional Subject Paper 2	124

And thus he secured final total marks of 892.

How incredibly amazing is that? Let’s find out more about Ansar Shaikh.

Biography of India’s Youngest IAS Officer.

About Ansar Shaikh’s family and Early life.

The youngest IAS officer in India, Ansar Shaikh was born on June 1, 1995, in the Shelgaon village of Jalna District of Maharashtra. His father, Yonus Sheikh Ahmad is an autorickshaw driver in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India.

 His mother is a field worker, the second wife of his father out of the three. Ansar has a brother named Anees Shaikh who dropped school in his seventh standard to provide financial help to the family by working in a garage. Ansar was greatly helped by his brother who has given him monetary and emotional support for his preparation for the UPSC exam. He also has two sisters who were married at a very early age.

Relationships, love lives, and controversies about Ansar Shaikh.

There are many controversies about Ansar Shaikh’s married life. Some reports state that he has been married to Waiza Ansari, who is also an IAS officer whereas there are some other reports as well that state that Ansar is unmarried but in a healthy relationship with IAS officer Waiza Ansari.

What was the education and family background of Young IAS officer Ansar Shaikh?

Ansar has been a very dedicated and hardworking student since childhood. He does not come from an educational background or a wealthy family, so he has to put in extra effort to make his dream come true. Ansar completed his 12th board exam with a brilliant score of 91% from a Marathi medium school. 

Thereafter he got a chance to study at Fergusson College, Pune where he graduated in Political Science securing himself 73%.

While Ansar was in his first year of graduation, he was suggested to prepare for the UPSC exam by one of his college professors. So Ansar took his advice and simultaneously prepared for both UPSC and graduation. Then with his perseverance and focus, Ansar cracked the UPSC exam at the age of 21 and became the youngest IAS officer in India. 

Who would have thought that a boy with no educational background would come this far? This is a pure example of dedication, hard work, and consistency. Moreover, believe in yourself.

The path to success is always a Tough one,

Struggles faced by the Youngest Ias in the history of India, Ansar Shaikh.

Well after hearing about his family background, it is not hard to guess that his life was not a smooth one. 

There was even a point of time when Ansar’s father wanted him to quit his studies. This advice was mainly given to Ansar’s father by some of their relatives. His father listened to that advice and wanted Ansar to quit and had a talk about the same with his teacher.

After hearing these things, his teacher convinced Ansar’s father to let him continue his studies as he is a brilliant student with a bright future who can later help the family. This teacher of Ansar’s has some capabilities as after talking to him, Ansar’s father never asked him to quit his studies again.

This is the same teacher who advised Ansar to prepare for UPSC. He was a well-wisher for him. and motivated throughout his journey to excellence.

His struggles do not end here. Even when he was in college and preparing for UPSC, he didn’t have the money to pay the tuition.

Ansar’s brother Anees who is a drop used to help him out financially, to continue his studies.

Ansar Shaikh also quoted in an interview that –

“He is forever grateful to Rahul Pandve, his 30-year-old teacher and mentor who guided him on the path of success in the UPSE exam.”

Rahul Pandve also took UPSC in the same year as Ansar and he also passed the exam securing the rank of AIR 200.

Education has never been a watchword in my family. My father, a rickshaw driver, has three wives. 

My mother is the second wife. My younger brother dropped out of school and my two sisters were married off at an early age. When I told them that I had cleared the UPSC and in all likelihood will be an IAS officer, they were stunned and shocked.” said Ansar Shaikh about his family situation in an interview. 

So coming from this situation to the youngest IAS of India, Ansar Shaikh has overcome a lot of odds in his life. He is the true inspiration for all the aspirants and students.

How was it even possible to crack UPSC at 21?

Does the real question remain how did Ansar become the youngest IAS of India despite all those difficulties?

How did he manage his time to prepare for both the graduation and the UPSC exam which is one of the toughest exams in India at the same time?

Let us get into that.

Firstly, there is no doubt that Ansar is born a talented child but there is no use of talent without hard work and also in the correct direction.

Ansar used to spend 12 hours each day in preparation for IAS along with his simultaneous preparation for his graduation.

Sometimes he even studied for 14-15 hours.

He has put a lot of labor into making this a huge success. Despite being in a non-educational background, he knew the value of education. For three years, he put in constant effort by giving 12 hours or even more each day for his passion.

He graduated in Political Science with 73% and took private coaching for the UPSC exam. Rahul Pandve was his teacher who gave him the guidance he needed. Rahul Pandve even reduced his fees due to Ansar’s family condition and at that time Ansar’s brother was paying the fees for him.

“During my struggle, my friends helped me a lot mentally and financially and even my coaching academy waived a portion of fees due to my poor financial condition” as quoted by Ansar Shaikh.

Ansar said, “I was marginalized by three different categories. I am from a backward undeveloped region, I hail from a poor economic background and I belong to a minority community.

I will tackle all these issues as an administrator since I have witnessed these issues at close quarters.”

Maybe Ansar was not from a very wealthy family but due to his focus on his career and his consistency in his passion, he has gained a lot of mental support from his.

This was one heck of an inspiring story for all those aspirants who sometimes lose hope due to hurdles and difficulties. Ansar Shaikh is the epitome of determination and proved that it doesn’t matter from which background you belong but it is you who is responsible for your success or failure.

Hurdles are part of life.

Overcoming all those odds was not easy, he fell but he stood up again. With his perseverance, determination, hard work, consistency, and through his diligent performance, he has achieved his goal.

How to prepare for UPSC, along with your graduation?

As shared by our very own Ansar Shaikh, the youngest IAS in India,

He used to spend 12-14 hours of a day in his preparation for IAS.

 It cannot be bluntly studied, a proper strategic method has been followed for him to be the youngest IAS in India. Let me take a quick scan of how did he prepare for the exam. Strategic theories from the youngest IAS are worth looking for.

UPSC CSE exam selection is done in various steps.

1. UPSC Preliminary Exam
2. UPSC Mains Exam
3. Interview round.

Check how young Ansar did his preparation for all of those rounds and cracked the exam in one go.

• As he has a degree in Political Science graduation, he chose Political Science as his additional subject which gave him an edge.
• He spent studying 6 months on Political Science which he chose as his additional subject.
• Next, he prepared for General Studies for the next six months and constantly kept updated with the current affairs.
• He concentrated his next 3 months on his revision and also covered up the portions that he left during his first round of preparation.
• Then he dedicated his next months purely to the Prelims examination only. That he was only concentrated on Prelims.
• As he was almost prepared with his GS papers, he spent the next 100 days on Mains exam preparation and the revision of the same.
• Now with all the preparation for the written examination over, he focused his final 40 days on the interview round preparation.
• So it can be said that Ansar has prepared a very strategic method which has been very fruitful and hence it proves that Ansar is the youngest IAS for a reason.

Tips from Ansar Shaikh to all the current and upcoming aspirants.

As learned from Ansar’s preparation, there are some more tips and tricks for all the aspirants to follow.

• Before you start the UPSC exam preparation, you must know every detail of the exam. 
• The different types of subjects, papers, etc so the preparation can be planned accordingly.
• The subject which is chosen as the additional one is to be chosen very wisely and it is highly suggested to choose a subject from graduation if it is in the option.
• The most recommended book is the NCERT book, which is the best book for the UPSC exam. To get good marks in the exam, NCERT must be studied thoroughly along with some other books. Previously studied in school, the NCERT books should be taken once again and have a deep revision of it.
• To get good marks mock test should be given by the aspirants. Mock tests are so important because firstly it encourage you to practice more and more, secondly, it help to build a clear idea of the question patterns and also help in time management during the exam. Giving more and more mock tests builds self-confidence with the self which is important in the examination hall on the final day.
• Last and finally one last suggestion to all the aspirants is that never lose hope, be confident in yourself. Hard work f. If you are passionate about it, give your best.

Where is Ansar Shaikh now?

The youngest IAS officer of India, Ansar Shaikh is currently posted at the Department of MSME and Textiles, in the state of West Bengal as an Officer on special duty. He now gets a salary of 56,100 which is the basic pay of entry-level IAS officers. Along with all sorts of other allowances.

He is very active on social media like Instagram where he posts about his day-to-day life and also posts motivational quotes which are helpful

FAQs

Q: Who is Ansar Shaikh and what makes him stand out in the UPSC exam?

A: Ansar Shaikh is a remarkable individual who achieved the extraordinary feat of cracking the UPSC exam in his very first attempt at the age of 21. His accomplishment is noteworthy as the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam is known for its rigorous selection process. Ansar’s success has garnered attention due to his young age and the challenging nature of the examination.

Q: How did Ansar Shaikh prepare for the UPSC exam at such a young age?

A: Ansar Shaikh’s preparation strategy has become a subject of curiosity for many aspirants. He attributed his success to a disciplined study routine, effective time management, and dedication. Ansar’s success story emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and consistency in UPSC exam preparation.

Q: What challenges did Ansar Shaikh face during his UPSC journey?

A: Ansar Shaikh’s journey to cracking the UPSC exam must have come with its share of challenges. Aspirants and enthusiasts are eager to know about the obstacles he faced and how he overcame them. Insights into the challenges he encountered can provide valuable lessons and inspiration to other UPSC aspirants.

Q: What advice does Ansar Shaikh have for UPSC aspirants, especially those who are young and attempting the exam for the first time?

A: Given his remarkable achievement, Ansar Shaikh’s advice holds significant weight for aspiring civil servants. Knowing his perspective on effective study techniques, dealing with stress, and maintaining motivation can offer valuable insights and guidance for others preparing for the UPSC exam.

Q: How has Ansar Shaikh’s success impacted the perception of young aspirants in the field of civil services?

A: Ansar Shaikh’s achievement at a young age has the potential to inspire and change the narrative around the capabilities of young aspirants in the UPSC arena. Understanding the impact of his success on the perceptions of both aspirants and the broader community sheds light on the evolving dynamics of the UPSC examination and the possibilities it presents for young talent.

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