Many believe that students with good academic performance are best suited to occupy prestigious positions like IAS. However, Nitin Shakya defied this notion by cracking the UPSC despite having a difficult relationship with his school studies.

In fact, Nitin was initially denied his admit card for the Class 12 board exams because his principal was sure he would fail. Yet his determination and work ethic were unwavering. Not only was he successful, but he also achieved good results, which boosted his confidence and motivated him to pursue a medical career.

Nitin then passed the medical entrance exam, completed his MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College and specialized in anesthesia and critical care. He later worked at Lok Nayak Hospital, Guru Nanak Eye Center and Sushruta Trauma Centre. During this period, he served slum children and realized that as an IAS officer, he could make an even greater impact.

Driven by this desire to serve, Nitin started preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). In his first attempt, he cleared the prelims and mains, but failed by 10 marks in the interview. He persevered on his second and third attempts, although he did not advance past the main and preliminary rounds respectively.

Despite these setbacks, Nitin’s dedication did not waver. In his fourth attempt in 2018, he finally cleared the UPSC exam and fulfilled his dream of becoming an IAS officer.