For Aditya Narayan H., a resident of Kollam Asramam, the path to the Indian Administrative Service was defined by perseverance. Proving that unwavering determination pays off in the end, he secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 68 in his fourth attempt. This achievement marks the culmination of a journey that began during his undergraduate years at Trivandrum College of Engineering, where he first developed a passion for civil services while studying mechanical engineering.
Aditya’s journey to success was far from linear and was marked by significant ups and downs. After a brief eight-month stint at South Indian Bank after graduation, he completely turned to UPSC preparation. He showed huge potential in his first attempt by reaching the interview stage, yet he failed to make the shortlist. His second attempt proved even more discouraging when he was unable to clear the preliminary exam. However, he refused to succumb to disappointment and pushed through in the third attempt to secure 357th rank, which earned him a place in the Indian Revenue Service.
During the IRS Income Tax training in Nagpur, Aditya decided to give his original dream one last chance. Ironically, after completing the last interview, he was convinced that he would not even match his previous rank. “68th place was a big surprise,” he says. Aditya attributes his success to a balanced approach to preparation and emphasizes that he does not believe in unrealistic and extremely tight study schedules.
Published – 06 Mar 2026 20:54 IST
