Meet IAS officer, who got 44.7 per cent in 10th, made 10 failed attempts at State prelims, later cracked UPSC with AIR..

Clearing the UPSC Civil Service Exam (CSE)- deemed one of the toughest tests in the country - is a hard nut to crack. Despite this, millions of students flood the examination halls every year, carrying aspirations of joining the administrative field. 

The journey of IAS officer Awanish Sharan is an inspiring one- which tells us how an ordinary beginning can be transformed into an extraordinary success. Let's dive into this. 

Who is Awanish Sharan?

A native of Bihar, Awanish Sharan pursued his primary education from a government school. He was a mediocre student. In the 10th grade, he achieved merely 44.7 per cent. Later, he slightly improved his performance, scoring 65 per cent in the 12th standard. 

Moreover, he clinched 60 per cent in graduation. Being aware of the fact that he was an average student, he aspired of cracking the UPSC to become an IAS officer. Sharan even appeared for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) and Central Police Forces (CPF) exams- both conducted by the UPSC. However, he couldn't succeed in those tests. 

Furthermore, he made 10 failed attempts in the state PCS prelims. 

Journey to UPSC 

In his first attempt at the UPSC CSE, Awanish Sharan made it to the interview round but was disqualified. In his second attempt, he clinched an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 77, making his dreams come true. 

In 2009, he became an IAS officer and is currently posted in Chhattishgarh's Bilaspur district.