The Civil Services Examination (CSE), administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is one of the most difficult recruiting exams in the world, not just in India. Ansar Shaikh, 21, is the youngest person to pass the exam and be sworn in as an IAS at such a young age, despite the fact that many others take years.
Each year, millions of applicants sit for the tests after years of careful preparation, but only a handful are ultimately chosen. Candidates for the UPSC can only succeed in clearing the prestigious exam with a strategic combination of diligence, direction, and determination. One such story involves Ansar Shaikh, who made history in 2016, by becoming an IAS at the age of 21. In his first attempt, he received an All India Rank of 361.
Yonus Sheikh Ahmad, Ansar Shaikh’s father, was an autorickshaw driver in Marathwada, Maharashtra. His mother worked on the farm before. Ansar Shaikh grew up in a family that endured lot of adversity. In order to help support the family after dropping out of school in class 7, his younger brother took a job in a garage and helped Ansar prepare for the UPSC test. Ansar Shaikh’s early years were anything but easy. Nonetheless, despite all of these obstacles, Ansar worked hard to succeed.
Ansar, a political science graduate from Fergusson College in Pune, previously admitted to experiencing discrimination during his job search. He had to change his name because he couldn’t get accommodations. “I had stated that my name was Shubham, which was actually the name of a friend of mine. I no longer have to hide my real name,” Shaikh explained.
Ansar never wavered from his goal, despite all odds. Rather than following in his father’s footsteps, Ansar chose a different path, creating history in the process. Given that his family did not place a high value on education, his performance is even more impressive. Ansar Shaikh is currently assigned to the state of West Bengal.
