Scored just 24 marks in Class 12 Chemistry exam, went to IIT, later quit high-paying job at Infosys, cracked UPSC exam, became IAS Officer with AIR…, he is..

In this article, we will discuss the success story of a man who left his high-paying job at Infosys for the UPSC exam, secured AIR...

The Civil Services Examination is one of the most challenging exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission in India. The exam is held in three phases: preliminary, mains, and interview. IAS Officers’ success stories have often motivated aspirants and made them believe that hard work, determination, and perseverance are the key to success. In this article, we will discuss the success story of a man who left his high-paying job at Infosys for the UPSC exam, secured AIR…

Who is this inspiring Officer?

Nitin Sangwan, born and raised in Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, has made a name for himself as his success story continues to motivate millions of UPSC aspirants. His path to success has been remarkably unique: he experienced multiple academic setbacks and made a courageous choice to leave his stable job with a large IT firm. In 2015, he achieved an All India Rank(AIR) of 28 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

What challenges did he face in school and early academics?

While Nitin Sangwan’s initial academic results were average, he never quit. He scored a mere 24 marks in Class 12th chemistry exams. In other words, Sangwan once took to X and shared his own Class 12 marksheet. The marksheet revealed that he scored 24 out of 70 in Chemistry, which is only one mark more than the minimum required to pass the subject. He even stated that life is much more than board results.

After overcoming this initial hurdle of low marks, he pursued higher education, ultimately receiving an Engineering Degree in Haryana. He completed his MBA from IIT Madras. This was a very important point for Nitin in moving forward with his commitment to education.

He began his career at the IT company Infosys. While he was at Infosys for almost two years, he reportedly also experienced being on the company’s “bench”, where employees don’t have an assigned project. While on the bench, he began to think about taking the Civil Services Examination.

Who inspired him to stay persistent despite early failures?

Nitin Sangwan decided to start preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination while he was working at Infosys. He wanted to pursue a career in the Civil Services, which would allow him to work with the public and make a direct, immediate, and positive effect on society; the corporate job had left him feeling like he wasn’t doing enough good for the world around him.

The UPSC journey was not easy. He attempted the exam four times, failing to even reach the mains in his first attempt. After the exam was unsuccessful, he reevaluated his approach and chose to study Sociology as his optional subject. What distinguished him from all the other candidates was his self-discipline; he completely cut himself off from social media and made the most of every minute alongside his work. He squeezed every second out of his day during those hours. By using digital notes, he was able to take advantage of those short breaks from work to continue preparing for the exam.

Nitin Sangwan did not stop trying to achieve his goal of becoming an IAS Officer, even after passing the second and third attempts. On those two attempts, Nitin was selected into the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and other services, yet his ultimate goal was to become an IAS Officer. Through hard work, determination and an improved plan of action, Nitin Sangwan secured an All-India Rank of 28 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2015 and finally became an IAS Officer. Today, IAS Nitin Sangwan is serving in the Gujarat cadre and is a source of inspiration to millions of students that success is not dependent on your school marks but on hard work, self-belief, and dedication.