To stay focused and chase one’s dream is not an easy task, especially while working in a tight schedule MNC job. But 27-year-old Rajath R of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala has proved that resilience and determination can pave the path to success by cracking the prestigious Indian Civil Services Examination in his third attempt.
Rajath has secured 169th rank in the Indian Civil Services Examination result which was published on Tuesday. This was his third attempt after failing to clear mains in his first attempt and interview in his second attempt.
Rajath, an alumnus of IIT, Palakkad and IIM-Indore, was working with a leading multinational bank, drawing a hefty salary and enjoying a fast-paced corporate career when he decided to quit the job and chase his childhood dream of becoming a civil servant. In a bold move, he resigned from his high-paying job in 2022 and dedicated himself fully to UPSC preparation.
In his second attempt, Rajath made it to the interview stage, only to fall short of the final list. While many would have been discouraged, Rajath saw it as a stepping stone. “I was determined to keep attempting to clear the exam and I am happy that I could do it in my third attempt. My family stood with me and strongly supported me,” Rajath said.
When Rajath re-joined the MNC after his second attempt, he knew that he had to schedule his work and civil services preparation in a disciplined manner because of the demanding work schedule.
His hard work, dedication and discipline paid off when he successfully cleared the examination this year.
“It wasn’t easy. Working full-time while preparing for UPSC required careful time management and a lot of sacrifice. But if your purpose is strong, you find a way,” he said. Rajath’s father Rajeev R is a senior superintending engineer at CSIR-NIST, Thiruvananthapuram, mother Ragini J N is a senior supervisor with Brahmos Aerospace, Thiruvananthapuram. His younger sister Radhika R is a second year MBBS student at JIPMER.
Rajath, who was very much focused on becoming a civil servant right from his young age, had won several laurels right from his school days. He has won several prizes in national quiz competitions. He was the first Malayalee student to secure admission in IIT Palakkad’s first batch in 2019. After completing his electrical engineering from IIT, he did his MBA from IIM-Indore in 2021 from where he was selected to the multinational bank through campus placement. He was also a National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) and KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) scholar throughout his academics.
His achievement is an inspiration for many young aspirants who often struggle to juggle work and preparation for serious competitive examinations like Indian Civil Services.
His journey stands as a beacon of hope for countless aspirants across the country—proof that dreams chased with dedication do come true.
