The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the results of the Civil Services 2022 exam on Tuesday, highlighting the exceptional achievements of individuals across the country.
Waseem Ahmad Bhat, hailing from the picturesque region of Anantnag in South Kashmir, has made his mark by securing the 7th rank in the UPSC CSE 2022.
In an exclusive interview with Aaj Tak, Waseem expressed his elation at achieving such a significant rank in the All India Rankings (AIR) of the UPSC. He mentioned that while he had attempted the examination before, he had not secured such a high rank.INSPIRATION FROM FAMILY
Waseem credited his parents and grandfather for inspiring him to pursue a career in the civil services. His father works in the Jammu and Kashmir state agriculture department, while his mother is a homemaker.
“Ever since I was young, everyone in the house used to say that I would become a DM when I grow up. Then when I was in NIT Srinagar, I came to know about UPSC and prepared for it,” he says.
THIRD TIME LUCKY
Waseem graduated with a BTech in civil engineering from NIT Srinagar and went on to prepare for UPSC while living in Delhi. In 2020, the UPSC topper gave his first attempt and was unsuccessful.He again appeared for the UPSC CSE in 2021 but didn’t secure a high enough rank. This time, he has secured AIR 7.
COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE
When asked about his perspective on the situation in Kashmir, Waseem emphasised his dedication to serving the public.
“My aim is to serve the public because we are public servants. I have to work, especially for the tribal and backward sections of society. The people of Kashmir are very talented. If they get a chance, they will prove it,” he says.
He also acknowledged the achievements of his fellow Kashmiri friends who have secured good ranks in the UPSC examination.
Waseem believes that people from Kashmir excel in various fields, becoming a source of inspiration for others. Despite being in Delhi when Article 370 was revoked, he continued his classes without facing any significant challenges.
CHALLENGES AND GUIDANCE
Coming from the town of Dooru in Anantnag, Waseem highlighted the lack of guidance as a significant challenge for individuals from smaller places.
“When you come from a small place, the biggest problem is guidance and I had faced the same problem. Right now, I am in Nagpur. People come here from many small places who have faced similar problems,” he says.
“When I went to Karol Bagh Delhi, I came to know about many things. I met many people there with whom we used to talk about UPSC, those who gave the exam and those who didn’t also use to share their experience,” says the UPSC topper.
