Iqra Farooq Bhat from Zakura, Srinagar, has been preparing for the Combined Competitive Examination (JKAS) since 2021.
When the civil services results were announced on Wednesday, she secured rank 2 in Jammu and Kashmir, topping the examination from the Kashmir Valley.
All day, people visited her home to congratulate her and her family. Coming from a humble background, she is the daughter of a tailor.
“I am very thankful to God for this accomplishment, and I am extremely grateful to my parents, my brother, my relatives, and everyone who prayed for me. I am very, very thankful to them for their well wishes. I am thrilled that my hard work has finally paid off. I have been preparing for this since 2021, and I am truly thankful that I succeeded,” she told news agency KINS.
“Everyone faces struggles in life in different ways. I have had my own struggles, but I am deeply grateful that Allah has blessed me with success,” she said.
“I have always aspired to reach a position where I can help others. Coming from a middle-class family, this journey was challenging. But I kept thinking that I must work hard to be in a position where I could help people.”
Iqra shared that helping others has been her goal since childhood.
“I will do my best to serve people. I want to focus on future aspirants and encourage them not to lose hope but to study consistently. Even if they don’t qualify the first time, they can keep working hard.”
On her preparation strategy, she explained, “In this world, having a humble background does not mean you can’t dream big. You can dream, and you can succeed. With internet access and other resources, it’s possible. My family supported me financially, materially, and emotionally. Coaching can guide you, but ultimately, you have to put in the effort yourself. No one else can work hard for you.
