For the second consecutive year, a Delhi girl has topped the prestigious Civil Services examination. Tina Dabi has topped the 2015 UPSC Civil Services examination, while railway officer Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan from Jammu & Kashmir's Anantnag has got second rank in the results which were declared on Tuesday. Besides them, Delhi-based Jasmeet Singh Sandhu, an Indian Revenue Service officer, has secured third position.
Topping the list in her first attempt, a beaming 22-year-old Tina, who graduated from lady Shri Ram College, said, “It is indeed a proud moment for me.” Tina is confident to make a difference in the “highly gender discriminatory State” Haryana. In an interview with The Pioneer at her parent's apartment in New Delhi's Kali Bari area, Tina shared her secret to success: “Thirst” to learn, and “support, belief and patience” of her parents which keep her going.
“This exam is taken over a year and it can take a toll on you but the key is to have patience and hope,” she said.
Tina's “awards and achievement” are well displayed in her house. “She is a star and stood at the top in school and college too,” said her parents. And as the news broke, the celebrations and the media attention overwhelmed the whole family with Tina's mother, Himali, flashing a badge with a slogan: “My daughter, my hero”.
Tina studies in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, for first 10 years of her life and then moved to the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Delhi. “In Political Science, there is a definition of TINA: There is no alternative,” she responded to a question, explaining what makes her unique.
By opting Haryana Cadre, Tina said, “Haryana appeared to be most interesting to me. In my college, we are taught gender equality which is something lacking in Haryana and I would like to bring a stop to it. I hope to make a difference in gender equality. Besides, this place is economically doing well and is an amalgam of different cultures.”
While the second topper 23-year-old Athar, who hails from Anantnag in South Kashmir, got through the test in his second attempt. In his first attempt in 2014, he had got Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) and is currently undergoing training in Indian Railways Institute of Transport Management, lucknow.
Athar, a graduate from the IIT Mandi, told The Pioneer, “I worked very hard. My margin was to top the examination and that is why I slogged for a second attempt and the result was expected. It is a dream come true.”
“I will not leave any stone unturned to work for the betterment of people. I have opted for Jammu & Kashmir cadre. I will be happy in case I get chance to work there. I think there is a lot of scope to fulfil aspirations of people of my state,” he said.
Jasmeet, whose father works in Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) here, thanked his parents and teachers for his success. “It is all because of my family, friends and Mukul Pathak sir (who runs a coaching class) that I could secure third rank in the exam,” he said.
Jasmeet was also selected in 2014 civil services exam and had got Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise).
He is undergoing training at National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics in Faridabad. This was his fourth attempt.
A total of 1,078 candidates, including 499 in General category, 314 belonging to Other Backward Class, 176 from Scheduled Caste and 89 from Scheduled Tribe, have been recommended for appointment to various central government services, the UPSC said.
The results of civil services examination 2015 was declared on Tuesday. A total of 1,078 candidates, including 499 in General category, 314 belonging to Other Backward Class, 176 from Scheduled Caste and 89 from Scheduled Tribe, have been recommended for appointment to various central government services, stated the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).