Category Archives: Education

K V Rabiya, who fought the odds to become an icon of Kerala’s literacy mission, dies at 59

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Tirurangadi (Malappuram District), KERALA :

In 2000, Rabiya was diagnosed with cancer, which she later overcame, after which she returned to social work.

In 2022, she was honoured with the Padma Shri for social work. (File Photo)

K V Rabiya, known for her prominent role in Kerala’s adult literacy programme, died at her home in Malappuram on Sunday. She was 59.

A native of Vellikakkad in Malappuram district, Rabiya fought against heavy odds and personal tragedies, right from childhood, to work relentlessly for the betterment of the differently abled and inspired thousands of women to enter the world of letters.

In 2022, she was honoured with Padma Shri for social work.

While still a school student, Rabiya contracted polio at the age of 12, which would eventually leave her paraplegic. Despite this, she completed her schooling and joined a college. However, she could not complete the degree course.

Rabiya then turned to books, reading everything from science to literature. Wheelchair-bound by then, Rabiya also started taking tuition classes for local children at a nominal fee.

It was by chance that Rabiya became a part of Kerala’s literacy movement, which began in the late 1980s. A college degree was a must for a literacy instructor. However, an instructor, who could not continue with the programme, sought Rabiya’s help. This marked the birth of a social worker and the beginning of her legacy.

She started teaching literacy classes in June 1990, and local elderly women and housewives were her students. She worked to convince women from orthodox families about the importance of education, and told them inspiring stories of world leaders and social reformers to get them interested in her classes.

When her number of students started swelling, Rabiya became a full-time literacy instructor. Later, she also established a library for women and became instrumental in the development of her locality, which did not have basic facilities such as roads and electricity, telephone, and water connections.

She eventually launched a voluntary organisation named Chalanam (movement), which also spearheaded literary programmes.

Her intervention was not limited to literacy alone. She started six schools for children with special needs and trained and empowered more than 250 women through a small-scale manufacturing unit. She was also at the forefront of the movement to create awareness against dowry and superstition. In later years, she was also actively involved in the e-literacy programme, Akshaya, in Malappuram.

In 2000, Rabiya was diagnosed with cancer, which she later overcame, after which she returned to social work.

In her autobiography, Swapnangalkku Chirakukalundu (Dreams Have Wings), Rabiya told the story of her inspiring life and how she chased her dreams. She also authored four other books, including the memoir, Mouna Nombarangal (Silent Pains). A documentary was also made on her life, titled Rabiya Moves.

She received several honours, including the Kannagi Devi Stree Shakti Puraskar, instituted by the Child Welfare Department of the Union government, in 2000. She also won the Youth Volunteer against Poverty award, jointly instituted by the Union Youth Affairs Ministry and the United Nations Development Programme.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> India / by Shaju Philip, Thiruvananthapuram / May 05th, 2025

Mangaluru: More than 100 companies participate in two-day ‘Beary’s Festival 2025’

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Mangaluru, KARNATAKA :

Mangaluru: 

The two-day ‘Beary’s Festival 2025’ was inaugurated by Skill Development Corporation President Kantha Nayak at the Karavali Utsava ground by the Karnataka Bearys Social and Cultural Forum on Saturday.

The festival includes a job fest which has attracted more than national and international 100 companies and more than 5,000 job applicants. Educational and career counseling sessions, medical check-up and blood donation camps, business meets, food fests, competitions, discussions on various issues, sessions for the benefit of youth and cultural events are also organized as a part of the festival.

Kantha Nayak, who addressed the gathering, called upon unemployed people to make the best use of the job fair as it would also make the organizers’ efforts worthwhile and advised the candidates who fail to get job not to be disappointed. She explained that it was important for candidates to hone their skills, along with gaining education, as it helps in job-hunting.

Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan lauded the efforts of the organizers for holding the festival aiming for communal harmony.

Pastor of Bejai Church Rev. Fr. Norman D’Souza spoke on the occasion and wished well for the festival.

Entrepreneur and TK Group member Umar TK was honoured with the ‘Motivational Award’.

Retired Superintendent of Police and Chairperson of the Organizing Committee GA Bava made the inaugural address. Moulana SB Mohamman Darimi offered dua for the programme. UT Farzana welcomed the gathering and Rafique Master was the Master of Ceremony.

State Cashew Development Board President Mamatha Gatti, NRI Forum Vice-president Dr. Arati Krishna, Presidency Group of Institutions Bengaluru Vice-chairman Suhail Ahmed, Presidency Group of Institutions Director Kausar Nisar Ahmed, Entrepreneurs Mustafa Bharat, Zakaria Jokatte, Sharief Whitestone, UT Ifthikar and UT Zulfikar Ali, SCDCC Bank Chairman Dr MN Rajendra Kumar, Nasir Luckystar, Musabba Beary, Mustafa Sullia, KM Aboobakar Siddiq, Sheik Irfani, Congress leaders KK Shahul Hamid, Padmaraj R and Pradeep D’Souza and Iqbal Parliya were among those who attended the inaugural event.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / April 19th, 2025

Kashmir: Muneeb Bhat, Haris Mir realised their ‘yeh dil mange more’ dream by clearing UPSC

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Anantnag District / Kupwara District : JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Two out of 12 aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir who qualified for the UPSC Civil Services 2024 have followed their passion for “Yeh Dil Mange More” (My heart wants more) and improved their rankings in the administrative services for which they had already qualified.

The duo is Mohammad Muneeb Bhat from Anantnag district of South Kashmir (AIR 131) who is already serving the J&K government after clearing the JK Public Service Commission examination; and Mohammad Haris Mir, AIR 314 from Kupwara district of North Kashmir.

Haris Mir hit the All India rank of 345 in the UPSC Civil Services examinations of 2023 and has improved his rankings.

Interestingly, a woman – Iram Choudhary from Rajouri district of Jammu region – is the topper from the UT with AIR 40.

Mohammad Muneeb Bhat, son of the government teachers from Anantnag town of South Kashmir, had set his goal of joining the civil services while pursuing his Civil Engineering degree at the Lovely Professional University in Punjab.

He told Awaz-The Voice that he started preparing for the coveted UPSC exam soon after completing his Engineering degree. He took the exam in 2017. “The motivation for civil services came from those already qualified persons from J&K like Shah Faesal (2009) and Athar Aamir Khan (2016), though there has been a considerable number of UPSC qualifiers over the past about two decades.

“I continued to achieve the goal” till my success in the last attempt this year”, Bhat said. He stayed in Delhi to attend different institutions including the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) at the Jamia Millia Islamia.

While preparing for the UPSC examination, Mohamad Muneeb Bhat qualified for the J&K (UT) PSC examination in 2023 and was allocated the J&K Police Services. He is presently undergoing probation with the UT government.

His father, Mohammad Ashraf Bhat retired as a Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) last year, while his mother recently retired from service.

Mohammad Haris Mir qualified for the UPSC with AIR 345 last year but made yet another attempt to achieve a higher rank. He was allotted Revenue Services ((IRS) and is presently undergoing probation at the National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) in Nagpur.

“To achieve a higher rank, I prepared during my probation”, Mohammad Haris Mir told Awaz The Voice from Nagpur. “The motivation (to achieve a higher rank) was like any other aspirant and the hard work has been fruitful”, he said.

As it’s permitted, Haris took leave fromn the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, to prepare for the mains of the 2024 examinination and later joined the  Uttarakhand, and took leave to prepare for mains of the Civil services 2024. He later joined NADT at Nagpur.

Mohammad Haris was also motivated by the success of senior bureaucrats like Shah Faesal and Athar Amir. He qualified for the UPSC on the first attempt last year.

Though his father is a doctor, Haris opted for the humanities. Hailing from a remote area of Handwara in the border district of Kupwara, Dr Mir had shifted to Srinagar as he was posted in the Oncology Department at the SKIMS Hospital, Soura in Srinagar.

After completing the XII examination, Haris, 26, joined the 5-year degree course in Law, B A, LL.B from the Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. Though Jamia Millia Islamia offers free coaching to students from minority communities for the UPSC examinations (Residential Coaching Academy) Haris preferred to prepare without joining coaching classes. “Soon after completing his Law degree, I began to prepare through self-study for the UPSC examination….it was a full year of studies involving hard work, which led me to clear the examination in the first attempt”, he told Awaz-the Voice

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Ehsan Fazili, Srinagar / April 30th, 2025

UPSC aspirant Abu Saliya Khan who trained in Mangaluru cracks Civil Services Exam with AIR 588

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Kooli Village (Ranebennur, Haveri District), KARNATAKA :

Abu Saliya Khan

Mangaluru/Ranebennur: 

Abu Saliya Khan, a former student of Ace IAS Academy in Mangaluru, has cleared the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination with an All India Rank (AIR) of 588, bringing pride to the academy and his hometown of Ranebennur in Karnataka’s Haveri district.

Hailing from Kooli village in Ranebennur taluk, Abu Saliya completed his primary education in a Kannada-medium school before joining RTS College, Ranebennur for his pre-university education in 2014. He later pursued his B.Sc in Agriculture at Shivamogga, graduating in 2019. His journey toward UPSC preparation took a significant turn when he shifted to Mangaluru and enrolled at the Ace IAS Academy for intensive training.

Speaking to Vartha Bharati, Abu Saliya credited his success to the foundation laid during his training at the Ace IAS Academy. “It was here in Mangaluru that I got my basics right. The environment at Ace helped me understand the significance of public service and mentally prepared me for this long journey,” he said.

After his training in Mangaluru, he moved to Delhi and continued his preparation at Jamia Millia Islamia’s Residential Coaching Academy. His perseverance paid off in his fourth attempt. He had earlier cleared the prelims in 2023, which gave him a renewed sense of hope and motivation to make one final attempt, resulting in this year’s success.

Coming from a modest background, Abu Saliya’s story is an inspiration to many. His father, the late Hussain Khan Kulkarni, was a bus conductor with NWKRTC and passed away earlier last year. His mother, Arshad Banu, is a homemaker. Despite financial and emotional hardships, the family stood by his side as he pursued his dream of joining the civil services.

On being asked about his preferred service, Abu Saliya shared that while he had aspired to join the Indian Administrative Service or Indian Police Service, he now expects to be allotted the Indian Revenue Service based on his rank. He also revealed that he had been attempting to qualify for the Indian Forest Services.

Reacting to the news of his success, he said, “My family is overjoyed. These are the moments that come once in a lifetime. There was a time I had almost decided to give up and pursue a career in agriculture. But after clearing the prelims in 2023, I decided to try again—and I’m glad I did.”

His success has been hailed by many in Mangaluru’s civil service aspirant community, with Ace IAS Academy calling it a proud moment for the institution.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / April 24th, 2025

Farkhanda Qureshi: Small town woman achieves big success by securing 67th rank in UPSC

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Balaghat, MADHYA PRADESH :

Farkhanda Qureshi of Balaghat, Madya Pradesh, outside UPSC office in Delhi

Farkhanda Qureshi was in her eighth grade when she saw district Collector B. Chandrasekharan son a local Television channel. This visual ignited a dream in her mind; she too wanted to become a civil servant. Today this Muslim woman from from Balaghat, a small town of Madhya Pradesh, has realized her dream which she nurtured over the years with passion, hard work, overcoming failures and perseverance.

Farkhanda Qureshi has secured 67th rank in the UPSC 2024 Civil Services Examination and would soon join the Lal Bahadur Shashtri National Academy for Administration, Dehradun, for training to become an Indian civil servant.

“I had decided that one day I will also become a collector and work for society.” She credits her success in her fourth attempt to her family’s support.

She started preparing for UPSC in 2021. Despite failures, she did not give up. She says, “My parents did not let me break down; they motivated me and told me that I will get success one day. Had they not supported me, I would have probably given up in the first or second attempt,” she told the told media persons.

Farkhanda believes that for a tough exam like UPSC, studying for 18 hours is not necessary, but consistency and strategy are. “I studied for 6 to 8 hours every day, but I studied every day. Old year papers, standard books, current affairs and newspapers were an important part of my preparation.”

Farkhanda Qureshi flanked by her parents Nikhat Anjum and Abdul Malik Qureshi

Farkhanda, who completed her 10th from St. Mary’s School and 12th from Methodist Mission, says, “Being from a small town like Balaghat has never been my weakness. I believe that if the youth here get the right direction and resources, they can make a name for themselves across the country.”

Farkhanda considers her father Abdul Malik Qureshi, who is a lawyer, and her mother Nikhat Anjum Qureshi, a homemaker, her heroes and credits her success to them.

Her father said, “Today people recognize me by my daughter’s name, nothing can give me greater happiness than this.”

There is a festive atmosphere in the area, the collector congratulated Farkhanda and and wished her a bright future. The local mosque committee (Anjuman( also felicitated her and called her inspiration for the Muslim youth.

Out of the 1,009 candidates recommended by UPSC this year, 26 are Muslims, though none made it to the Top 25. 

Iram Choudhary (Rank 40) and Farkhanda Qureshi (Rank 67) are the highest-ranking Muslim candidates in the merit list. A total of 97 Muslim candidates were selected for the interview stage, and the success rate stands at 2.57%, lower than previous years.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Abdul Wasim Ansari, Balaghat, Bhopal (name error edited) / April 26th, 2025

In a first, Maharashtra gets first Muslim female IAS officer – Adeeba Anam Ashfaque Ahmed

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Education- Excellence, Coaching, Training, Tutorials (wef. Feb 09th, 2024), Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Yawatmal (Vidharba Region), MAHARASHTRA :

Do it again and again. Consistency makes the raindrops create holes in the rock. Whatever is difficult can be done easily with regular attendance, attention, and action. Perhaps imbibed by the words of Israelmore Ayivor, an inspirational writer, blogger and LifeSkills Entrepreneur, Adeeba Anam Ashfaque Ahmed from Yavatmal in Maharashtra created a record of sorts to become the first female Muslim IAS officer after successfully clearing the civil services with All India Rank 142.

The success saga of Adeeba only proves the awareness shown by Muslim girls to take up civil services exams breaking the barriers.

On cloud nine are Adeeba’s parents, relatives, friends and more particularly her teachers on seeing her victory after three failures. She came out with flying colours in her fourth attempt after getting the necessary guidance and coaching from Jamia Millia Residential Coaching Academy in Delhi.

Can’t imagine a girl hailing from a parched and drought-prone Yavatmal district bringing glory to her native. All because of her patience and consistency as to the quote of American business honcho Robert Kiyosaki – “Successful people don’t fear failure but understand that it’s necessary to learn and grow from.” It is learnt that Maharashtra hardly witnessed any female Muslim IAS officers in the last one decade or so.

Kudos to her dad Ashfaq Ahmed, an auto driver, who despite financial constraints strained his nerves to make his daughter’s civil service dream a reality. Of course, her mom and uncle were very supportive in ensuring she achieved her IAS after successive failures. Adeeba started her early education at Zafarnagar Zilla Parishad Urdu Primary School, where she studied from Class 1 to Class 7. Thereafter, she finished schooling from Class 8 to 10 at Zilla Parishad Government Girls High School. And she completed her 11th and 12th grades at Zilla Parishad Ex-Government College in Yavatmal.

Armed with BSc Mathematics from Inamdar Senior College in Pune, she joined a coaching academy in Pune to take UPSC foundation classes based on the advice of her maternal uncle Jan Nizamuddin Sahib, who works as secretary at Seva NGO.

She got interested after meeting a few IAS officers and was determined to become an IAS. The road to civil services wasn’t smooth for her as she faced many obstacles. However, she was firm and worked relentlessly to taste success.

Noteworthy to mention that her dad Ashfaq Ahmed dropped out of school after tenth standard due to family circumstances. But decided not to let her daughter face the same fate, left no stone unturned and encouraged Adeeba to do her UG. Right from her school days, she had a fascination for civil services inspired by the young IAS officers’ remarkable feat through newspapers. Since then, she has been working towards her civil service dream.

In an interview to a local television channel, she is reported to have said that studying isn’t easy, especially for girls in patriarchal communities like Muslim, but her parents stood by her. She expressed her gratitude to mom, who extended support for her in her endeavours. The community was against girls pursuing higher studies, but her dad told her not to worry about society, and focus on her goal.

It is interesting to infer that she chose Urdu Literature as her optional subject despite having a science background. However, she displayed her prowess in clearing the civil services with confidence. A total of 32 candidates from Jamia Millia Islamia and 3 from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) have figured in the UPSC Civil Services 2024 Merit List. Of the 1009 candidates selected, only two Muslim candidates figured in the top 100.

She said that IAS is the first step to serve the society and added that her area of interest is to work for the underprivileged, more specifically girls. And she wanted to contribute to the education and health sector as a civil servant. Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) RCAs are renowned academies in the field of coaching students for Civil Services. They provide free coaching and training for preparing for the Civil Services Examination for candidates from SC, ST, Women, and Minority communities.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus> Markers of Excellence / by M Rafi Ahmed, Radiance News Bureau / April 28th, 2025

Dr. Iqbal Urdu Primary and Middle School Adds Another Feather to Its Cap

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Malegaon (Nashik District), MAHARASHTRA :

Malegaon:

Every year, the Government of Maharashtra conducts a scholarship examination for students of Grade 5, in which lakhs of students from across the state participate. Recently, interim results of this exam were announced. In this examination, 48 students from Dr. Iqbal Urdu Primary School – a renowned and quality institution run by Al-Huda Social Welfare Society, Malegaon, District Nashik – participated. Out of these, 31 students achieved outstanding success.

Hafsa Saman Mohammad Mujahid secured 212 marks out of 300. Fatima Sitwat Azhar Hussain and Zobia Anam Mohammad Mujahid both secured 188 marks respectively, while Sheikh Umar Sheikh Sabir obtained 186 marks.

The school administration always strives not only to encourage students to participate in competitive exams but also to ensure their thorough preparation. For this purpose, the school arranges special classes throughout the year specifically for scholarship students, providing them with extensive practice.

Behind this success lies the significant role of competent and dedicated teachers. The school has expert teachers for this competitive scholarship activity, and the Headmaster is always ready to guide the students. In addition, the parents extended full support.

The institution’s President Dr. Ahmed Urooj, Vice President Khwaja Nizamuddin, Secretary Riyaz Khan, Headmaster Mohammad Ateeque ur Rahman, and the school staff congratulated the students and their parents and expressed their best wishes for great success in the future.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Education> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / April 26th, 2025

Karkala’s Shoukath Azeem secures 345th rank in UPSC 2024

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Karkala (Udupi District), KARNATAKA :

Karkala : 

In a proud moment for Karkala, Shoukath Azeem from Salmara has secured the 345th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, turning his long-cherished dream of becoming an IAS officer into reality.

Undeterred by repeated setbacks, Azeem attempted the UPSC exam nine times, finally succeeding with an impressive rank in his last attempt, demonstrating unwavering determination and grit.

He is the son of Sheikh Abdulla and Maimoona from Salmara. His father, a truck driver by profession, raised the family with modest means. Despite coming from a humble background, Azeem’s ambition to join the civil services was ignited during his childhood after watching the Kannada movie Prithvi, starring Puneeth Rajkumar.

Azeem completed his early education at the Karkala Government Urdu School and a private school followed by higher education at a private college in Kukkundoor. He later earned his engineering degree a private college in Moodbidri.

In 2022, he had cleared the UPSC exam and was selected for the accounts division of the defence department, currently serving in Pune. Encouraged to try once more, Azeem made a final attempt and achieved his ultimate goal of becoming an IAS officer.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala / April 26th, 2025

From Puncture Shop to IAS: Iqbal Ahmed and Aditi Chhapadia Bring Pride to Sant Kabir Nagar, Village Celebrates

Amazing Feats, Education, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023)

Nandaur Village (Fatehpur, Sant Kabir Nagar District), UTTAR PRADESH :

Photo Credit: PTI

Sant Kabir Nagar :

They say that determination, courage, and hard work can turn any dream into reality. This has been proved true by Iqbal Ahmed from Fatehpur (Nandaur) village and Aditi Chhapadia from Khalilabad, who have cracked the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 and brought glory to their district, reported the Asia Times.

Iqbal Ahmed secured an impressive 998th rank in the UPSC exam. Coming from a modest background, Iqbal did not let challenges deter his path. He began his education at a local madrasa, completed high school and intermediate at Begum Ishaq Nabi Khan Girls Inter College in Nandaur, and later earned his BA and B.Ed degrees from Hariharpur. Currently, he is serving as a Labour Enforcement Officer.

His father, Mr. Maqbool Ahmed, used to run a small puncture repair shop near the State Bank of India in Nandaur. Due to health issues, the shop has been closed for the past two years. Among five siblings, two of Iqbal’s brothers are involved in painting work. His achievement has been widely celebrated by former teachers and locals, who expressed pride and wished him a bright future.

Meanwhile, Aditi Chhapadia, daughter of prominent businessman and social worker Mr. Ashish Chhapadia from Khalilabad, secured an All India Rank of 97 in her second attempt and has been selected for the IAS. Her remarkable success has filled not just her family but the entire district with immense pride and joy.

Celebrations have erupted across Sant Kabir Nagar. Both Iqbal and Aditi have emerged as beacons of inspiration for the youth, proving that with true dreams and strong determination, one can rise from any background and succeed in the nation’s toughest examinations.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Markers of Excellence / by Radiance News Bureau / April 23rd, 2025

Jamia’s free UPSC coaching produces 32 civil servants in 2024

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NEW DELHI :

New Delhi :

Turning aspirations into achievements, the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) university’s Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) has once again proven to be a beacon of hope for civil service aspirants as a total of 32 students trained there have cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination 2024, one of the most competitive exams in the country.

Of the 78 candidates from the RCA who reached the interview stage, 32 made it to the final selection list, according to a statement issued by the JMI.

Twelve among them are women, reflecting the RCA’s strong emphasis on inclusive and gender-responsive education, the statement said.

Alfred Thomas emerged as the academy’s top performer this year with an All India Rank (AIR) of 33. He was followed by Iram Choudhary (AIR 40) and Ruchika Jha (AIR 51), all of whom have earned praise for their inspiring journeys.

Speaking exclusively to PTI, Jha said, “The Jamia Millia Islamia RCA gave me a healthy competitive environment to push myself to work hard. The peer group I got here kept me motivated through tough times. The JMI RCA has played a crucial role in my UPSC-CSE journey.” She added that service allocation is expected in the next four to five months and her first preference is the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre.

Several of the selected candidates are likely to be inducted into top services like the IAS and Indian Police Service (IPS), while others will join the India Revenue Service (IRS), Audit and Accounts, Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) and other Group-A services based on their ranks and preferences.

Celebrating the achievement, JMI Vice Chancellor Professor Mazhar Asif said, “This result is a matter of great pride. The RCA continues to uphold its mission of empowering students from socially- and economically-disadvantaged backgrounds. The performance of our women candidates particularly underscores the potential of inclusive education.”

Registrar Professor Mohammad Mahtab Alam Rizvi said, “These results are a reflection of the academy’s rigorous preparation model and the unwavering determination of our students. The RCA has built an environment of excellence that consistently delivers.”

Professor Samina Bano, the in-charge of the RCA, was praised for her personalised mentorship and hands-on guidance, which played a crucial role in this year’s success.

Established in 2010 under the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) initiative, the RCA operates through the university’s Centre for Coaching and Career Planning (CC&CP). It offers free coaching and residential facilities to candidates from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minority communities and women. Admission is based on a national-level written test, followed by interviews.

The academy’s legacy includes Shruti Sharma, the UPSC topper of 2021. Since its inception, the RCA has helped nearly 300 students enter elite services such as the IAS, IPS and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), while more than 300 others have joined services like CAPF, IB, RBI, Bank PO and various state PSCs.

According to the statement, the RCA’s structured programme includes more than 500 hours of classes, mock interviews, special sessions with retired civil servants and experts, and mentorship by successful alumni. It also provides round-the-clock library access, free Wi-Fi and secure residential facilities.

The Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages — preliminary, mains and interview — to select officers for the IAS, IFS, IPS and other central services.

The preliminary exam was held on June 16, 2024, with 9,92,599 candidates applying and 5,83,213 appearing. A total of 14,627 candidates qualified for the main exam held in September and 2,845 reached the interview stage that was conducted from January 7 to April 17, 2025.

This year, the UPSC has recommended 1,009 candidates — 725 men and 284 women — for appointment to various services.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by PTI / Tarique Anwar / April 24th, 2025