Mishkat Noor said she studied for five-six hours while preparing for UPMSP matric exams 2023. Photo Credit: TV9
Mishkat Noor is a student of Canossa Convent Girls Inter College, Ayodhya. Thanking god, she gave credit for her success to her parents. Her father is a teacher at a madrasa.
New Delhi:
The UP Board today declared UPMSP Class 10 and 12 results 2023 and also released list of toppers for both the classes. Priyanshi Soni has topped UPMSP matric exam 2023 with a score of 590 out of 600 marks. Two students have secured the second position with 587 marks. Their percentage comes out to be 97.83 per cent. The name of those two students are Kushagra Pandey and Mishkat Noor.
Mishkat Noor is a student of Canossa Convent Girls Inter College, Ayodhya. Thanking god, she gave credit for her success to her parents. Her father is a teacher at a madrasa.
She said she studied for five-six hours while preparing for UPMSP matric exams 2023. However, even after attaining such good marks, Mishkat is not satisfied with her result. She said she could have scored more marks had she not made a mistake which cost her two marks. Talking to media, Mishkat said she wanted to become a doctor.
The toppers of UP Board will be awarded cash prize and a laptop. They will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, as per reports. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated students on clearing the board exams and wished them luck for their better future.
Top 10 toppers at state level and district level will be honoured at the district level, the chief minister said in his tweet.
This year, more than 31 lakh students sat for UPMSP matric exam 2023. The overall pass percentage for Class 10 stands at 89.78 per cent and that recorded among girls is 93.34 per cent.
Students who are not satisfied with their UP Board result 2023 can apply for scrutiny on the official website of the UPMSP at upmsp.edu.in. The UPMSP will re-evaluate sheets of those who apply for scrutiny and check if any question remained unchecked.
Those who have failed in or two subjects will be able to apply for compartment exam to pass Class 10 or 12 in which they studied. They will be issued revised marksheet if they clear their compartment exam.
source: http://www.news9live.com / News9Live.com/ Home> by Education & Career / by Nikhal Jha / April 25th, 2023
Wealth of Muslim community and government spending on the rituals of Islam for centuries would have been better utilized for establishing universities and technical and research institutes.
Title: The Scientific Muslim: Understanding Islam in a New Light
Author: Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz
Publishers: Konark Publishers
Pages: 184
Price: Rs 595
These are undoubtedly troubled times for India. Never before were the minorities, Muslims in particular, made to face such vicious communal hostility. The Hindu rightwing is at its aggressive best, combining facts with fiction to attack almost everything Muslims hold dear – their prayers, festivals, dress, even cuisine. Muslims are constantly provoked. If they respond even verbally, they face more wrath. It could not have been worse.
Hats off to Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz for coming out with his book on the problems Islam faces now. No, this is not a book about how to deal with Hindutva forces; far from it. A man of science, Parvaiz complains that Muslims across the world have jettisoned Islam’s true nature by sticking to parts of the Quran while ignoring much of what it says on how one must lead one’s life.
As a student of spirituality, I am convinced that the book will make waves in India and much of the Islamic world.
Ignoring Quran
The Quran, the author says, tells people how to lead a peaceful and meaningful life. While it asks those who read it to understand and explore nature, these intellectual pursuits are almost missing in those who claim the Quran to be their guidebook.
Parvaiz moans that Muslims born in Muslim households are taught to ‘read’ Quran without understanding it. Over the last many centuries, Muslim society has cherry-picked certain verses of Quran as binding on them. These include five-time prayers, fasting during Ramzan, offering ‘zakat’ and making a pilgrimage to Mecca. The Quran, he says, is much more. By deserting the Quran, “we ‘Muslims’ have deserted Islam”.
This is the main reason the Muslim society seems to have turned its back to scientific principles in which it once excelled, giving a tough competition to Europe. A sizeable section of Muslims even feels that contemporary education churns out atheists. The result? Ignorance about Quranic teachings coupled with limited ‘religiosity’ has led to the curriculum which is followed in most madrasas today.
In the process, Muslims are widely misunderstood by others. Non-Muslims think a Muslim must be one who sports a beard and a skull cap, goes to a mosque to pray five times a day and slaughters animals to eat. But these are visible symbols. Parvaiz contends that the one who follows the guidance given in the Quran and grooms himself accordingly is alone a true Muslim.
Also, some Muslim rulers had a knack of not tolerating any criticism about themselves or their religious beliefs. Consequently, wars and persistent battles rendered the once-prized academic atmosphere unfavourable.
Based on the Quran, Muslims must draw a road map for acquiring knowledge in every sphere and put it to the service of humanity. Parvaiz details what all the Quran says for human betterment. For instance, it underlines that one must meet his needs judiciously and avoid extravagance. As long as the Muslim followed the divine way, they ruled over the world and promoted justice, equity, peace and public welfare. When they began to neglect the Quranic system, it led to their disgrace and humiliation.
Islamic decline
Unfortunately, Muslims are at present unable to understand or act on the Quran. According to the author, the wealth of the Muslim community and government spending on the rituals of Islam for centuries would have been better utilized for establishing universities and technical and research institutes.
The absence of these is a key reason for the decline of Muslims as a productive part of the society or country where they live. “Their love for wealth, progeny and glory have made them indifferent to patronizing knowledge… It is time that we transcend sectarianism and shed false notions about our understanding of Islam and our intellectualism.”
According to the author, one reason why Muslims were hooked to a ritualistic lifestyle is because of the birth of a plethora of confusing and contradicting literature based on different sects that began to flourish. Slowly, Islam began to get diluted.
Also, some Muslim rulers had a knack of not tolerating any criticism about themselves or their religious beliefs. Consequently, wars and persistent battles rendered the once-prized academic atmosphere unfavourable. Muslim mobs in 1857 plundered the library of Delhi College, tearing apart books on English and science; Arabic and Persian books were looted.
Parvaiz without doubt has complete faith in the Quran. Yet he tears to shreds those who he feels are following it selectively, ignoring all that it has said about how to be in tune with Divine creations. “Soulless rituals cannot provide any food for thought. These may arouse our sentiments. Yet they cannot produce those Muslims who may lead communities of the world.”
He goes on: “Today, Muslim localities are notorious for their filth and rubbish. We throw all rubbish outside our homes and shops. The drainage system is rotten. We encroach upon roads, making life difficult for everyone. We erect all sorts of barriers on roads. We generate various forms of disorder. The industrial smoke coming out of small- scale work units in every house and alley adversely affect the entire atmosphere. All this amounts to disobeying God’s commands.” (It is another matter that much of what the author says about Muslim neighbourhoods can be said to be true for areas populated by other communities in India too.)
Way forward
Parvaiz explains what needs to be done. “Water, air, earth and all that is inside the planet are God’s signs. As Muslims we should not even think of disrespecting or destroying these signs.” His complaint is not directed at one section or country of Muslims. “No group, community or country of Muslims has ever prepared its progress model which is in accordance with the Quranic principles of justice, equity and selfless service.”
God, he says, has subjected everything to His laws. Indeed, all creatures who abide by divine commands can be called believers. Lip service and verbal claims alone will not and cannot help Muslims discharge their duty towards God. In real life, humans who are blessed by God seek to hold and hoard resources provided to them. Ownership and monopoly, he warns, are satanic concepts.
Parvaiz feels that the time has come to free Muslim educational agenda from religious and sectarian bias. Muslims should welcome all beneficial branches of knowledge. Character development has to be encouraged. One needs to train and produce Muslims who will follow Islam in full and not confine it to only a mosque or prayers.
“Islam will be their guide and mentor in every activity of life. This is the Muslim community which lost its way one thousand years ago.”
Non-Muslims too must read this eye-opener of a book as much as Muslims.
(The reviewer is a veteran journalist and author)
(Published under an arrangement with South Asia Monitor)
source: http://www.thenewsagency.in / The News Agency / Home> News Pops> India / by M R Narayan Swamy / April 28th, 2022
Just an 11-year-old girl astonishes the world with her extraordinary development skills. She recently created an AI Application that uses advanced models to determine eye diseases or serious conditions such as Melanoma, Cataracts, etc. Read below about this creative Kerala-origin girl.
An 11-year-old Dubai-based girl called Leena Rafeeq has designed a modernistic application integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI). This young girl from Kerala proclaimed that this smart app can locate common eye disorders and symptoms. Moreover, this can be determined through a unique scanning method built into the app and only the iPhone supports this advanced model so far.
iPhone users will be able to check their eye-related problems and conditions with 70 per cent accuracy. The intelligent app that has been going viral for a couple of days has been named ‘Ogler EyeScan’ by Ms Leena Rafeeq. She was just 10 when she built it and now after so much research at the age of 11, she exuberantly launched it.
Self-taught Techie
On a social media platform called LinkedIn, she vividly presented the model. She further expounded the workings of her self-made in an online video that she posted online after which several viewers are impressed with her knowledge and skill set.
She asserted that this AI-based application has the capability to evaluate various parameters. The specifications include light and colour intensity, distance and look-up points in order to track down the eyes.
It scans the human eyes within the available range of the frame and this is possible through the “advanced computer vision and machine learning” used in this model’s design.
Features of ‘Ogler EyeScan App’
Leena Rafeeq explains her exceptional achievement and said that the Ogler EyeScan App can also identify any light burst issues. Additionally, this app will first check the eye positioning inside the scanner frame and after that through advanced technological scanning procedures, it can identify some of the common eye problems.
Built with Machine Learning Algorithms and Computer Vision Systems, eye conditions like Arcus, Melanoma, Pterygium and Cataracts can be checked however 70% accurate results have been recognized till now.
How AI App is developed?
Ms Rafeeq told that this smart technology app was developed natively with high-level programming developer ‘SwiftUI’ without the involvement of any third-party libraries or packages. She also reveals that she dedicated herself for almost six months to conducting research and development to come up with this initiative.
Along with this, she continued her learning about different eye conditions, computer vision, algorithms, machine learning models and other advanced levels of Apple iOS development which involves sensors data, AR, CreateML, CoreML and many such tools.
It is notable that the Ogler EyeScan is supported solely in iPhone 10 or Apple phones with iOS above 16. The app is under review on the App Store and this young girl hopes that her model gets listed soon.
Appraisal of her Project
This young Kerala girl leaves many flabbergasted by the invention of such a little girl. People congratulated her as she attains this level at this age. A user commented that this is a pretty good example of how AI can be effectively used in the health sector.
Another goes on to say that this is such an amazing creation and wished her good luck with her future endeavours. They all wished her positive reviews on her app. Ms Rafeeq responded that the model accuracy is “almost 70 per cent”.
However, she is handling some difficulties with the presence of glare and burst from lights caused by the distance required for capturing scans through the phone device. She has implemented metrics and detection for light-related issues so that the users will be able to re-scan. Her current focus is on training more elegant models. As soon as Ogler is accepted by the Appstore, she will be releasing an update in the software.
source: http://www.jagranjosh.com / Jagran Josh / Home> Current Affairs> Science – Technology Current Affairs / (headline edited) April 2023
Abdul Bari is not a name that many Indians remember, but Munawwar, a committee member of the Tata Motor Workers’ Union in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, holds the name in high esteem.
“I don’t see a leader like Abdul Bari [coming up] in the near future,” he said. “It is because of his efforts that we still get high tea at just six paisa.”
“Once, Bari went to the Tatas and he was offered tea. He asked them to first offer it to the workers, and then made an agreement which is still benefitting us. Upma, aloo chaap, samosa all for six paisa in the company’s canteens.”
Asked how they pay six paisa when currency that small no longer exists, he says, “We get token of Rs 2 or more and keep using it for weeks.”
Munawwar visits Bari’s grave every year on March 28, the death anniversary of the pre-independence labour leader, to offer flowers. This duty, he says, was assigned to him by the Tatas.
Thinking of labour in the days of capital
Despite the large numbers of workers who struggle to earn a square meal a day, major political parties remain hostile towards them. In the 55-page Congress manifesto, the words ‘worker’ or ‘workers’ appear 15 times; in the BJP’s 45-page manifesto, the words appears only five times – four while referring to Asha and anganwadi workers. ‘Labour’ figures 21 times in the Congress manifesto, and only twice in the BJP’s.
The Congress does talk about ending the workers’ exploitation and improving working conditions. The party’s manifesto details new schemes and promises to implement old ones related to organised, unorganised and contractual labour. But it is anyone’s guess how schemes that have been on hold for so long will suddenly spring to life.
Dilip Simeon, a founding member of the Association of Indian Labour Historians and former professor of history at Ramjas College, says that nobody talks about labour now because “in today’s context, the labour movement is influenced by communal sentiments”.
“If labour is with the BMS [Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh] and Shiv Sena, then this is the weakness of the movement; if the labour movement wants to regain its power, then it has to face this challenge.”
Before independence, Simeon says, regardless of community, “leaders came together to advance the struggle of workers in India. Abdul Bari, Maneck Homi and Hazara Singh were their leaders. A Muslim, a Parsi and a Sikh could all be leaders of a workers’ movement.”
“Abdul Bari was so trusted that workers would start their protest first and then ask –what’s our demand?”
Bari was born in 1882, in Bihar’s Shahabad district. He was a student at Patna University in 1919 and was later appointed as a professor of history there, before he started studying law.
He quit to join the Khilafat movement, and actively participated in Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement and salt satyagraha. Bari did not restrict himself to the cause of one social group; he supported several political parties, including the Socialist Party and Swaraj Party, in parallel with the Congress. In addition, he was the voice of the labour movement in India and president of the Jamshedpur Tata Workers’ Union.
What Gandhi said about Bari
The journalist Afroz Alam Sahil has written a book on Abdul Bari, Professor Abdul Bari: Azaadi ki Ladaai Ka Ek Krantikaari Yodhha (Professor Abdul Bari: A Revolutionary Warrior of the Freedom Struggle). The author reveals several stories which won’t be found Indian history books. One such story is around Bari’s mysterious murder, and Gandhi’s reaction to it.
According to a report published by the Times of India on March 31, 1947, Bari was shot dead in the evening of March 28 while on his way home from Khushrupur, 24 miles from Patna. He was then the president of the Bihar Provincial Congress Committee. Following his death, a complete strike was observed, and Tata closed all its plants except essential ones.
Gandhi, in a speech on March 29, 1947, mentioned that he was struck by Bari’s simplicity and honesty. Gandhi added that he was planning to be more closely associated with Bari, and make an appeal to keep his short temper in check as it was not befitting of the highest office in Bihar. Gandhi referred to Bari in the same speech as “a very brave man with the heart of a fakir”. He declared that Bari’s death was the result of an altercation that had ensued between Bari and one Gurkha member of the anti-smuggling force, who was a former member of the Indian National Army.
The author mentions in this book that Bihar’s first Prime Minister (Premium) Barrister Muhammad Yunus had disclosed in an interview to the Orient Press of India that Bari had threatened to disclose the names of some prominent Congress leaders who were involved in the Bihar carnage – just three days before he was killed.
Yunus also said that Gandhi’s statement was given in haste. In his speech, Gandhi had told the audience that there was no politics of any kind in the death, and that it would be unjustified to associate the whole Indian National Army with Bari’s killing just because of one man’s actions.
In another incident discussed in the book, Gandhi arrives at Fatuaha station near Patna in the early morning of March 5, 1947. He travelled from Calcutta to Patna. Bari, chief minister Srikrishna Sinha and others welcomed him on the platform. As soon as Gandhi saw Bari, he laughed and said, “How is it that you are still alive?”
“This book is an attempt at bringing back his identity not just as a leader of the labour movement but a prominent leader of the freedom struggle of India,” the author says. “Professor Bari was one of the biggest leaders of the labour struggle in India. But limiting his role to even that would be unjust, because he was present in every chapter of the independence movement….The speciality of Abdul Bari is that he questioned his own party Congress when it came to the rights of workers.”
In a speech, Bari said, “We are in Congress to serve the poor of this country not to respect Gandhi, Rajendra Babu and Shri Krishna Babu…Lakhs of Indians who walk with them are not there to make them kings but to achieve freedom for this country.”
According to Sahil, “He criticised Gandhi and Rajendra Prasad many times because he was wholeheartedly committed to this struggle. He wanted to organise an all India conference for workers. He had formed the All India Mazdoor Sevak Sangh. He mentioned this in a letter written by him to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel on 22 June 1946.”
Why commemorate leaders like Bari today? Sahil has the answer. “Today when Muslim youth talk about Muslim representation, they must read more about Bari, the symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity, in order to understand their own political history and determine how it influences their future.”
Afshan Khan is a Delhi-based freelance journalist.
source: http://www.thewire.in / The Wire / Home> Analysis> Labour / by Afshan Syed (headline edited) / May 01st, 2019
The results of the 2nd PU exams in Karnataka were announced on April 21.
Tabassum Sheikh, 2nd year PU arts topper with her parents Abdul Khaum Sheikh and Parveen Modi, after the results of 2nd PU exams in Karnataka were announced, in Bengaluru on April 21, 2023. Tabassum is a student of NMKRV PU College for Women, Jayanagar. | Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K
The results of the 2nd PU exams in Karnataka were announced on April 21 by Ritish Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary in the Department of School Education and Literacy, and Ramachandran, Chairman of Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board.
M. Mohan Alva, chairman, Alva’s Education Foundation, Moodbidri offering sweets to Ananya K.A., who topped the commerce stream in the second PU exams in Karnataka. The results were announced on April 21, 2023.
Ananya K.A. , commerce student, Alva’s PU college, Moodabidri is the topper in Karnataka scoring 600 marks out of 600. She hails from Kushalnagar in Kodagu district. She joined Alva’s PU College under the institution’s scholarship scheme
In the arts steam, Tabassum Sheikh, NMKRV PU College, Bengaluru is the topper with 593/600 marks.
S.M. Koushik from Gangothri PU college, Srinivaspura, Kolar district, and Surabhi S. from R.V. PU college, NMKRV campus, Bengaluru are the toppers in the science stream with 596 marks for 600.
How PU students performed as compared to last year
At 74.67%, the pass percentage in the II PU exams shot up by 12% from the previous year.
Of the 7,02,067 students who appeared for the exams, 5,24,209 have cleared them. A total of 4,79,746 (78.97%) regular students, 33,833 (48.42%) repeaters and 10,630 (43.02%) private candidates passed.
The pass percentage in the arts stream (1,34,876 students) was 61.22%, in commerce (1,82,246 students) was 75.89%, and in science (2,07,087 students) was 85.71%.
This year too, the pass percentage of girls is higher than boys — 2,82,602 girls (80.25%) passed against 2,41,607 (69.05%) boys. The performance of rural students was better than those in the urban areas — 1,19,860 (74.79%) rural students passed against 4,04,349 (74.63%) urban.
A total of 1,09,509 students got distinction (above 85%), 2,47,315 students got first class (60% to 85%), 90,014 students got second class (50% to 60%) and 77,371 students secured more than the minimum marks to pass (35% to 50%).
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau (headline edited) / April 21st, 2023
As the results of II PU were announced, the department has released the list of students who became the toppers in the district.
In arts stream, Hanumanth, Swami Vivekananda PU College in Gurmitkal, secured 577 marks with 96.17%, Maheboob Shaikh Sahir from commerce stream, who is studying in Don Bosco PU College Yadgir, secured 560 marks with 93.33%, while Prajna B.M. from science stream, who is studying in Sairam PU College Shahapur, has secured 588 marks with 98%.
The other toppers in arts stream are: Amaresh secured 575 marks (95.83%), Chaitanya 575 marks (95.83%), Arunkumar 569 marks (94.83%), and Nagamma 569 marks (94.83%).
In commerce stream: Ishwarya secured 547 marks (91.16%) and Nagaraj secured 546 marks (91%).
In science stream: Abhishek secured 588 marks (98%), Savitri 580 marks (96.66%), Akash 580 marks (96.66%), Shruti secured 580 (96.66%), and Surendra secured 577 marks (96.16%), respectively.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / April 22nd, 2023
Nadvi has been the president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board for the last 21 years.
President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Rabe Hasni Nadvi. (Photo | Twitter)
Lucknow :
President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Rabe Hasni Nadvi died here on Thursday after a prolonged illness.
Senior executive member of the board Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali told PTI that Maulana Rabe Hasni Nadvi died around 3.30 pm at the Lucknow-based Islamic Educational Institute Nadwatul Ulama (Nadwa).
Mahali said Nadvi had been brought to Lucknow from his ancestral home in Raebareli four days ago as he was suffering from pneumonia.
He is survived by three daughters.
Nadvi has been the president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board for the last 21 years.
His farewell prayers will be held at 10 pm in Nadwa and the body will be laid to rest in Raebareli on Friday.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Nation / by PTI / April 13th, 2023
The film ‘Alzahravi’ bagged the best film award in the category of Best Visual Effects and Animation whereas ‘Polymer, the Promise of PDMS’ has been recommended for a citation.
Hyderabad:
Two films of the Instructional Media Centre, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) produced under the MANUU Knowledge Series have won accolades at the 24th CEC UGC Educational Video Festival organized by Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC), an Inter-University Centres set up by the University Grants Commission.
The film ‘Alzahravi’ bagged the best film award in the category of Best Visual Effects and Animation whereas ‘Polymer, the Promise of PDMS’ has been recommended for a citation under the Best Film Documentary award category along with the other three films.
According to Rizwan Ahmad, Director, IMC, the film Alzahravi by Omer Azmi, Producer IMC explores the life, struggles, and achievements of the renowned scholar, Alzahravi, and his contributions to the field of medicine.
Polymer, the Promise of PDMS by Obaidulla Raihan, Cameraperson, is a thought-provoking film based on a research output by researchers from the Central University of Hyderabad, where they have developed a polymeric material which is graphene base media mists smart composite material which will revolutionise the technology in near future.
Prof Syed Ainul Hasan, the Vice-Chancellor, congratulated the centre on this achievement and said IMC is steadily gaining recognition for its unique and thought-provoking approach to digital media. Appreciating the Media Centre Team’s effort who met him today at his office the Vice-Chancellor expressed the hope that the MANUU knowledge Series will continue to inspire and educate audiences and contribute to the growth and development of Urdu and dissemination of knowledge.
Rizwan Ahmad said both films were also selected previously at various film festivals nationally and internationally. This honour is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the directors of the films and the entire team. MANUU Knowledge Series aims to promote the Urdu language and culture, as well as highlight important issues and stories through the medium of film, a press release said.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Indo Asian News Service (IANS) / April 12th, 2023
Ms. Sadaf Choudhary, who hails from Roorkee, Uttarakhand, was the topper among Muslim candidates in UPSC CSE 2020.
The 23rd rank holder in CSE 2020 is a BTech from NIT Jalandhar and had quit her MNC job to prepare for the exam.
With her high score, she could have easily opted for IAS, but she chose Indian Foreign Service, as she wanted to represent her country abroad.
Ms. Sadaf Chaudhary
Ms. Sadaf Choudhary from Rourkee, Uttarakhand, became the topper among Muslim candidates in UPSC CSE 2020 with AIR 23. That year, 29 people from her community managed to clear the examination, a dip from the previous year, when 44 Muslim candidates made it to the prestigious list.
Ms. Choudhary not just topped the Muslim candidates list in 2020, she made it to the Top 25 in the general list, bringing focus to her native place and community, as people started looking up her background soon after the results were announced.
After her success, Ms. Choudhary revealed through media interviews that she firmly believes that improving the education rate of girls in India will bring great social changes and, hence, called for giving special attention to education of girls.
Early Life
Ms. Choudhary was a good student from the primary years and was very fond of reading books. She is the eldest daughter of Israr Ahmed and Shahbaz Bano. Her father was a former manager at Gramin Bank at the Deoband branch.
Ms. Sadaf Choudhary
After completing her BTech from NIC Jalandhar, she joined an MNC where she used to get a decent paycheck. However, with the aim of having a bigger purpose in life, she started looking at Civil Services as a career option.
Clearing UPSC CSE 2020
Ms. Choudhary said that she considered herself preparing for the UPSC exam since past 20 years, from the time she was being nurtured in school. While talking to media, she reminisced her time when she was in school and used to visit her grandparents’ place in Saharanpur during summer vacations. As her grandparents had a school there, she used to effectively utilise her summer vacations in studying literally everything.
After quitting her job, she dedicated her heart and soul into studying for the UPSC exam and chose self-study over coaching. After breakfast in the morning, she used to start her study session for as long as she could. She would also review and assess her preparations once a week.
Ms. Sadaf Choudhary clears UPSC 2020 with an AIR 23
In the first attempt, she did not manage to make it because of a few marks, but in UPSC CSE 2020, she was so satisfied with her performance that she already knew she had cracked the exam even before checking the results. Her confidence proved to be right, and when the result date came, she emerged as a topper.
It was a moment of pride not only for her and her parents, but for all people of her community.
Choosing Foreign Service
Before sitting for the exam, Ms. Choudhary was greatly inspired by IFS officer Sneha Dubey, who came into limelight for her fiery response to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the UN General Assembly. She decided then that she would follow in Ms. Dubey’s footsteps and join the Indian Foreign Service.
Ms. Sadaf Choudhary
With her high score, she could easily have joined Indian Administrative Service (IAS). However, she chose the Foreign Service over it, as her dream was to become a diplomat and represent her country abroad. And do it in style, leaving a mark. Just like Ms. Sneha Dubey did.
source: http://www.indianmasterminds.com / Indian Masterminds / Home> Features> Be Inspired / by Raghav Goyal / April 04th, 2022
Lucknow’s Saltanat Praween secures 6th rank in UPPCS-2022 in her fourth attempt
Her mother believes she will pass the toughest of all, UPSC CES, as well
Preparing amid a joint family atmosphere boosted her support system
Saltanat Praween (in the middle) with her parents (Credit: Saltanat Praween)
“Khudi ko kar buland itna/Ke har taqdeer se pehle/Khuda bande se khud pooche/Bata, teri raza kya hai?” an old saying that completely fits Saltanat Praween’s journey in delivering as one of top scorer in the UPPCS-2022 exams.
A national-level volleyball player, Ms. Praveen, who is from a lower-middle-class family in Lucknow, cracked the UP PCS exams after giving in 7 years of her life and in her 4th attempt. She terms the exams “no less than psychological war”.
Ms. Praween was ranked sixth and got the post of deputy collector.
Saltanat Praween, UPPCS-2022, 6th Rank
Journey So Far
Speaking with Indian Masterminds about her success, Ms Praween got emotional and said, “Like others, my journey was also full of struggles. But what matters now is the win that came with overcoming all those hurdles that made me what I am today.”
She was a national-level volleyball player until 2016, and it was later that she moved toward civil services.
In her previous three PCS attempts, Saltanat, who originally hails from Salemgarh of Tamkuhi Raj Tehsil in Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh, could not reach the Interview Round.
She had succeeded in qualifying for UPPCS Forest (ACF/RFO) Interview round though, but could not make it to the final list lagging by just 10 marks.
“It was heartbreaking and I nearly lost hope. But something kept me going,” remembers Ms. Praween, who now lives in Aliganj, Lucknow, in a 35-member joint family.
Her father runs a general store and her mother is a housewife. She is the only girl child of her parents.
Sultanat Praween, who was always a meritorious student and a good sportsperson, completed her primary education in Salemgarh. After completing her Intermediate, she completed her B. Tech in Computer Science (CS) from Integral University, Lucknow in 2016.
Saltanat Praween with her family
Preparing for PCS
She started preparation after completing B. Tech and cleared the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) exam from Jamia Millia University for civil services coaching in the 2021 session.
She focused on topic-specific targets. “Until I achieved my target, I never stopped studying the topic,” she said.
Ms. Praween, a CS student, had to take up Anthropology as her optional subject as CS was not available. What went down for her though were the objective-type questions in the preliminary exam.
“I could not succeed earlier in Prelims, though my Mains were better. One thing that also contributed to repeated failures was I never went in with an integrated approach,” Ms. Praveen accepts.
She says anyone preparing for the civil services should prepare for prelims and mains together.
“One does not need to stop socialising or be cocooned in a room but just don’t lose your prime focus — the studies, and also minimise social media use.
Saltanat with her father and his friend
Word of Advice
Her suggestion to all civil service aspirants is to have a support system that will always motivate and stand by them.
“This exam is no less than a psychological war, where sometimes you feel disheartened and distracted. But if you have the right support system and people who care about you, then you will certainly overcome all those difficulties,” Ms. Praween said.
She said while studying one shouldn’t count the hours. “Studying fewer hours doesn’t matter if the focus is unwavering. Nothing is unachievable if you are determined and have faith in yourself,” she added.
source: http://www.indianmasterminds.com / Indian Masterminds / Home> Features> UPSC Stories / by Ayodhya Prasad Singh / April 11th, 2023
