UPSC results: Two from Delhi in top 5

NEW DELHI: Both alumni of Delhi University , both clearing the hurdle in their second attempt , both among the top five in the civil services exams , results for which were declared on Tuesday. Through the efforts of Jatin Kishore , 26, and Himanshu Jain , 23, Delhi had two of its young men in the honours list, the former placed at number 2 and the latter at four.

East of Kailash resident Kishore was working as an assistant director in the Union ministry of rural development after clearing the Indian Economic Service exams last year, and claimed surprise at placing second this year. The son of a deputy commissioner of income tax and a Delhi government school teacher, Kishore wants to work on “quality education and sustainable environment”.

He told TOI, “Education is the base on which our youth and future depend. Equally important is the environment as that is what our focus has to be on now.” He studied economics at St Stephen’s College and completed his master’s degree at Delhi School of Economics. His schooling was done in Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar, marked by a 97.8% Class XII board exam score.

Kishore failed to get past the prelims last year because “I attempted only 70 questions, which drove down the score”. He changed his strategy and attempted 90-95 questions this year. As for his study routine, he said he didn’t go by the timetable approach, preferring to be consistent. “I always kept in touch with what was happening around,” he added, before revealing that he has chosen the AGMUT cadre with Delhi being his home state.

Jain too is an economics student, having earned his honours degree from Hansraj College. Immediately on graduating, he began preparing for the UPSC exams, dreaming always of securing a top rank. “My family members believed in me. It was my grandfather’s dream that I should become an IAS officer. Now I will fulfil his dream,” the young achiever said. In a bow to his family’s roots in Haryana, Jain has opted for the Haryana cadre.

A resident of Shahdara, Jain is the son on jeweller and a housewife. “My father was discharged from the hospital today, and this was the best news he could receive,” he said, recalling his 15 years of schooling in Palwal, Haryana, before moving to Delhi, where he scored 96.4% in the Class XII board exams while at Lovely Public School, Laxmi Nagar.

Jain too is interested in the field of education. “Literacy is most important, especially for underprivileged children,” he declared. He said he did not “distance myself from social media or gave up meeting friends”, but he was disciplined and consistent in his study regimen.