Category Archives: Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

How A Management Course Helped Shape Farheen Masood’s Life!

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Kolkata, WEST BENGAL:

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN MANAGEMENT (PG)

Farheen Masood with her family. The Telegraph Online Edugraph

Summary

  • In the heart of bustling Kolkata, where the cacophony of life reverberates through narrow alleyways, there lies a tale of grit, determination and unyielding hope.
  • Meet Farheen Masood, a champion of resilience whose journey from humble beginnings to corporate corridors is as inspiring as it is extraordinary.

In the heart of bustling Kolkata, where the cacophony of life reverberates through narrow alleyways, there lies a tale of grit, determination, and unyielding hope. Meet Farheen Masood, a champion of resilience whose journey from humble beginnings to corporate corridors is as inspiring as it is extraordinary.

Chapter 1: A Dream Ignited

She was raised in a modest household by hardworking parents who were filled with aspirations – her father a security guard and her mother a homemaker. 

“My mother could not complete her schooling although she was a good student. That is why she was always keen on us (she and her two siblings) completing our education. Despite our financial struggles, she instilled in us the belief that education was the key to unlocking a better future. My mother became my source of inspiration,” reminisced Farheen, her voice reflecting the unwavering resolve that would come to define her journey.

Farheen giving tuition to a child in her neighbourhood. The Telegraph Online Edugraph

Chapter 2: Echoes of Empowerment

As the days unfolded, Farheen found inspiration within the corridors of AK Fazlul Haq School and Khalsa English High School. It was there that she discovered her passion for public speaking. “What I am today, in terms of my confidence in speaking and everything else, is due to the education I received in my schools. I used to participate in monthly debates and extempore competitions and my teachers would always motivate me. That helped sharpen my communication skills,” she shared with us in words that echoed the profound impact of her formative years.

Busy with her art and craft engagements. The Telegraph Online Edugraph

Chapter 3: A Path Revealed

Today Farheen stands tall empowered with a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) degree with specialisation in Analytics and Marketing from Praxis Business School and working as a Management Trainee (Operations) at DHL Global Forwarding. So what inspired her to pursue studies in this field?

She recalled, “Though I initially opted for the science stream in my plus 2, I soon realised that my heart was not in it. That is when my uncle guided me to consider management studies. He told me about all the career opportunities that would open up for me if I did a PGDM/ MBA degree; and that would help me achieve the success I had always dreamed of.”

A shot from her convocation ceremony day. The Telegraph Online Edugraph

Chapter 4: Praxis: A Journey Within

At business school, amidst the nurturing learning environment, Farheen’s metamorphosis began. “After joining , I was made a Placecom member. I was responsible for coordinating the students’ placement process, acting as a bridge between them and our college’s placement cell. It gave me the opportunity to connect with various HR heads, thereby helping me make connections. I felt more confident through meeting and speaking with new people. Moreover, I learned management skills which gave me the confidence to handle challenging situations,” she said while recounting the perks of studying in a truly enabling educational environment.

Farheen posing with her teacher. The Telegraph Online Edugraph

Chapter 5: The Tapestry of Experience

Further into the conversation we learned that, in her bid to craft a successful career path, alongside excelling in her PGDM programme at Praxis, Farheen had also gained real world experience through an array of internships with reputable brands spanning fundraising, sales and digital marketing. “Internships gave me practical training before entering the corporate workplace. I had done fieldwork too. That opened up different aspects of business management to me. I met new people and expanded my network. Also, I learned that if one has an idea, one needs to voice it. Not wait for the person on the other side to ask,” she affirmed, emphasising the importance of hands-on learning.

Farheen with Charanpreet Singh, Co-founder and Director, Praxis Business School, Kolkata. The Telegraph Online Edugraph

Farheen with Praxis management. The Telegraph Online Edugraph

Chapter 6: Words of Encouragement

While Farheen gazed upon the gamut of her achievements, we asked what would her advice for young people who are striving against life’s challenges be.

“One should not stop dreaming!” she proclaimed, her words infused with the determination of a go-getter. “Always be eager to learn, stay kind and just keep going. The avenues will open up sooner than later,” she said confidently.

As the sun set over the city of Kolkata, casting its golden hues upon the distant horizon, Farheen Masood appeared before us as an embodiment of the indomitable human spirit!

From humble beginnings to soaring heights, Farheen’s journey reinforces the transformative power of education yet again and serves as a source of hope for generations to come, irrespective of their challenging circumstances!

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> Edugraph> Career / by Sejuti Roy / April 17th, 2024

Kayamkhanis take pride in Col Ishrat’s promotion

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Nua Village (Jhunjhunu District), RAJASHTHAN :

Col Ishrat with her family in her office (Facebook)

Ashfaq Kayamkhani/Nua (Jhunjhunu) Rajasthan :

Colonel Ishrat Ahmed has become the first Muslim woman to hold such position in the Indian Army. 

She took over the command of the Ordnance Army unit in Meerut on Thursday. 

Col Ishrat belongs to the Kayamkhani Muslim community that prides itself in higher educational levels and military, administration and Police Services being their first choice of careers.

Col Ishrat hails from a prominent family of Nua village in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. Though the Indian Army doesn’t highlight the religion of officers, her community posted the news of her appointment on social media and took pride in a woman from the community reach such a top position.

An old news clipping on Col Ishrat (Facebook)

Colonel Ishrat is the daughter of Colonel Zaki Ahmed and, sister of Brigadier Saqib Hussain. IGP Liaquat Ali Khan also comes from her family.

Col Ishrat’s family boasts of many civil servants in the State administration who have reached top positions.

Expressing happiness over this achievement of Colonel Ishrat, Kamkhayani Bidri said, “The community also feels proud of such a family.” The community expressed hope that this family would prove helpful in the advancement of their children as well.

source: http;//www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Ashfaq Kayamkhani, Nua / April 19th, 2024

2020 riots case: Delhi court amends its ruling to permit Ishrat Jahan to practice law outside of NCR

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

NEW DELHI:

New Delhi:

A local court has recently amended its ruling to allow former Delhi Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan to practice law outside the National Capital Region (NCR). Jahan, who is a defendant in the 2020 Delhi riots case, was granted regular bail on March 14, 2022, with the condition that she does not leave the jurisdiction of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

Now, as Jahan is a practicing advocate registered with the Bar Council of Delhi, she requested the aforementioned permission. She stated that since being granted bail, she has consistently adhered to the court’s orders without any violations. “Considering the applicant’s (Jahan) good conduct, it is requested that the bail order be modified to grant the relief sought by the applicant,” noted Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Court.

The prosecution objected to Jahan’s application, contending that the court had already granted her reasonable freedom and, considering her past behavior during the alleged offenses, she should not be given further leniency. However, Judge Bajpai observed that since the bail was granted, the investigating agency or the prosecution had not presented any information to the court indicating that Jahan had violated any bail conditions.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / April 16th, 2024

For Saima Seraj Ahmed, UPSC Opens Up Her Passion to Work for Society

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UTTAR PRADESH / Kolkata, WEST BENGAL:

Saima Seraj Ahmed, originally from a village in Uttar Pradesh, now residing in Kolkata, achieved the 165th All India Rank in the UPSC exam 2023, fulfilling her passion for societal service despite facing challenges and setbacks over the last three attempts.

In a conversation with Radiance after her success in UPSC, Saima shared her emotions, expressing that she couldn’t believe at her achievement. She described a sense of relief that her hard work had finally paid off, acknowledging her parents’ joy and crediting her faith for the outcome.

Saima emphasized the necessity of relentless effort in the UPSC journey, reflecting on her approach to success, underscoring the importance of patience and perseverance after initial setbacks.

Saima highlighted a growing awareness among minorities about the significance of education and women’s participation in societal progress regarding the educational empowerment of Muslim women, fueled by the   unwavering support of her family.

Stressing the value of resilience and continuous effort, based on her experiences, Saima noted that the fear of failure and the challenge of regaining motivation post-setbacks are significant hurdles for Civil Services aspirants.

Looking ahead, Saima reiterated her lifelong commitment to societal betterment, emphasizing her passion for understanding and positively impacting communities irrespective of her role or position.

Saima’s dedication to societal causes remained her driving force, despite contemplating giving up after her third unsuccessful attempt, emphasizing that her goal extends beyond the UPSC to meaningful societal engagement and contribution.

Ultimately, Saima aspires to leverage her position in public service to serve society comprehensively and diligently.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home>Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / April 17th, 2024

Iqra Hasan: A Century-Old Struggle and the Ascent of ‘Brave’ and Consistent Daughter

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Kairana (Shamli District) , UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

New Delhi: 

“I don’t comment on numbers, but it’s for sure that I got blessings of people who want me to represent them in Parliament,” said Iqra Hasan who seemed confident of her victory after her fate was sealed in electronic voting machines (EVMs) following first phase of the ongoing general elections that was held on April 19.

What led her to believe that she is poised to win? “There was no political wave unlike 2014 and 2019. Electorates were largely maintaining silence about which party or candidate they would vote for. Attempts to polarise voters on communal lines did not work,” she listed out.

Talking to TwoCircles.net, she claimed people this time voted on local problems. “I don’t see any major obstacles in this election as it is clear from engaging with people that there is no prevailing national narrative, unlike the narrative being pushed by the BJP,” she added.

The thirty-year-old belongs to a well-known political family of Kairana. Along with her grandfather Chaudhary Akhtar Hassan, father Chaudhary Munawwar Hasan and mother Tabassum Hassan, Iqra has a political legacy since they were all elected members of Parliament.

The Hasans and the Singhs (Hukam Singh and his daughter Mriganka Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP) have over a century-old political rivalry. They were once a single Gujjar family connected to the Kalshyan Khap. This was more than a century ago.

But the Hasans chose to secede and convert to Islam, which led to a slew of disputes. This family’s descendants, Chaudhary Munawwar Hasan of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Hukam Singh fought elections against each other in the 1990s.

In a similar vein, after their dads’ deaths, their offspring Mriganka and Nahid carried on the rivalry.

Thirty-year-old Iqra, Nahid’s sister, got back from London. She fought against BJP’s Pradeep Chaudhary — who had defeated her mother Tabassum Hasan in the 2019 general elections.

Though her family’s century-old feud with the Singhs has taken a short hiatus, she is still a competitor even though she has a new opponent.

The Hasans and Singhs have dominated the Kairana Assembly segment since the 1970s, with the exceptions of Rajeshwar Bansal in 1989 and Bashir Ahmed in 1977. Notably, starting in 1996, late Hukum Singh won the seat four times in a row.

In 2014, he moved to represent the constituency in the Lok Sabha. Since then, Nahid has won the Kairana Assembly seat twice, defeating Mriganka in 2017 and BJP candidate Anil Kumar in the 2014 by polls.

Iqra completed her primary education at New Delhi’s Queen Mary School and graduated from Delhi University’s Lady Shri Ram College in arts. She later went to London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) to get her master’s degree in international politics and law.

Having been brought up outside Kairana for studies because the constituency lacks higher education institutes for women is one of the major issues around which Iqra contested elections.

In addition to other issues, one of the main components of her election campaign was providing resources for the women in the constituency to pursue higher education.

Iqra is one of the most talked-about candidates in this election because of her poise, positive outlook and grounded manner. She is also among this year’s youngest Muslim female candidates.

“Iqra might be a Muslim by faith, but she is a Gujjar first. She belongs to our community and is like a daughter to us. All 36 biradari (communities) supported her wholeheartedly. And therefore, only she will win and go to Lok Sabha. There are no longer any ifs and buts,” said an elderly man amid applause from the crowd that had gathered at a square in the constituency after the polling was over.

Others said she travelled from England to take over the Assembly election campaigning of Nahid who faced “unfair” imprisonment. Although Iqra is a new contender in this race, her experience with politics is not. While her brother Nahid was imprisoned by the UP government, she ran an effective campaign for him in the state Assembly elections of 2022 and secured a seat on his behalf.

“She has been a prominent character in this race, having devoted more than two years to her campaign. She is obviously in the lead in the race,” he said.

The Uttar Pradesh Police accused Nahid and his mother Tabassum Hasan of being Gangster Act suspects in February 2021. He was conspicuously absent from campaign events and meetings, even after being freed on bond.

The town with the largest concentration of Muslims — nearly 80%, many hold to the prophecy of the man quoted first.

Fifty-four-year-old Jitendra Singh, a former member of Zila Panchayat and a resident of Kandhla village, said, “She is young, dedicated and smart. We think highly of her.”

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Elections Update> Indian Muslim> Lead Story> April 20th, 2024

Zufshan Khan’s advice to IAS aspirants: Read syllabus, don’t refer to multiple sources

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Patna, BIHAR :

Zufshan Haq, AIR 34

Zufshan Haq of Patna, who secured 34th rank in UPSC’s combined civil service examination for the year 2023, is the epitome of never say-die spirit. She was a trainee Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer when she took the UPSC examination and secured a higher rank to be eligible to get into the Indian Administrative Services (IAS).

Zufshan spoke with Awaz-The-Voice about his journey. She was born and raised in Gangtok, Sikkim, where her father Mahfouzul Haq was the principal of a government school.

“I was also born in Sikkim; went to a school there and completed my 10th and 12th exams from CBSC Board and was the State topper.”

“I stayed in Sikkim till my graduation in B. Tech.” She topped the B Tech examinations and later joined M Tech at IIT Patna where she bagged a gold medal.

“Meanwhile, I got a scholarship that allowed me to accomplish research in Germany and I spent almost a month in Germany.”

Soon on return from Germany, she said she plunged into preparing for civil services. “This was my fourth attempt.  Last time, my rank was 193 and I  was selected for the Indian Revenue Service. Right now I am undergoing training as an IRS officer.”

Zufshan Haq says it is not just the rank but the journey to reach there that gives one a lot of joy. “Those who have seen me closely also felt that after working hard for so many days, I finally achieved the target and now I am very excited that tomorrow I will get an opportunity to become an IAS officer. I will be able to make an effective change.”

Zufshan says it’s not fair to give credit for her success to one person including her. “It is not right to give credit to one person because whenever there is such success, everyone plays an important role somewhere. Be it family members, parents, sisters, or school teachers and then teachers of higher educational institutions and friends who encourage civil services at some level or the other. That is, in this kind of success, there is someone on every side who helps you in one way or another.”  Zufshan said she was grateful to all those people who helped her in this journey.

Zufshan Haq says that she also got a lot of help from Hajj Bhawan. Firstly it provided him with accommodation. She said that the environment of Haj Bhavan is quite good and the teachers teaching there are also quite good. The teachers who used to teach at Haj Bhawan Coaching helped me a lot in preparing for the UPSC Mains exam. “Undoubtedly, Hajj Bhawan also played a very important role in my success. I had a lot of facilities in Haj Bhawan and I completed my UPSC Mains preparation while staying there. “

Zufshan Haq with her proud parents posing for a picture outside the UPSC office in New Delhi

Zufshan Haq says her only advice to all the students is to work hard and in the right direction then success will surely come. She said that after spending some time in this equation, one finds out what she wants to study. “Keep an eye on the syllabus and plan your studies meticulously.  A competitive exam is like any other exam. She said that clearing UPSC is a difficult phase but not so difficult that success cannot be achieved. If you stick with it continuously for one or two years then you will crack this exam.”

She said not only the candidate but even his family members should be ready to support her. “Family’s support and encouragement also play an important role.”

Zufshan Haq started her preparation in 2019. “From my school days, I aimed to prepare for civil services. But after doing M.Tech I started preparing for it regularly. In 2020 also I took the UPSC exam but failed. Next year, I was selected in the Mains and appeared for the interview. In 2022 I finally achieved this goal my rank was 193 in the UPSC exam and got selected for IRS. Then I took 4th attempt and got rank 34 in the UPSC exam in 2023 and finally got selected for IAS.”

How many hours should one study for UPSC? 

Zufshan Haq says it is difficult to set a time limit.”You can say if I study for 10 hours I will surely clear my UPSC exams. Every student has different strategies, maybe What I understand in an hour, and someone else can understand in 15 minutes. So saying I studied for 10 hours while she studied for seven hours doesn’t matter. You have to make your target like I have to complete four chapters of this subject so if you think you can complete it in two days then see if the target set is achievable. Or not, if once a plan is made, in any case, it has to be completed in two days, then four days is not the same thing.”

She feels any student who is honest in her studies will understand her strengths and weaknesses. “you understand that you build your routine accordingly. So every student should look at this exam at her own pace and work hard accordingly.” 

Zufshan Haq’s message to all those preparing for civil services is that they should first check the UPSC syllabus. All that information is available on the UPSC website. Only after this does one get clarity on her strategy to study.

“Most students start their preparation without seeing the syllabus which I think is not good. Also one needs to see the previous years’ question papers and figure out the pattern of questions asked. Also, don’t run after so many sources thinking that if I read 10 different books on the same topic I will be successful. The time is very less, it is more important for you to revise. If you read the same thing four times then you will be able to write it in the main exams.”

Zufshan’s family moved back to Patna after his father’s retirement. I have a sister who is a dentist; she lives in Dhanbad with her doctor husband. She has another sister who is studying and Zufshan is the youngest of the siblings. “The environment at home was oriented towards education and learning and it must have affected us. That’s why we worked hard and managed to reach here,” says.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Mehful Alam, Patna / April 21st, 2024

11 from J&K qualify UPSC exam; JKCCE-2022 topper Anmol gets AIR 7th

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JAMMU & KASHMIR:

Sinha wishes successful candidates

Jammu :

Against 16 candidates who cracked the prestigious Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Examination-2022, a total of 11 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir have been declared qualified for the UPSC-2023, the result of which was declared today.


As per a statement issued by the Commission, a total of 1016 candidates qualified in the most coveted examination of the country, with Aditya Srivastava from Uttar Pradesh topping the examination followed by Animesh Pradhan from Odisha securing the second spot and Donuru Ananya Reddy from Telangana declared as the third topper.

Srivastava has done his graduation (Bachelor of Technology) in electrical engineering from IIT Kanpur. He has qualified for the examination with electrical engineering as the optional subject.
Animesh Pradhan is BTech in Computer Science from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, and Donuru Ananya Reddy possesses Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Geography from Miranda House, Delhi University.

Anmol qualified for the UPSC Civil Service Examination in her third attempt with Law as an optional subject. Daughter of retired J&K Bank Manager Rajiv Rathore and incumbent Principal Jyoti Rathore, Anmol received her early education at New Era Public High School Kishtwar and further schooling at GD Goenka School in Jammu. After successfully passing the CLAT examination in 2016, Rathore pursued her BA LLB degree at Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) in Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat, completing it in 2021. Elated over the impressive result in the UPSC examination, Anmol said, “I had never imagined that my name would figure in the top 10. But then there is a term called ‘hard work’ that always pays you back.”She credited her success to Almighty, her parents, peers, and digital platforms, which she used rigorously to achieve the feat. “With the blessings of Almighty, my parents never let me down. They created a support-system for my entire preparation. Without them, it wouldn’t have been possible,” said Anmol. She said she did her studies from her home, except some mock tests and Mains test series, she attended in Delhi. “Otherwise, I have prepared on my own using the material available online,” she said.

Regarding her message to aspiring civil servants from Jammu and Kashmir, she said, “I’d say the youth of this region have huge potential provided their energy is channelled in the right direction.” “Our youth can achieve anything, but they need to remain focused and committed in their mission by staying away from social evils like drugs that have become a concern for the entire society nowadays,” said Anmol. Her father, Rajiv Rathore, said he is elated to see her daughter’s name among the top 10 candidates of the country. “I don’t think there is any other way a daughter or a son can make her/his parents proud with. My daughter has been constantly making me, her mother, the entire family, and our region proud,” he said.


Son of Dr Chander Shekhar Gupta and Bandana Gupta, Arjun Gupta, a resident of Ramkote Tehsil in Kathua District, is among the other candidates who have made their region proud with an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 32 in the UPSC examination. He had formerly topped the Indian Economic Services (IES) examination in the year 2022.


Resident of Srinagar District, Manan Bhat, a former UPSC qualifier with All India Rank 231, has secured All Indian Rank (AIR) 88 this year. Currently allotted the Telangana cadre of the IPS, Manan is also the qualifier of the Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination.


Resident of Jammu District Harnit Singh Sudan is another candidate from Jammu and Kashmir with AIR 177, Mohammad Haris Mir with AIR 345, Mohammad Farhan Seh with AIR 369, Aparajita Aryan from Jammu District with AIR 381, Dr Ghulam Maya Din from Gambhir Mughlan, Rajouri with AIR 388, Suvan Sharma from Maheshpura, Bakshi Nagar, with AIR 412, Seerat Baji with AIR 516, and Dinash Kumar with AIR 1003.


Resident of Dooru area of Anantnag District, Mohammad Farhan Seh, an engineering graduate, is a JKPS officer, who is currently serving as a DySP in the CID wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Seerat Baji, daughter of Baji Mushtaq of Kotranka, Rajouri, is also an under-training JKPS officer, Suvan Sharma is son of Dr T.R Raina, Former HoD Blood Bank GMC Jammu & Nirmal Sharma, Retired IAS Officer. He is under-training JKPS officer as DySP. Earlier, he qualified the exam of Assitant Registrar.

Lieutenant Governor of Manoj Sinha has congratulated Anmol Rathore and all other successful candidates from Jammu and Kashmir for qualifying in the prestigious examination conducted by the UPSC. He took to the micro blogging site X, formerly Twitter, to write, “Heartiest congratulations to Anmol Rathore (AIR 7) and all aspirants from J&K who have cleared UPSC CSE-2023. Your remarkable achievements will inspire youth of J&K. Best wishes to all the successful candidates.


The Commission has kept provisional the candidature of 355 other Candidates.

source: http://www.dailyexcelcior.com / Daily Excelcior / Home> Todays Story / by Daily Excelcior / April 17th, 2024

Kerala’s Fabi Rasheed secures AIR 71 in CSE 2023, talks about strategy, mental health, inspiration and more

Amazing Feats, Education, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Uncategorized, Women/Girls(since May26-2021),

KERALA:

A graduate of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram with a BS-MS dual degree, Fabi is not only elated but also excited about the results and her dream of becoming a civil servant.(Handout)

Kerala native Fabi Rasheed secured AIR 71 in her first attempt in the UPSC CSE 2023 results announced on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

A graduate from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram with a BS-MS dual degree, Fabi is not only elated but also excited about the results and the fulfilment of her dream of becoming a civil servant.

In a telephonic conversation with HT Digital, Fabi Rasheed talks about her strategies, mental health during her preparation duration, inspiration and more.

Congratulations on your success in securing AIR 71 in UPSC CSE 2023. How do you feel about this feat?

I am very excited and happy, I feel blessed at the same time. It is a mix of emotions. Initially, it was a surprise and took some time to settle in. My parents have seen me go through an emotional roller coaster for a year and they are extremely happy about the results.

Could you take us through your preparation strategy for the examination?

For prelims, the main thing was to have a factual understanding so that we can eliminate the options. Whenever I read, I try to make questions on my own. So that in whatever way it was asked I would be able to understand the nuances of the question.

For the Mains exam preparation, I mainly focussed on writing. I am a person who studies by writing. Even for prelims preparation, I studied by writing. So that gave me an edge for mains as completing a paper was not an issue and it is I believe the way I had written and studied. After the Mains examination, I was feeling very happy about myself. After every exam, I felt satisfied as I had done well. I had made notes for a few questions for the Mains exam, and I was lucky enough to get the same questions in the exam.

For the Personal Interview test, I had very little time to prepare as my test date was on January 9, 2024, and I had also appeared for the Indian Forest Services Examination (Mains) which ended in December. That was a very close call. I referred to my notes and newspaper.

What would your preference be with respect to the posts?

My first preference would be my home state, Kerala cadre. My first choice would be IAS, then IRS-customs and then IRS-IT.

Did you go through any mental breakdowns during your preparation duration?

I used to have constant panic attacks. I started preparation in June 2022 and by September I had panic attacks as I used to take very little breaks. I wanted to finish the syllabus very fast and I pushed myself to the brink. I had to lose at least one and a half months due to the constant panic attacks.

My sleep schedule was also ruined but then I understood that I cannot continue like this. Then I made it a point to sleep for at least 6 hours no matter what. I ensured that I tried to study at least 10 hours a day.

I had a tear film instability in my eye due to constantly looking at the laptop and reading. This condition was also a reason for the panic attacks. My family stood by me through these tough times.

Could you tell us about your educational background? Did you take coaching for your CSE preparation? What was your optional subject?

I completed my schooling from Thiruvananthapuram and graduated from IISER Thiruvananthapuram with a BS-MS dual degree in Biology. I took coaching from Fortune IAS Academy for my preparation to crack CSE and for my optional I took sociology as my subject.

Can you share with us some striking questions from your Personal Interview Test?

I was asked questions about India’s defence expenditure, India’s rural and urban health divide and what will I do about it.

The Chairman had asked me Why India is lagging in AI front and whether AI was a game changer. He asked me who is the most intelligent scientist in the world and also asked me the IQ of Einstein. Later I was asked to compare it with the IQ of ChatGPT.

Did you follow any routine?

I used to sleep by around 10:30 pm and tried to control the weight that I gained due to stress eating during my prelims and mains preparation. I wanted to maintain a healthy BMI for the medical tests.

Tell us about your support system who helped you get through the exam. Did you draw inspiration from anyone to help you motivate in the preparation journey?

My father who is an Ayurveda specialist and my mother a former state director of Insurance Medical Services supported me throughout the journey.

A relative of mine reminded me during my preparation that ‘Once you become a civil servant the only task that you have in hand is to help the maximum number of people in the maximum time that you have’

I believe that civil services is a very fulfilling profession and I have drawn inspiration from a lot of civil servants. I believe that If I am also given the right training I will also be able to follow their path and make a difference however small it may be. One such person I draw inspiration from is Guruprasad Mohapatra who was involved in the COVID crisis and helped people during that crisis time even when he was sick.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Latest News / by Tisha Jacob, New Delhi / April 17th, 2024

UPSC Results 2023: Three AMU’s Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) students Zulfishan Haque, Nazia Parveen & Abdullah Zahid Qualify UPSC’s 2023 Civil Services Exam

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Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH / INDIA :

(L to R) Zulfishan Haque (AIR 34), Abdullah Zahid (AIR 744) and Nazia Parveen (AIR 670)

This year, Aditya Srivastava and Animesh Pradhan have scored AIR 1 and 2 respectively, followed by Donuru Ananya Reddy at the third spot. (Image: Aligarh Muslim University)

Zufishan Haque ranked 34 in the UPSC toppers list followed by Nazia Praveen (670) and Abdullah Zahid (744).  The vice-chancellor of the University congratulated the toppers and stressed on to improve the results in the future. 

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Tuesday announced the results of the civil services examination. In the recommended list of candidates, three qualifiers are from Aligarh Muslim University’s Residential Coaching Academy.

Zufishan Haque ranked 34 in the UPSC toppers list followed by Nazia Praveen (670) and Abdullah Zahid (744).  The vice-chancellor of AMU congratulated the toppers.

Meanwhile, as many as 31 candidates are shortlisted from JMI’s residential coaching programme alone. The ninth-rank holder, Nausheen is also from JMI’s residential coaching programme.

This year, Aditya Srivastava and Animesh Pradhan have scored AIR 1 and 2 respectively, followed by Donuru Ananya Reddy at the third spot.

Recommend candidates

The Commission has kept the candidature of 355 recommended candidates in provisional. Of the 1,016 recommended candidates, as many as 347 are from the general category, 115 are from the EWS category, 303 candidates are from the OBC category, and from SC and ST, the number of recommended candidates are 165 and 86 respectively.

Exam schedule

The UPSC CSE exam is held in three phases – prelims, mains, and interviews. While the UPSC CSE 2023 prelims exam was conducted on May 28, the CSE mains UPSC exam was held on September 15, 2023, for five days. Candidates who cleared the mains were called for the interview round which was conducted between January 4 and April 9.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> India> News> Education / by Education Desk (headline edited) / New Delhi, April 18th, 2024

Varanasi’s Arfa AIR 111 left an IT job to become a civil servant

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Varanasi (Benares), UTTAR PRADESH :

Afra usmani posing in front of the UPSC office in New Delhi

The morning of Durga Ashtami, a festival in celebration of feminine divinity, brought a gift of happiness to Aslam Khan and his wife Mehnaz Usmani, residents of the Mukimganj locality of Banaras, UP.

Their daughter Arfa Usmani had called from Delhi early morning. Mehnaz picked up the phone. “Amma, I have cracked UPSC,” Mehnaz said she felt that that a bouquet of happiness had dropped in her lap.

Arfa Usmani of Banaras has cleared the Civil Services Examination with 111th rank, which is like a dream for any lower middle-class family.

Aslam Khan, who sells crockery at his shop nearby, remembered the day when Arfa was born and she was given a name. Arfa means height and today Aslam Khan feels his daughter has lived up to her name literally. She has achieved her ambition.

The couple is happy as congratulations pour in from friends and relatives over the phone.

Mehnaz, who is a homemaker despite being a postgraduate in psychology, also went down memory lane and remembered her daughter’s childhood. Arfa studied at the St. John’s School in Mehrauli. She was a topper all through her school days.

Afra Usmani with her mother Mehnaz and brother Shadan

Mehnaz taught her children that the life path could be found only through education. 

Her son Shadan studied at the IIT Roorkee and later IIM Kolkata. Thereafter he got admission into America’s Columbia University.

Arifa said she would like to become a role model for the Muslim girls of the country.

Arfa topped the district in class 10th. In 2013, she got admission to the five-year B.Tech-M.Tech course in Arfa IIT, BHU. 

Arfa finished her M.Tech in 2018 and was among the top three students in her department and got a job through campus placement. 

While working in prestigious institutions like Intel, Arfa realized that she could earn alot of money in this job, but the way to do good for the country and society passes through civil services only.

Arfa started preparing for the civil services examination in right earnest and reached the mains of Civil Services Examination in the second attempt and the interview in the third attempt. 

She achieved success by securing 111th rank in the fourth attempt. Arfa considers her mother as the source of inspiration as she had always prioorotised her children’s education.

Arfa’s success is the result of continuous hard work and determination. At the outset she had resolved to prepare for civil services without taking admission in any coaching institute. 

When Arfa cleared the mains in her second attempt, friends advised her to join coaching, but she did not agree.

Arfa Usmani with her mother drinking chai at a roadside kiosk

Arfa said that a large number of people also prepare for civil services without coaching as they could not afford it. “When they start with the confidence to succeed, why can’t I also do the same,” she told herself.

Arfa realized that there is just a gap of a few marks between Arfa and success and she worked towards bridging it and was successful.

Congratulatory messages on phone and by people visiting her home have not stopped. Those visiting her home told Arfa that her success was special in many ways. “You are a Muslim woman that too from the Prime Minister’s constituency.”

Arfa says, “I have grown up in the Ganga-Jamuni culture of Banaras. It is the specialty of our society that we take everyone along. I am fortunate that I will be able to pursue this by joining civil services.”

Arfa does not like to be reminded that she is a Muslim and also a topper. Arfa clearly says that all communities are working towards India’s progress and Muslim youth do not lag in this. Those who are lagging have a long way to go.

On her aspirations, Arfa says, “I will become a role model for girls, so that their hesitation to move forward in life.’

How she perceives her new job? On this Arfa says a civil servant has to execute law of the land but for that it is important to have a ground sense and understanding of the problems of the people.

“There are laws to be implemented, but first change should be brought at the ground level. A civil servant has to understand the psychology of people, then only the implementation of the law will be of help.”

Arfa had completely distanced herself from social media to study for civil services. She exited from all social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and even deleted the WhatsApp from her phone. 

On the use of social media, she says, it was her choice to distance from it but she realized that it may not be so for others. “The Internet has indeed given positive results like startups from many small towns. Youth should positively channelize their creativity, only then there be benefits, otherwise, there are many disadvantages,” she says.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Dr. Sanjeev Mishra, Varanasi / April 20th, 2024