The results of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Examination 2023 were announced on Tuesday, and several aspirants from the city have cleared the daunting examination. Among those who defied challenges and achieved this feat are Sameer Khode, Sanskar Gupta, Shubham Dongardive, Pranjali Khandekar, Suresh Borkar and Aishwarya Ukey. These UPSC qualifiers, in conversation with ‘The Hitavada’ spoke about their vision, and the hurdles they faced in their journey. Many expressed their long-standing aspirations to bring significant changes and perceptions through administrative roles. Sanskar Gupta, who attained All India Rank 629 in his fifth attempt, expressed his intention to make another attempt. According to Gupta, the civil services job offers dynamic opportunities for contribution. He primarily relied on self-study, supplemented by coaching for test series and guidance. Initially, Gupta relocated to Delhi for preparation due to the lack of available materials and resources in Nagpur.

 

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management (RCOEM), Nagpur. Gupta’s father, Nilaksh Gupta, is a businessman, while his mother, Annapurna Gupta, is a homemaker. His advice to aspirants is to keep study materials limited, as information overload is prevalent, and to maintain concise notes. Shubham Dongardive, secured AIR 963 in his eighth attempt, expresses his determination to make another attempt as he aspires for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS). Initially, he received coaching in Delhi for one year, after which he continued with self-study. He pursued Mechanical Engineering at St Vincent Pallotti College of Engineering and Technology. Currently, he works as a tutor at a coaching institute.

 

He emphasises the importance of understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses. His father, Trambak Dongardive, is a retired ASI Police Officer while his mother, Panchsheela Dongardive, is a homemaker, and his brother, Sachin Dongardive, serves as a Constable in Nagpur Police. Pranjali Khandekar secured AIR 761 in her third attempt. She expresses her intention to make another attempt while accepting her current service. She did preparation by taking classes for a few subjects and engaging in self-study in Delhi. She acknowledges the challenges of preparing in a highly competitive environment and emphasises the importance of managing one’s mental state to combat discouragement. Despite the distractions posed by social media, Khandekar utilised it solely for staying informed about current news. She aims to challenge the perception of officers solely by being tough and hopes to embody empathy in her role. Khandekar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. Her father, Manohar Khandekar, is a Retired Deputy Chief Engineer from MSEB, and her mother, Heera Khandekar, is a homemaker.

 

Suresh Borkar achieved AIR 658 in his fifth attempt. He pursued Mechanical Engineering from Guru Nanak Institute of Engineering and Technology and a Masters in Disaster Management from Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai. He is confident of securing a spot in the IPS under the reserved category with this rank. However, he remains committed to preparing for another attempt concurrently. Borkar’s aspiration for a career in civil services dates back to his schooling days, with a keen interest in contributing to the educational and health sectors. His late father, Liladhar Borkar, was a Retired Teacher at Zilla Parishad School, and his mother, Vibha Borkar, is also a Retired Teacher at Zilla Parishad School.

 

Aishwarya Ukey achieved AIR 943. After completing her Bachelor’s in Engineering, she pursued BA LLB and is currently in the final year of LLM. She is determined to make another attempt as she aspires for the IAS. She mostly relied on self-study, and highlights the challenge of information overload and advises aspirants to focus only on essential study materials to avoid confusion. She draws her inspiration from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Savitribai Phule, whose experiences and ideologies influenced her decision to pursue civil services. Her father, Dadarao Ukey, is a Retired Bank Manager, and her mother, Kalpana Ukey, is a homemaker. Sameer Khode achieved AIR 42 in his fourth attempt. He did his Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from VNIT, furthur pursued MBA from IIM Lucknow. Currently, he is working in Indian Railway Service in Raipur. His father Prakash Khode is a Retired Bank Manager, and mother Prangya Khode is a homemaker.