Daijiworld Media Network – Maharashtra (MS)

Maharashtra, Dec 31: Akshay Sunil Agarwal's journey to becoming a 2019 IAS officer is a captivating tale of determination. Originating from Maharashtra, he ventured to Singapore but returned to his roots to fulfill his father's dream, ultimately becoming an IAS officer.

As a child, Akshay's father had instilled in him the aspiration to become an IAS officer, emphasizing the myriad opportunities it presented for serving society. Initially, Akshay didn't pay much heed to his father's advice, but the spark was ignited when his father encouraged him to attempt the UPSC exam.

Akshay, a mechanical engineering graduate from Pune, pursued post-graduation in economics at the National University of Singapore. After working for more than a year at the Center for Asian Globalization in Singapore, he heeded his father's request and returned to India a few months before June 2018 to attempt the UPSC.

Despite the short preparation time for the prelims in June 2018, Akshay's dedication resulted in an excellent All India Rank (AIR) of 43 in his first attempt.

Agarwal emphasizes that the UPSC exam is like any other exam but requires a systematic approach with an understanding of its intricacies. He recommends solving questions from the past 20 years to gain in-depth knowledge.

Currently serving as an ADM in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, Akshay has also launched a YouTube channel providing valuable tips for IAS aspirants. His channel features 119 videos on economics, addressing the lack of online resources on the subject.