Daijiworld Media Network - Bihar

Bihar, Sep 19: Sunil Kumar Barnwal’s path to becoming an IAS officer is a story of determination and resilience. Hailing from Bhagalpur, Bihar, he completed his schooling at RHTB High School before pursuing petroleum engineering at ISM Dhanbad, where he won three gold medals.

After graduation, Barnwal joined GAIL in 1993, but his real dream was to crack the UPSC exam. He cleared the prelims and mains in 1995 but missed selection due to a poor interview. Undeterred, he refined his strategy, strengthened his weak areas, and in 1996 secured All India Rank 1 with a total score of 1417.

Since then, Barnwal has built a distinguished career in public service. He has served the government of Jharkhand in key roles, including secretary for industries and mines, and inspector general (Prisons), where he introduced major reforms. In 2013–14, he further enhanced his expertise with a master’s in public management at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore, with exposure to Harvard University and Singapore’s governance system.

Currently, Sunil Kumar Barnwal is serving as additional secretary in the department of higher education, government of India. His journey from a humble background to the top of India’s toughest exam remains an inspiration for aspirants across the country.