Meet man who cracked UPSC exam after 3 attempts, was asked 3 Idiots question that helped him become IPS, now he is...

IPS officer Shakti Mohan Awasthi's inspiring story is a testament to perseverance and determination. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2018 with an impressive 154th rank, finally achieving his dream of becoming an IPS officer. Shakti’s journey wasn’t an easy one; it took him three attempts to reach his goal. In his first attempt, he made it to the interview round, and in his second, he was selected for the IRS (Indian Revenue Service). However, his persistence paid off when he became an IPS officer in his third attempt.

Shakti Awasthi hails from Lucknow, where he completed his early education. Later, he pursued B.Tech in Civil Engineering from the prestigious BIT Mesra in Bihar. His academic background laid a solid foundation for his UPSC preparation.

During a podcast, Shakti shared an interesting incident from his UPSC interview. The panel remarked that his face resembled actor Sharman Joshi from the film 3 Idiots and asked if he had seen the movie. Shakti responded positively, and the panel then requested him to narrate the famous interview scene from the film. With confidence, he narrated the scene and concluded with the iconic dialogue, “You keep your job with you, I keep my attitude with me.” Though initially unsure about his selection, he later discovered that he had scored a remarkable 190 marks in the interview, the highest in his attempt.

Currently serving as the DCP of Central Noida, Shakti has also held important positions such as ASP in Azamgarh and Moradabad. In an interview with Delhi Knowledge Track, he offered valuable advice to UPSC aspirants. He emphasized preparing for standard questions but cautioned against giving memorized answers. Shakti highlighted the importance of honesty and personality reflection in responses, advising candidates to speak calmly and confidently.

Shakti also stressed that the interview is a test of one’s personality. He encouraged aspirants to maintain a natural smile, enter the room with confidence, and speak in a composed manner. His journey and advice serve as motivation for countless individuals aspiring to achieve success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.