Anushman Kumar Singh has carried a dream for a period of 11 years, even after countering continuous setbacks, it refused to fade away. In 2025, the dream finally became reality when Anushman secured an All India Rank (AIR) 2 in the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) 2025.
He comes from Jhumri Talaiya in Jharkhand. He completed his schooling in Kodarma and his higher education in Delhi. Then, he pursued his graduation from Ramjas College, University of Delhi, where he build a strong academic foundation.
Anshuman, from an early age, carried the dream to serve the nation through public service. After graduation, he appeared for the recruitment exam for the Indian Coast Guard and joined the force as a Deputy Commandant. He continued his preparation for the UPSC.
UPSC Journey
Anshuman’s UPSC journey started in 2016. Just like the other aspirants, he was preparing for UPSC along with managing his responsibilities as a deputy commandant. For him, finding time to study was the biggest challenge, and due to which on several attempts he could not clear the Preliminary Examination.
His turning point came in 2024, when years of efforts finally showed some result. He qualified for the CSE Mains Examinationa for the first time. However, he could not get selected for the interview round, but at the same time, all of his CSE attempts were exhausted. This is the moment where most of the candidates would think that this is the end of the journey.
But for Anshuman, this was his new beginning as he discovered that the UPSC IFS attempts are counted separately from that of CSE attempts. Then, he decided to appear for the IFS examination as he was still able to meet the age eligibility criteria.
Family Support
Anshuman has given credit to his family for providing him with support. He often remembers the values and sacrifices of his late father, Vinay Kumar Singh, who continued to inspire him. And his mother, Sunita Devi, who stood beside him during all the hard phases.
His grandfather was a teacher and his younger brother, trains Army aspirants in Patna. The environment he was provided with was full of inspiration, learning, service and perseverance. This played a crucial role in shaping his mind set and determination.
Preparation Strategy
Anshuman followed a very simple yet a highly effective preparation approach. He relied on limited resources and revised them multiple times and developed a deep understanding of the topics, which proved to be more beneficial than studying books in excess amount.
He also prepared his own notes, analyzed previous year question papers, and regularly took mock tests and practised answer writing. The optional subjects had a important role in the IFS examination. Therefore, he devoted a separate time and attention to master them.
For the IFS examination, he chose geology and agriculture as his optional subjects. He also took spealized coaching for Geology and focused on presenting precise and accurate answers.
Anshuman’s overall journey is an inspiration to the other UPSC aspirants, that failure does not mean the end of the dream. After spending 11 yeards pursuing dream, facing continues setbacks, and exhausting all th CSE attempts, he did not let the failures decide his future.
Instead of giving up, he found a new opportunity and adapted his strategy accordingly. His story is a reminder that, success might take longer than expected, and the path might also change. But the determination and consistent efforts will one day turn one’s dream into reality.