If there is one exam in India that can be termed as one of the most difficult, it would be the UPSC Civil Services Examination, a road for those who not only know the academic sense but also have willpower, determination, and resilience. In this article by TheHinduzone, we will discuss the Journey to IPS: Shakti Mohan Awasthi’s Inspirational UPSC Story. As we all know, very few candidates, after having been inspired, emboldened, moved, and often overcome by the difficulties on this arduous journey, convert that into grit and determination and get that UPSC exam cleared. One such life was that of Shakti Mohan Awasthi, an IPS officer, who, by relentless persistence, made it through the UPSC exam and attained his goal of becoming one of the IPS.
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Early Life and Education: The Cradle of a Success Story
Shakti Mohan Awasthi is from Lucknow, a city that has witnessed many glorious persons being born. A story of struggle, patience, and untiring devotion. He did his early schooling in his hometown Lucknow, having the educative back-up that would later aid him in his UPSC examination preparation.
Following the completion of his schooling, Shakti decided to pursue his Bachelor in Civil Engineering from BIT Mesra, Ranchi. It was at BIT Mesra that Shakti recognized his interest in public service—specifically, the Indian Police Service (IPS). Civil Engineering, so far removed from law and order, equipped him with vital analytical thinking, skills in problem-solving, and discipline, all of which found great utility as an asset in preparing for the UPSC.
The UPSC Journey: Three Attempts, Multiple Lessons
Undoubtedly, the UPSC canvas is tinted with long drawn and arduous roads; so was Shakti’s journey. Staunch determination was the only constant in his struggle; ups and downs were but phases of his preparation. Assigning UPSC three times, each attempt offered him lessons, which continued to refine his methodology for the subsequent attempts.
In his first attempt, Shakti managed to reach the interview stage but could not make it. He took this experience positively, thrived on it, and felt inspired to work much harder. The lessons learned in this attempt were very much instrumental in redefining his approach for the years to come.
Shakti was selected for the Indian Revenue Service in his second attempt. Though this is indeed a very prestigious service, the IPS dream, in his case, stared larger than life in front of him. He resolved to do it with vigour this time. After serving in the IRS for some time, Shakti resumed UPSC preparations, keeping his purpose alive.
It was after so much toil and soul-searching that Shakti, in his third attempt, turned his dream of being an IPS officer into a reality. With an All India Rank of 154, Shakti Mohan Awasthi is, indeed, a beacon of resilience and dedication.
The UPSC Interview: A Moment of Real Confidence
One of the most beautiful experiences in Shakti’s journey of achieving UPSC was his interview. The most emotional part for the candidates in the whole UPSC examination is the interview stage, and the panel does not ask such knowledge questions; they are quite personality-oriented, confidence-induced, and presence of mind. Shakti’s interview was no different; however, he managed everything quite well.
An interesting episode during the UPSC interview was when the panellists said that Shakti’s face is similar to the actor Sharman Joshi from 3 Idiots. Then they asked him to enact a scene from the movie, where Sharman Joshi’s character attends an interview. Since he is an actor, he performed it on the spot without any prompts. The most distinguishable part was when he said, “You keep your job with you, and I will keep my attitude with me.” This statement made his self-confidence very evident and at the same time, it portrays that he can face any unexpected situations with composure and poise.
This was the kind of moment that the UPSC panel was looking for in terms of personality such as confidence, clarity of thought, and the ability to handle pressure. Shakti showed the handling of such a casual yet extremely important moment, and that made him a place in the IPS.
A Dream Comes True: Becoming an IPS Officer
After moving ahead and putting the hard work and effort into achieving his goal, Shakti Mohan Awasthi has finally seen that dream materialize. He secured an All India Rank of 154 in the UPSC CSE 2018, and there seems no better way to bring his desired transformation into a true IPS officer. His current post serves him as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Currently, he is involved in facilitating law and order, promoting victim justice, and doing service to the people.
He has also served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Azamgarh and also in Moradabad. This experience has proven to be invaluable in helping him relate to so many aspects of policing, law enforcement, and community engagement. Probably most importantly, perhaps during his tenure as an ASP, he was able to tie in an experience that ultimately helped him in his determination to become an IPS officer: that was placement in decision-making and leadership positions.
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Shakti’s Advice for the UPSC Aspirants
Shakti Mohan Awasthi’s journey is not merely personal fulfilment but a motivational force for countless UPSC aspirants who sweat to turn their dreams into reality. In many interactions with interviews and podcasts, he has shared his experiences, lessons, and valuable advice for future aspirants.
- Perseverance: The best policy
Shakti’s saga reminds us of this quality: perseverance. It made its way through all failures, and eventually, he couldn’t give up his target. Preparing for the UPSC, even after failing on the first two occasions, has resulted in achieving it. The story only proves that a person meets with hardships while moving forward. - Honesty and Integrity in Preparation
Shakti advocates an honest and reflective approach to UPSC preparation. He emphasizes that aspirants should not prepare for the exam without being real in their endeavours and following the pace of others. One will need to realize what is a strong point and what a weaker point might be and improve on it. An honest and sincere preparation will form a strong basis for the examination and personal growth, which is required in the distance of the journey. - Self-confidence is a game changer
Self-confidence was one of the major characteristics that differentiated Shakti from the crowd. He was always sure of his capabilities, whether in an interview or before he stood geared to be tested. Any aspiring UPSC candidate must possess self-confidence, which keeps one motivated, cheerful, and focused throughout preparation. Importance should be placed on the development of personality. One of the most emphasized areas of the UPSC exam is found in the interview stage, where personality, attitude, and confidence are put to the test. Shakti believes that the candidates must also focus on all the nice things aside from academics: the confidence to tackle the interview, keeping that perfect balance with humility, and composure without losing that general niceness and charm. - Maintaining Balance
Shakti also speaks strongly about maintaining a balance between academic preparation and the upkeep of mental and physical well-being. UPSC preparation goes long and is quite tedious, hence one has to maintain good health and a good mindset. Shakti firmly believes that while people should run for success and keep an eye on it, they must also keep an eye on their well-being. - Live the Life
Last but not least, Shakti says, “Live this the good life, the bad life, and everything that comes with it.” This journey includes more than solely passing the exam; it is about maturing and developing as a person. The lessons learnt on this journey are, to him, as important as the destination.
Conclusion
A civil engineering graduate turned into an IPS officer reigning monarchs the journey by Shakti Mohan Awasthi, which tells that success in the UPSC is not just about merit up to being IITian or plundering gold medals but shows that a lot of power had to be put with perseverance. His story tells much about keeping focus on dreams, learning failures, and improvement. As an IPS officer, Shakti Mohan Awasthi continues serving the nation proudly and with integrity while also encouraging future generations of souls to dream of chasing wings to achieve great things in life through his journey. Such advice will sparkle in the minds of many people who are determined to make their lives better by serving the nation and other eminent fields.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Shakti Mohan Awasthi is an IPS officer whose inspirational journey from humble beginnings to cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination has been widely shared as a motivational story. His path to the IPS involved overcoming significant socioeconomic challenges and multiple preparation attempts. His story represents the thousands of aspirants from non-privileged backgrounds who achieve the IPS and IAS through sheer determination and strategic preparation.
Shakti Mohan Awasthi’s journey involved facing financial constraints during UPSC preparation, limited access to coaching resources, and the psychological burden of being the family’s primary hope for social mobility through government service. These challenges, while significant, ultimately strengthened his resolve. His story is particularly inspiring for aspirants from rural and semi-urban backgrounds who prepare for UPSC without the financial and social support systems that urban aspirants often take for granted.
Shakti Mohan Awasthi’s IPS success demonstrates that UPSC is genuinely meritocratic — a well-prepared candidate from any background can clear it. His journey shows that resource constraints (limited coaching, fewer books, no peer network of toppers) can be overcome with focused self-study, smart use of free resources (libraries, YouTube, government publications), and unwavering consistency. IPS officers from non-privileged backgrounds often become the most impactful district police leaders because their lived experience aligns with the communities they serve.
Both IAS and IPS are selected through the same UPSC Civil Services Examination, but allocation depends on rank and preference. IPS officers join the National Police Academy in Hyderabad for training, while IAS officers go to LBSNAA Mussoorie. IPS officers work primarily in law enforcement, criminal investigation, and internal security. The field postings, career trajectory, and day-to-day responsibilities differ significantly — IPS involves more direct citizen interaction in law enforcement while IAS has broader administrative authority.
For first-generation UPSC aspirants — those whose families have no tradition of government service — Shakti Mohan Awasthi’s story offers: your background is not a disadvantage; the UPSC examination cannot see your parents’ income or education when evaluating your answers; free resources (libraries, IGNOU materials, YouTube) are sufficient for foundation building; finding a study community of similar aspirants provides the mentoring that wealthier aspirants get from paid coaching; and your lived experience of real India gives you an authentic edge in essay and GS writing that privileged aspirants often lack.
