PRAVEEN KUMAR UPSC 2020-21 Rank-7

• Before venturing into civil services, he worked in the Indian Railway Services. Driven by the ambition to become an IAS officer, Praveen continued his UPSC preparation and, with diligent effort, clinched RANK 7 in the UPSC exam.
• Praveen Kumar's father, Mr. Sitaram Varnwal, operates a drug shop, while his mother, Mrs. Veena, is a homemaker.
• He attributes his success to his family, highlighting their unwavering support and the positive environment that greatly aided his preparation.
• Following his B.Tech from IIT Kanpur, he commenced his preparation in Delhi.
• Praveen's aspiration to contribute to society, particularly for senior citizens, led him to choose IAS as his career path.
• His optional subject for the UPSC exam was Civil Engineering, aligning with his academic background.
• Hailing from Bihar, Praveen Kumar achieved success in the UPSC exam on his second try, earning pride not only from his home state but across the entire country.
• His dedication and hard work bore fruit as he secured a position in the top 10.
• Praveen attributes his success to the unwavering support of his entire family, emphasising that without them, this achievement would not have been possible.
• He generously shares insights into his UPSC preparation journey and the strategies he employed for the examination.

• Praveen Kumar, hailing from Jamui, Bihar, pursued his schooling at Ramakrishna Vidyamandir and earned a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
• His academic achievements include clearing the GATE exam with an impressive AIR 5 in 2018 and securing RANK 3 in the Indian Engineering Services during the same year.

• Praveen Kumar's father, Mr. Sitaram Varnwal, operates a drug shop, and his mother, Mrs. Veena, is a housewife.
• They form a supportive family environment that played a crucial role in Praveen's success.

• Praveen Kumar expresses his commitment, stating, "I aspire to be a pioneer in serving homeless children.
• My goal is to establish a hostel for them, providing a conducive environment for both study and living."
• Since childhood, he has harboured a dream of contributing to the betterment of underprivileged individuals and serving society.

• IAS Praveen Kumar shares insights into his UPSC preparation strategy, emphasising the importance of self-awareness.
• According to him, it's crucial to believe in your strengths, identify your weaknesses, and learn from, rather than imitate, the toppers.
• Praveen underscores the significance of note-taking, saving both time and energy.
• Opting for Civil Engineering as his optional subject, he recommends starting preparation well in advance, around 5-6 months before the exam.
• Praveen advises aspirants to choose subjects based on personal preference rather than blindly following others.
• He emphasises thorough comprehension of each topic and prioritises time management, particularly focusing on challenging subjects first.
• Understanding the exam syllabus and pattern, solving previous year question papers, and daily newspaper reading for current affairs, with the assistance of NCERT books, are vital components of his approach.

Having secured Rank 7 in his second attempt, Praveen Kumar, a diligent individual, encourages aspirants not to fear failure. He advocates continuous learning, unwavering focus on goals, and assures that success will follow.