How Amit Gemawat turned setbacks into success to realise his dream of joining Indian Forest Service

By Ishwi SinghFirst Published Oct 4, 2024, 9:02 AM IST
Highlights

Despite five failed attempts at the UPSC exam, Amit Gemawat persevered for nine years, eventually joining the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) in 2019. 

Amit Gemawat, a resident of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, proved that failure is not the end. After five unsuccessful attempts at the UPSC exam, he persevered and finally succeeded on his sixth try, becoming an officer in the Indian Forest Service (IFoS). His journey serves as a powerful inspiration for aspiring candidates, showcasing the values of hard work and determination.

A desire to join the civil services

From a young age, Amit's family instilled a strong emphasis on discipline and education. His father, a criminal lawyer, frequently interacted with officers, leaving a lasting impression on Amit. He admired their personalities and work, which sparked his desire to join the administrative service. At that time, however, Amit had no idea of the struggles he would face to realise this dream.

Education

Amit holds a BTech degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the esteemed MBM Engineering College in Jodhpur. Despite completing his engineering studies, his true ambition was civil service. He began his career as a guest lecturer at his alma mater, but his aspiration to become an officer never wavered. Alongside this role, he committed himself to preparing for the civil services examination.

UPSC journey

Amit first appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2014. He successfully cleared the Preliminary Examination on his first attempt, but unfortunately did not pass the Mains Examination, marking his first major setback. Undeterred, he tried again the following year and reached the interview stage, yet fell short of making it to the final merit list. Over the next four attempts, he consistently reached the interview phase, but success continued to elude him.

From failure to success

Despite five consecutive failures, Amit refused to give up. While many would feel disheartened and choose a different path, Amit remained focused on his goal of joining the civil service. He persisted in his efforts and approached his sixth attempt with renewed determination and thorough preparation.

Civil Services Examination

Even while facing setbacks in the UPSC, Amit kept his options open. In 2017, he sat for the Rajasthan State Civil Services Examination and was selected for the role of Accountant. He worked in this position for nearly two years, but his ultimate ambition remained the UPSC. Throughout this time, he continued to prepare diligently for the civil services examination.

Indian Forest Service

The year 2019 was a pivotal moment in Amit's life. He sat for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) examination alongside other Civil Services Examinations. His hard work and dedication finally bore fruit in 2020 when he successfully cleared both exams.

Achieving success

Amit achieved a rank of 672 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, which led to his selection for the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service (DANIPS). Simultaneously, he attained the 67th rank in the Indian Forest Service (IFS) examination. In that defining moment, he chose the Indian Forest Service, fulfilling his dream of becoming an officer.

Story of perseverance

Amit's journey shows that rather than fearing failure, one should view it as a learning opportunity. Despite reaching the interview stage five times without success, he remained determined. Each time, he identified his shortcomings and made improvements for the next attempt. It was his patience and discipline that ultimately guided him to his goal.

Amit's struggle and dedication inspired his younger brother, Shishir Gemawat. Motivated by Amit's journey, Shishir began preparing for the civil services and achieved his dream of becoming an IAS officer in his second attempt in 2017. Amit not only found success himself but also became a source of inspiration for his family.

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