( Topper ) UPSC Topper : IQBAL DHALIWAL, ALL INDIA RANK - 1

IQBAL DHALIWAL
ALL INDIA RANK - 1
CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION 1995.
Service : Indian Administrative Service
Cadre : Tamil Nadu

- MY TRYST WITH THE CIVIL SERVICES -

I was born in 1972 in Bangalore. My father was in the BSF, my mother runs her own school and my sister is a Doctor. I did my schooling from the Mothers International School with Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computers) in 1989. I completed my B.A.(Honours) in Economics from Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University in 1992 and my M.A. in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics in 1994. I specialised in Developmental Economics, Public Finance, Agricultural Economics, Money and Banking. Since childhood itself, my parents wanted me to be an IAS officer - the main reason being that this is one service which allows an individual to do a tremendous amount of good work for the people and make a difference in the lives of a few. As my interest in Economics, especially Developmental Economics grew, I realised that the IAS gives an economist the best possible opportunity to put into practice, all that we have learnt for the benefit of the people. I took my first attempt in June 1994 itself when I sat for the CSE 1994. For preliminaries, I just studied the NCERT text books for the various subjects and luckily managed to clear it. But I totally ignored GS and Public Administration (my 2nd optional) during the Mains. This was the reason that I got just 952 in the written exam. The interview went exceptionally well (234) so I managed to get a rank of 229 and was allotted to the Indian Civil Accounts Service Group A.

I accepted the service but took a year's extension since my heart was on the IAS. For Preliminaries (GS and Economics), NCERT text books were enough. But for the Mains, the strategy changes to wide reading and very good understanding of the issues involved in the subjects and in current affairs. I was a voracious reader of Times of India and the Economic Times so that was manageable. For Public Administration, I concentrated on just the books by Maheshwari and read them thoroughly. Economics did not require any preparation other than keeping abreast with current issues and revising the class notes of the last 5 years of academics. General Studies required a lot of work - especially for Science and Technology, Polity, History and Geography/Environment. Most of this from original texts. My papers luckily went quite well and I scored 1250 in the written. The interview does not require any extraordinary preparation other than developing a bit of confidence in yourself and in being totally abreast of current issues, besides being versent with the nuances of your optionals. Things went well in the interview again and I was awarded 226, making a total of 1466 which allowed me to join IAS this year.

Being at LBSNAA is like a dream come true - a dream that my family and I nourished for 24 years. Meeting friends from different services, interacting with some of the best IAS and other service officers and taking part in a wide variety of activities like Horse riding, tennis and Net surfing among others is great fun - for which I cannot but again thank my Father, mother, sister and my fiancee - all of whom have made me whatever little that I am today.