REVEALED! How UPSC topper Pradeep Singh cracked civil services exam 2019 - This is his message for aspirants

Pradeep Singh, 29, of Sonipat, Haryana has topped the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2019, results of which were declared on Tuesday. He topped the list of 829 candidates who have qualified for the prestigious civil services, including the IAS, the IPS and the IFS. It was the fourth attempt at civil services for Pradeep Singh. He had qualified in 2019 for Indian Revenue Service (customs and central excise). Singh was undergoing probation at the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) in Faridabad.

How UPSC topper Pradeep Singh cracked civil services exam 2019

Pradeep Singh has revealed that there were times when he felt that he was losing focus, but his father, a farmer, kept motivating him. He said that consistency and focus are a must to succeed in the civil services exam. "UPSC demands consistency as well as focus. At one time when I was doing this job, I had a feeling that I may be unable to keep my focus on the exams. But my father kept motivating me," he said.

Replying to a question, he said that challenges do increase when one is balancing between studies and job. "Staying focused may seem difficult, but one has to stay determined to achieve the goal," Singh said.

Message for civil services aspirants

And his message for civil services aspirants: "Always keep your focus and concentration. There may be moments when you feel you may not be able to pull it off, but that is the time when your determination helps."

Describing it as a dream come true, Pradeep Singh said on Tuesday that he wants to join the Indian Administrative Service as he is keen to work for the deprived and poor sections of society.

"My father is very happy today. My entire family is very happy," said Singh who had studied at a government school at his native Tewri village in Sonipat before shifting to the city.

"If one works hard and puts honest efforts, no goal is difficult to achieve, notwithstanding the odds one may face along the way," he said, adding that he had told his son not to worry about the money for his studies and concentrate on achieving his goal.

Singh's mother is a homemaker, his elder brother works in the insurance sector and younger sister is pursuing MSc in mathematics.