UPSC 2026 success stories: How sons of Chennai weaver and a daily wager cracked India’s toughest exam. The inspiring journey of two candidates who beat the odds
Coming from a humble background, Sabareeswaran grew up watching his father work long hours at a loom to support the family. Resources were limited but his dream of becoming a civil servant never faded and he refused to give up despite facing setbacks repeatedly in the highly competitive exam.
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“…This is my 8th attempt and this year, I cleared the exam with All India Rank of 700. My father is a power loom weaver and my mother is a homemaker. With their hard work, hope, perseverance and my own efforts, everything paid off in the end… I had a lot of knowledge gaps and faced many problems along the way.” Sabareeswaran was quoted by ANI.
Each failed attempt turned into a learning experience for Sabareeswaran. Friends and family say the journey tested her patience, finances and emotional strength. But Sabareeswaran continued to prepare every year, hone his strategy and focus on his goal of cracking the UPSC. His success story has now become an inspiration for thousands of candidates preparing for India’s toughest exam. The UPSC Civil Services Examination, conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission, is known for its extremely low pass rate, making perseverance an important factor in cracking this exam.
For Sabareeswaran’s family, the outcome is more than a career milestone; It is the culmination of years of sacrifice. Once he passed the exam, this success symbolized not only personal triumph but also hope for many students from humble backgrounds who continued to pursue their dreams. His journey sends a clear message to aspirants across India: Failure is not the end; Persistence can eventually make dreams come true.
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Daily bookie’s son from Chennai cracks UPSC in first attempt
In an inspiring story of determination and opportunity, Subramania Bharathi, the son of a daily wager working in a brick manufacturing unit in Chennai, cracked the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination in his first attempt with the help of the Naan Mudhalvan Scheme launched by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Naan Mudhalvan programme, which provides mentoring, skills training and career support to students in Tamil Nadu, played a key role in preparing Bharathi by providing structured guidance and resources for competitive exams.
Coming from a humble background, Bharathi’s journey to success reflects years of hard work, ambition and family support. His father worked as a daily wage laborer in a brickyard, but the family continued to support his dream of entering the civil service.
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Sharing her experience after the results, Bharathi described her journey as nothing short of miraculous. “My journey was quite miraculous. It was my first attempt. With the support of the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, I managed to succeed in my first attempt. I owe a lot to the government’s Naan Mudhalvan scheme and the service coaching centre. They helped me in my preparation,” he told ANI.
He added that his dream of public service began at a young age, when he was just 18 years old, and he had little guidance about the path ahead.
“I started this journey without any guidance when I was just 18 years old. My parents were my initial inspiration and they motivated me to serve my nation in the best possible way,” said Bharathi.
For him, public service represents more than a prestigious career. He believes this is the best platform to bring meaningful change at the grassroots level, especially for communities facing the same challenges his family did.
“I chose civil services as the best platform to contribute to people like us at the grassroots level,” he added.
