Akashdeep.Virk@timesofindia.comNot only did candidates from Panchkula and Chandigarh do the Tricity proud by proving their mettle in the prestigious Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam but they also became an inspiration for those walking the path. Despite the challenges they faced, they kept a level head to blaze a winning trail. TOI caught up with the toppers. ‘Steady effort makes a difference’Name: Akansh Dhull, PanchkulaAIR: 3For Akansh Dhull, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination was not about a single breakthrough attempt but steady improvement year after year. On Friday, that persistence culminated in a national top finish as the 25-year-old secured All India Rank 3, emerging as the highest ranked candidate from Chandigarh region.What makes Dhull’s result stand out is his rare upward trajectory across three attempts. He first secured AIR 342, improved to AIR 295 the following year and this time surged into the top three. Already an officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (2024 batch) and currently undergoing training, Dhull continued attempting the examination to improve his rank and pursue his preferred service.A resident of Sector 12A, Panchkula, Dhull studied in St Kabir Sector 26 and Bhavan Vidyalaya, before graduating from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi.Sucess mantra: Consistency “Consistency matters. It is not about how many hours you study in a day, but whether you can keep showing up every day for a long period. That daily consistency builds results,” he said.‘Stay curious, intellectually engaged’Name: Bhavika (Chandigarh)All India Rank: 25 A graduate from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, Bhavika studied at Carmel Convent School in Chandigarh before beginning her UPSC preparation. She first appeared for the examination in 2022.In 2023 she secured AIR 476 and entered the Indian Postal Service, where she is currently an officer trainee in Ghaziabad. She did not clear the exam in 2024 but continued preparing alongside training and returned this year with a dramatically improved rank.Success mantra: Intellect, perseverence “You need the skillset to sit for long hours, keep your brain working and never give up. Most importantly, you must always have a curious outlook,” she said. She said having the right support system also helped her navigate the emotional ups and downs that often accompany civil services preparation.“Preparation is better if you have the right circle and good people around you. There are emotional highs and lows, but the right guidance keeps you grounded,” she said.Bhavika prepared under the mentorship of retired civil servant Keshni Anand Arora. Her father is a chartered accountant while her mother teaches at Carmel Convent School.Motherhood gave her strength Name: Rakhi (Chandigarh)All India Rank: 65 The 32-year-old cleared the examination in her fourth and final attempt. Originally from Bahadurgarh in Haryana and now settled in Chandigarh’s Sector 49 after marriage, Rakhi is married to an SBI manager. She worked as an SBI employee herself but resigned to prepare for the civil services examination. A biotechnology graduate from IIT Roorkee (2014), she later pursued a postgraduate degree in political science from USOL, Panjab University in 2025 to strengthen her preparation.Her journey included a major life milestone when her daughter was born in 2021 during the preparation phase.Success mantra: Persistence, family support“My family supported me throughout this journey. They helped raise my daughter so that I could continue preparing,” she said.Clearing the examination in her final eligible attempt, Rakhi said the result represents years of persistence and family support. She has indicated IAS as her preferred service.Another triumph for officer Name: Neeraj Trar (Chandigarh)AIR: 180Another successful candidate from the region is Neeraj Trar, whose father is an associate professor in the commerce department at Post Graduate Government College, Chandigarh. He cleared the exam while in IRS training.Originally from Bikaner, Trar’s family moved to Chandigarh in 2003. He studied at Govt Model Senior Secondary Schools in sectors 10 and 16 before pursuing BTech from NIT Delhi.Trar is already part of the civil services as an Indian Revenue Service officer of the 2024 batch and is currently undergoing training in Bengaluru.Success mantra: Clarity and consistencyWhile luck plays an important role in the exam, one needs to be very honest and clear about one’s work. It is essential to identify and redress shortcomings with consistent work, he said.
