How Azharuddin Quazi Became IAS Despite Financial Constraints

Meet IAS Azharuddin Qazi, from Yavatmal, Maharashtra who grew up in severe poverty, with his father supporting the family by driving a taxi. Despite these challenges, Quazi’s education was never compromised. He attempted the Civil Services exam thrice, in 2010, 2011, and 2018, but didn’t succeed. In the 2019 Civil Services Exam, he secured an All India Rank of 315 and finally became an IAS officer. (Instagram/azharuddin-quazi_ias)

Quazi’s mother played a pivotal role in his success. Though she was a housewife, she valued education highly. Having been married off young and unable to complete her own education, she channelled her passion into educating her four children. Given the family’s financial constraints, private tuition was not an option, so she took on the responsibility of teaching her children herself. He attended a Hindi-medium government school in Yavatmal. (Instagram/azharuddin-quazi_ias)

After finishing 10th grade, Azharuddin chose the commerce stream for his 11th and 12th grades and continued with the same subjects in graduation. Due to the family’s financial difficulties, he also took on a private job during his college years to support them. In 2010, inspired by an IAS officer he met at an event, Quazi decided to pursue the UPSC Civil Services exam. (Instagram/azharuddin-quazi_ias)

Azharuddin Quazi started preparing for the exam right after graduation. He needed to go to Delhi for better preparation but lacked the funds for a train ticket. His father managed to gather the money to send him to Delhi, where Quazi took an entrance test for a coaching institute offering free preparation for meritorious students. After passing the test, he began his preparation. (Instagram/azharuddin-quazi_ias)

After failing the UPSC twice, he applied for a bank job and was selected. He worked in the bank for seven years to stabilise his family’s finances. Once their situation improved, he decided to resign and attempt the UPSC exam again, despite criticism from many. In 2018, he took the Civil Services Exam for the third time but failed to make the merit list. He cleared the prelims and mains but was eliminated in the interview round. Determined, he tried again the following year. This time, his hard work paid off. In the 2019, he cleared the exam in his fourth attempt. (Instagram/azharuddin-quazi_ias)