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UPSC Success Story: After graduating as an engineer, K Jayaganesh took up a private job but soon realised that many families, including his, were financially struggling.
As the eldest son, Jayaganesh took on the responsibility of running the household and aimed to lift his family out of poverty. (File Photo)
Every person faces two choices in life: either to let things remain unchanged or to work hard to shape their own destiny. Jayaganesh, born and raised in the small village of Vinavamangalam in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu came from a financially weak family. His father worked in a leather factory, earning Rs 4,500 a month. As the eldest son, Jayaganesh took on the responsibility of running the household and aimed to lift his family out of poverty.
Despite his family’s financial struggles, Jayaganesh, who was academically gifted, studied diligently to build his career and life. He scored 92 per cent in his 12th board exams and, with the help of a scholarship, secured admission to a mechanical engineering course. After graduating as an engineer, he took up a private job but soon realised that many families, including his, were financially struggling. He later left his engineering job and began preparing to become a collector.
To pay his coaching fees, Jayaganesh took up a job as a waiter. He gathered information about the UPSC exam and enrolled in a coaching institute in Chennai. Without sufficient funds to pay the fees, he worked as a billing operator in a cinema hall, earning a monthly salary of Rs 3,000.
Jayaganesh then worked as a waiter to gain more study time. He knew the UPSC exam was challenging and required extended study hours. Quitting his job to solely focus on studying wasn’t an option, so he continued working as a waiter. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t clear the UPSC Prelims exam in his first two attempts. Subsequently, he started teaching sociology at a coaching institute.
K Jayaganesh, who failed the UPSC exam six times, showed intelligence and patience. Despite failing six times in a row, he did not give up and continued preparing independently. His perseverance paid off in his seventh attempt, when he cleared the exam, eventually becoming an IRS officer with a rank of 156. He currently holds the post of Additional CIT (OSD) in the Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry region.
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in …Read More
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in … Read More
November 29, 2025, 15:11 IST
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