From Getting 44% In Class 10th To Cracking UPSC In Second Attempt: Success Story Of IAS Awanish Sharan – News18

Last Updated:March 27, 2025, 15:30 IST

IAS officer journey from low marks to success inspires students to believe in hard work and perseverance.

Many successful IAS officers often share their stories of struggling with low marks in school exams or not being top students, yet their dedication, resilience, and willingness to learn paved the way for their success in one of the toughest exams in the country—the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

The goal behind these stories is to inspire students who may not be top rankers in school, reassuring them that school marks are not the ultimate reflection of their potential. It sends a message that with hard work, anything is possible. Additionally, these stories offer hope and moral support to those aspirants who have faced multiple failures, encouraging them to keep striving for success.

One such IAS officer, Ashwani Sharan, has shared his academic journey on the microblogging platform X. From scoring just 44% in his Class 10 exams to cracking the UPSC in his second attempt, Sharan’s post is a reminder to students that a single exam or setback does not determine the course of one’s life.

Awanish Sharan, hailing from Bihar wad an average student in school—scoring just 44.7% in his Class 10 exams, 65% in Class 12, and 60% in graduating. However, Sharan never gave up on his dream to join the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

Before attempting the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), he faced several setbacks, including failing the UPSC Central Police Forces (CPF) and Combined Defence Services (CDS) exams. On top of that, he had failed to qualify for state PCS prelims for 10 times.

However, Sharan’s persistence paid off. Although he reached the interview stage in his first attempt at UPSC CSE, he couldn’t clear the final hurdle. But in his second attempt, he secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 77, realising his dream of becoming an IAS officer.

In 2009, Awanish Sharan was appointed as an IAS officer and currently serves in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. Over the years, he has actively shared motivational stories and personal experiences to inspire aspirants.

In 2022, he posted his Class 10 marksheet on social media, revealing that he had scored only 314 out of 700 marks. The post quickly went viral, spreading the powerful message that academic marks don’t define one’s potential—hard work and perseverance do.