26-year-old Assam Doctor Mayur Hazarika Secures AIR 5 in UPSC CSE 2022 in First Attempt
In an impressive achievement, Dr. Mayur Hazarika, a resident of Assam, emerged as the top-ranked male candidate in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022. Remarkably, he secured the 5th rank on his first attempt. Despite being a doctor, his aspiration to crack the civil services exam took root during his third year of MBBS. His ultimate goal is to become an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and contribute to the nation's foreign relations.
Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Mayur stated, "Even before I joined medical school, I had a keen interest in civil services. However, due to a lack of guidance and resources back in 2015, which could have directed me towards civil services, I chose to pursue medical studies. Towards the end of my third year of MBBS, the desire to pursue civil services resurfaced, and that's when I decided to chase my dream."
Currently residing in Tezpur, Assam, Dr. Mayur pursued his MBBS degree at Guwahati Medical College and graduated in 2020. Surprisingly, he did not anticipate securing such a high rank. Although he remained hopeful about making it to the final list, he admitted that the achievement exceeded his expectations. Driven by his patriotism and the urge to represent his country internationally, he decided to appear for the UPSC examination. "I aspire to become an IFS officer and work on various foreign relations within the country," he expressed.
Balancing his UPSC preparation with his responsibilities at a hospital in Nagaon district, as part of his rural posting under the National Health Mission, the 26-year-old dedicatedly pursued his goals. While working, he joined the online GS foundation batch of NEXT IAS to receive guidance. Given his time constraints, he primarily relied on self-study, but found the online classes particularly helpful for dynamic subjects like economy, science and technology, and current affairs.
Dr. Mayur completed his schooling at Don Bosco High School in Tezpur, followed by Ramanujan Junior College. He lives with his parents and sister, and his father works as an engineer while his mother is a homemaker. Discussing his preparation strategy, he revealed that for the preliminary exams, he relied on limited but credible sources and underwent multiple rounds of revisions. In preparation for the mains, he focused on incorporating extensive value additions such as statistics, data, government schemes, and anecdotes.
Anthropology served as Dr. Mayur's optional subject, benefiting him greatly. "The physical anthropology portion aligned with my medical-based knowledge, while the social anthropology section assisted me in the compulsory general studies topics," he explained. Recounting his interview experience, he shared that since his first preference was IFS, a substantial part of the interview revolved around international relations. The chairwoman predominantly engaged him in conversations about topics such as the Global South, India's relations with neighboring countries, nuclear diplomacy, medical diplomacy, the Right to Health Bill, and the New Education Policy.
Dr. Mayur Hazarika's remarkable achievement stands as a testament to his dedication, perseverance, and ambition. He now looks forward to realizing his dream of serving the nation as an IFS officer and making significant contributions to India's foreign relations.