UPSC TN Topper Cleared Test in 5th Try

Chartered accountant by profession, Sivachandran cracks exam without commercial coaching

- BINITA JAISWAL @ Chennai

WHILE the entire nation was shuddered by the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, B Sivachandran's eyes were fixed on the NSG commandos tasked with the rescue operations. Glued to the television set, on that day, this teenager made up his mind to join the police services and serve the nation. On Tuesday, when the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE, 2024) results came out, Sivachandran kept the promise he had made to himself, securing All India Rank 23 and emerging the state topper.

"I still remember when I saw NSG commandos landing on the terrace from helicopters to carry out rescue operations. At that moment, I decided to become part of some security agency. That incident in a way shaped my career," said a 28-year-old Sivachandran, who has opted for the Indian Police Service (IPS) instead of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), despite securing AIR 23.

What makes Sivachandran's victory more inspiring is that he managed to crack the most coveted and one of the most complex examinations in the country, without any commercial coaching. It took him five attempts to secure the rank, but that did not deter him from opting for self-preparation. Moreover, he is the first candidate from Naan Mudhalvan to achieve the feat in the state.

A qualified chartered accountant by profession, Sivachandran, was against the concept of spending lakhs at coaching centres for his CSE preparation, from the very beginning.