Grandfather was a dacoit in Chambal, now grandson has cracked UPSC, quit Rs 88 lakh job to become IAS, his AIR is…

Dev Tomar, a resident of Gwalior, has a story that’s both inspiring and deeply emotional. He says, “People used to say my grandfather was a dacoit from Chambal, and that I would never amount to anything. But today, I’ve cleared the UPSC exam in my last attempt, and I couldn’t be prouder.” Dev has secured the 629th rank in the prestigious exam. Before cracking UPSC, Dev was working as a scientist at the headquarters of Philips in the Netherlands, drawing an impressive annual salary of Rs. 88 lakh. An IIT graduate, he began preparing for UPSC in 2019 while continuing his job.

Dev’s grandfather, Ramgovind Singh Tomar, once turned to banditry in the rugged lands of Chambal. But things changed with Dev’s father, Balveer Singh Tomar, who pursued education, earned a PhD in Sanskrit, and eventually became a school principal. It was his father’s encouragement that inspired Dev to aim high and bring pride to his roots. Dev gives full credit for his success to his parents.

Speaking to the media, Dev said this was his final attempt, having already reached the interview stage three times in previous years. Family members often asked what his backup plan was if he didn’t make it this time, but Dev admitted he never had one—his focus was entirely on UPSC.

Dev balanced family responsibilities with his preparation. He is married and has a child, and did most of his studying through self-study and online resources, staying strictly aligned with the syllabus. He prepared entirely from home and was supported by his family throughout the journey.

Three years ago, Dev got married. He revealed that he used his savings to fund the first two years of his preparation. Later, when the money ran out, his family stepped in to help. His wife even took up a job and supported him consistently over the past two years. Dev humbly acknowledged that his success is the result of everyone’s support and sacrifice.

Another inspiring story comes from Ashish Raghuwanshi, son of ASI Naresh Raghuwanshi from Madhya Pradesh Police, posted at the SP office in Gwalior. Ashish cleared the UPSC exam in his very first attempt with an impressive 202nd rank. A commerce graduate from Delhi University, Ashish said he studied for 8 to 10 hours a day and completely stayed away from social media like Instagram and Facebook during his preparation. His father, who hails from Dangora village in Ashoknagar district, said he feels extremely proud of his son’s achievement.

Adding to Gwalior’s list of achievers is Divyanshi Agrawal from Bhitarwar town. She secured the 249th rank in UPSC, and what makes her journey special is that she did it all through self-study, without any coaching. Her dedication and hard work have not only brought joy to her family but also set an example for many others in small towns.

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