‘We taught each other’: In Hapur, father and son crack UP Police constable exam together

The duo was among 60,000 candidates who received their appointment letters from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow last month.

According to Shekhar, after 10 months, they will be posted as constables in the same district where they underwent training.

“I am a proud son because my father qualified for the exam along with me. We prepared together — he helped me with general knowledge, and I helped him train for the running (physical test),” he told The Indian Express over the phone.

He said his father’s general knowledge is very good, while he is a state-level athlete. Shekhar said he has participated in several state and national-level athletic competitions.

“We didn’t take up tuition or attend coaching classes. Instead, we read, discussed, and studied together. We used to go to the library, but we never revealed our relationship to anyone there,” he added.

Shekhar said they also relied on online videos and YouTube channels to prepare for the exam.

Shekhar is a graduate, while Yashpal is a retired Havildar from the Indian Army. He opted for retirement in 2019 after serving in the Army for 15 years, as his family needed him at home. At the time of his retirement, he was posted in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan.

Shekhar’s mother is a homemaker. He has two siblings — a younger sister who is pursuing her graduation, and a younger brother who is in Class 12. The duo live with their mother in their village while Shekhar and his father undergo training.

“My father’s love for khaki never faded. He had prepared for the Sub-Inspector recruitment in the UP Police but missed qualifying by just two marks,” Shekhar said.

In the UP Police, the age limit for recruitment to the constable rank is between 18 and 25 years. Yashpal was eligible under the ex-serviceman quota. To qualify for the exam, a candidate must pass written, physical, and medical examinations.

“Several members of my family serve in the paramilitary forces, as well as in the UP and Delhi Police. Our family is very happy — in fact, the residents of our village gathered to congratulate us when they heard that we had cleared the exam together,” Shekhar said.

“Though we have qualified as constables, we will continue preparing for the Sub-Inspector rank. Besides, I am still preparing for the NDA,” he added.