Mandi boy tops HAS, targets to crack UPSC

“I was sole newspapers agent at Mandi. My day used to begin at 4 am before newspapers’ supplies could reach the town. Other family members used to handle the morning chorus at home. Today, my son has really made be proud. My hard work and his dedication has paid off, ” Gayatri, mother of Pankaj, told the Indian Express.

There were around 20,700 candidates, who had appeared for the HAS Preliminary exams—of which only 603 qualified for the main examinations held between October 11 to November 3. Just 101 of them were declared qualified later and called for the interviews, which ended on February 7.

“My pain couldn’t stop me from realising my dreams. I never succumbed to my family problems that included the ailing condition of my father. My aim now is to crack UPSC,” said Pankaj.

In the list of 11 toppers released by the Commission, three girls – Samritika from Kullu, Pratibha Chauhan from Solan and Alisha Chauhan from Shimla have taken the lead . Pratibha will be joining the police service while Alisha has been selected as ETO.