In 2018, Saurabh Bhawania accomplished a feat that many dream of but only a few achieve. He cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination, securing an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 113. At 32, he excelled in the interview round, earning 201 points, the third-highest score that year.

All these glitters, however, did not come easy to him. After facing a setback in his first attempt in 2017, when he couldn’t clear the Mains, Saurabh bounced back with resilience, cracking the formidable exam on his second attempt. And, he did all this while balancing the dual roles of a parent and a dedicated professional at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

“My career in banking was fulfilling, but my heart yearned for work that made a difference,” he reflects.

Influenced by his father’s admiration for government officials who frequented their family’s printing press and profoundly inspired by a District Collector in Dumka, Jharkhand, who actively engaged with the community to address their grievances, Saurabh dreamt of embodying such transformative roles.

Just two months into his UPSC preparation, Saurabh and his wife, Parul, received joyous news — they were expecting a child. Embracing the balance between parenthood and a full-time career, Saurabh viewed these responsibilities not as obstacles, but as sources of motivation. Every moment was precious, as it allowed him to inch closer to his dream. Finally, in his second attempt, he managed to clear the........

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