UPSC civil services topper in state was fourth-time lucky

Vipin Itankar (29), the state topper in UPSC civil services examination, comes from a humble background from Naxal-affected Chandrapur district. He passed his standard XII examination from Vidya Niketan High School with 88 % marks to secure admission in Nagpur’s Indira Gandhi Medical College. After doing his MBBS in 2010, he moved to Chandigarh to work in a government hospital, where he met Shalini, a Haryana girl who is his wife now.

“Shalini encouraged me to appear for UPSC exam. So, I began preparing. In the first three attempts, I failed to get past the interview stage. And in the fourth, I came 14th in all-India merit list,” Vipin told The Indian Express.

Vipin had lost his father Vithoba, a junior engineer with Maharashtra Electrosmelt Limited, in 2010. His mother Sharada is a housewife and younger sister Vishakha is a computer engineer.

Vipin didn’t expect his result to be so good, especially after failing thrice to clear the interview hurdle. But this time round, his interview went very well. “They asked me questions about corruption and health-related issues as also about Baba Amte and Abhay Bang’s health missions,” said Vipin, who prepared on his own, without going to a coaching institute. He is expecting to get Maharashtra or Haryana cadre.