RAIPUR: As the first rays of the sun hit the dusty trails of Sambalpuri village in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district, a small family would head toward the dense forests. Among them was a young boy, Ajay Gupta, who spent his mornings plucking Tendu leaves and gathering Mahua flowers, other minor forest produce.
He achieve a success by securing All India Rank-91 in the Indian Forest Service (IFS) examination. The boy who once laboured in the woods to keep the kitchen fire burning is now preparing to take charge of forest conservation.
Ajay’s early life was defined by extreme hardship. Living in a mud-and-tile house where sunlight leaked through the roof, his family relied on six months of farming and six months of forest produce collection. Despite being illiterate, Ajay’s parents understood the transformative power of education. They channelled every penny earned from back-breaking labour into their children’s schooling.
Ajay proved his mettle early on, scoring 93% in his 10th grade in 2011. His trajectory changed when he received a government scholarship specifically designed for the children of Tendu leaf collectors. This financial lifeline led him to the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur. "Back then, my world ended at the village borders," Ajay recalls. "NIT opened my eyes to the fact that I could achieve something massive."
In 2021, he took a leap of faith, resigned from his job, and plunged into UPSC preparation.
The path was gruelling. Ajay wrote the Mains examination four times and reached the interview stage thrice. Each time he fell short, he drew strength from the resilience he learned as a child in the forest.
The year 2025 brought a double victory. First, Ajay secured AIR 452 in the Civil Services Examination, earning a spot in the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). However, shortly after, the IFS results were declared, placing him at AIR 91.
While many would choose the IRS for its perceived power and urban lifestyle, Ajay followed his heart back to the woods. He opted for the Forest Service over the Revenue Service. "The forest has been part of my life since childhood. It didn't just give us a livelihood; it gave me a direction. My bond with nature is unbreakable," he explains.
The state Forest and Climate Change Minister Kedar Kashyap congratulating Ajay Gupta said that his success reflects the aspirations and capabilities of thousands of Chhattisgarh's forest-dependent families and stands as a symbol of hope for youth from rural and forest regions.
"Never complain about your situation," Ajay advises aspiring students. "Keep working hard. Support will find you—if not financially, then in the form of guidance”, he added.
