CHENNAI: Though 68 people who appeared for the civil services exam from the State are celebrating after their success, IAS training centres are a little worried.
Even as the number of candidates recommended for appointment remained fairly constant since 2010, the count of those selected from TN has been dipping.
“In 2010, there were 122 aspirants who received appointments from the Union Public Service Commission, but this year, only 68 people from the State have made it through,” said Chandrasekar, Education Officer at Shankar IAS Academy, which has accounted for about half of those selected this year. A total of 910 candidates have been recommended for appointment this year from across the country.
With only 98 appointments last year, the decline in numbers has been steady. “This is a worrying trend, especially because the number of top ranks has also lessened considerably,” he added. This time around, the State’s highest rank stands at No 5, which was bagged by S Gopala Sundara Raj. The next highest was Neeraj Kumar Singh at No 11. While Ramanathapuram native Raj holds a PhD in Agriculture from the IARI, Delhi, and has been appointed as a scientist in in MP, Singh is a IIT-M graduate originally from Chhattisgarh. One of the few success stories that is truly heart-warming is that of a graduate from Bodinayakanur, Sundareshbabu M.
The 26-year-old, whose father worked in an insurance firm, is all smiles as he admits that he never expected such a high rank. . Clearing the exam on his second attempt, he reveals that he had bagged the ninth rank in the Forest Service exam as well. “I just hope that I get assigned to a department related to agriculture - I would be really useful there,” he said.
Thirty-three candidates from Manidhneyam Free IAS Academy emerged successful. Swati Srivatsava came all India 74th rank from this academy followed by Balamurali, who secured the 105th rank. All the candidates who cleared the examination had the cult of opting for different academies for different subjects.