By Prateek Sharma in KARNAL: Vineet Kumar, a resident of Karnal, Haryana, has achieved an All India Rank 1 in the UPSC engineering service exam (ESE) 2021 and will soon join the coveted central government position. But this is not his only accomplishment; despite growing up in a middle-class home where his father was the sole provider, Kumar has always had a strong desire to acquire not only money but also respect. He had already passed some of the most prestigious and tough examinations by the age of 26, including IIT entrance JEE Advanced, IIM entrance CAT, and PSU job entry exam GATE.
He is currently employed as an assistant executive engineer at ONGC, but it is his sense of purpose that compelled him to sit the UPSC exam.
Cracking the UPSC ESE not only provides the potential to work for one of the best technical professions but also a “chance to help people and contribute to the nation’s growth,” according to the 26-year-old topper.
However, achieving success in UPSC was not simple. Vineet had achieved 791 points in his first attempt at UPSC ESE, but the final cut-off was 9 points higher at 800. This was his first exam failure; nonetheless, he did not let it bother him and opted to retake the exam in 2021.
“I examined my performance and scores at each stage, identifying the areas that needed to be improved. I concentrated more on these areas, setting aside time each day for modifications, and taking a larger number of practice examinations. All of these factors contributed to my success in clearing and earning AIR 1 in ESE 2021, “He said.
Vineet adds that for his ESE preparations, he first familiarised himself with the material and devised a study schedule. “I then began studying according to the study plan, with a concentration on basic concepts and principles.” After finishing each topic, I used to go over previous year ESE questions and take short notes “He continues.
“Given the extensive syllabus to prepare for, I had set aside a specified amount of time each day for revision of previously studied courses.” It helped me in keeping my notions clear, making them easier to recollect, and increasing my confidence. It is also critical to become acquainted with the exam atmosphere before to the actual exam. I did this by taking several practice tests and thoroughly analysing my performance. As a result, I was able to identify areas for improvement, which helped me to devise a strategy for taking the exam paper,” he explained. He also sought assistance from tutoring institutes such as Ace Engineering Institute.
Kumar took the IIT-JEE in 2012 before taking the UPSC exam. He claims it was during his JEE study that he “learned the necessity of consistency and thorough planning in preparing for any entrance exam or learning something new.” This greatly aided me in passing JEE, and it is now assisting me in passing ESE as well.” He was admitted to IIT-Delhi on the basis of his JEE score, where he studied mechanical engineering.
Kumar joined Rivigo, a logistics company, via campus placement after finishing his BTech. He worked as a business analyst there for a little over a year, but he was always captivated by mechanical engineering and wanted to work “where I could be employing my technical expertise.”
He began working at ONGC as an assistant executive engineer in September 2018 after passing the GATE exam.
Kumar not only aced the GATE, but also the CAT – IIM entrance exam in 2018. His CAT percentile was 99.93, and he received AIR 106 in GATE. He was admitted to IIMs through CAT, and he received employment offers from various PSUs, including ONGC, through GATE.
“At the time, I was torn between attending IIM and working for a PSU.” Because the decision would send my future in two completely opposite directions. Because mechanical engineering has always piqued my interest, and I was concerned that after completing my MBA, I would not be able to work in my technical field, I opted to enter a PSU. I could contribute to nation-building while working at a PSU. “Considering these circumstances, I opted to join ONGC,” Vineet explains.
He was born into a lower-middle-class family. Vineet’s father owns a shop in Karnal, and his mother is a housewife. He completed his 12th grade at the CBSE-accredited Pratap Public School in Karnal, where he received a 90.4 percent grade point average.
