Jammu and Kashmir celebrated a proud moment when a visually impaired JNU graduate, son of a labourer, and a JKAS service officer cleared the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination – 2025, showing determination and inspiring many.
Having lost an eye in a school accident during his early childhood, Irfan Ahmed Lone never let disability get in his way.
Lone, a resident of Manzpura in Nidkhai district of North Kashmir district, achieved the All India Rank (AIR) of 957, bringing pride and celebrations to the border region.
Lone was educated at the National Institute for Empowerment of Visually Impaired Persons in Dehradun. He then graduated from the Hindu College of Delhi University and studied political science at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
He has passed the probationary officer exam in Punjab National Bank and is currently working as an administrative assistant in a life insurance company.
His success not only gained appreciation from people in the area but also became an inspiration to the youth. Lunn’s friends, family and neighbors say the success reflects Lunn’s years of dedication, perseverance and hard work.
“His journey shows that with determination and focus, even the most challenging goals can be achieved,” Lone’s cousin, Firoz Ahmed, said as people gathered at his residence to offer their congratulations to the family.
A neighbor said Lone’s father, who worked as a casual laborer on meager wages, never allowed the family’s financial situation to get in the way of his son’s education.
Shabia, Lone’s younger sister, said the family always believed in him.
“I congratulate him on this great success. I always believed in my brother that he would pass this exam. I could see him working hard for this. He was managing his job as well, but he was very dedicated and hardworking,” Shabia said.
She said Lon not only made the family very proud, but he made the entire area proud of him.
“It is a very proud moment for all of us, and he is an inspiration to us all,” she added.
From north to south Kashmir, another candidate – among the 16 JKs who qualified the UPSC exam – is Tauseef Ahmad Jani from Bhoshal area of Pulwama district.
The son of a worker, Jani overcame many hardships and financial struggles to reach this milestone.
Despite limited resources, his determination, hard work and dedication to studies helped him achieve one of the toughest goals in the country.
Jani, a veterinarian working in Poonch in Jammu district for the past two years, cleared the exam in his second attempt and secured AIR 254.
His father, Muhammad Ishaq, said Jani always excelled in his classes and dreamed of doing something big.
“After completing his bachelor’s degree in veterinary science, Jani said he would prepare for the IAS exams even though he knew it would cost him huge expenses,” Ishaq said.
Talking about his own journey to support his family, Ishaq said that he worked as a laborer in the Jammu region as well.
“I sold my land to support my children’s education. I thank God that my hard work and sacrifices have paid off today,” he said, adding that his phone did not stop ringing as people congratulated the family.
Another candidate from South Kashmir, Muneeb Barah, is currently the officer of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS), AIR 581.
Parah is a resident of Kandigam village in Bijbehara, Anantnag district.
His older brother Irfan said it was a proud and happy moment for the family.
“He was already a member of JKAS. This was his second attempt in IAS and he succeeded in it. It is a great moment for all of us,” Irfan said.
He said that what matters in life is hard work, passion and commitment.
He added, “This is what fundamentally matters in life. We are all happy, the family and the residents of the region, and this is a moment that should be enjoyed collectively. Education is the main channel through which you can change your future and contribute to building the nation.”
The family, members of civil society, and well-wishers congratulated the family on this wonderful achievement.
As many as 16 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir – the joint highest ever from the region – have qualified for the exam, the results of which were announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday.
Anuj Agnihotri, an MBBS graduate from AIIMS, Jodhpur, topped the civil services examination.
Second place holder Rajeshwari Suvi M, holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, while BCom graduate from Delhi University Akansh Dhal secured third position.
