'Hard work, determination key to success in IES exam'

"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it," said Paulo Coelho. Ijaz M Yousuf from Ernakulam district, who brought cheers to the entire State as he secured the first rank in UPSC’ s engineering services exam, believes something is true in it.

This is the first time a Keralite is bagging the first rank in the prestigious exam. Ijaz got 801 out of 1200 marks in the Electronic and Telecom Engineering stream of the Indian Engineering Service (IES). Ijaz says hard work and determination are his success mantras.

He had dreamt to enter the IES from his school days. He finished his B. Tech from BITS Pilani with top rank. He was recruited as an engineer by GAIL(India) Ltd. through the campus placement. But, he didn't give up his IES dream.

Ijaz began his preparation for the IES exam along with the job. Being a professional, he had to find time after his working hours. He spent four to five hours in a day for the preparation.

He had lost his father at the age of eight. After that, his mother Dr. K.A Thahira was everything for him. He says his mother's perseverance and the support helped him a lot in the achievement. His brother Favas M Yousuf had also come in support of him.

"Though I was hopeful of making it to the rank list, I did not expect to do this well," he says.

Ijaz says that most of the engineering students from Kerala are not preparing for the prestigious Indian Engineering Service(IES) exam as they are not aware of its prospects.

"Our students have the capacity to crack the IES exam, but they don't realise it. Hard work and determination are the key to the success in the exam," he added.