Exam is not tough, says UPSC topper

A student of University of Pune, Karthik Gurunathan Iyer (22), has stood seventh at the all-India level in the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) civil service examination.

Staying at the varsity hostel and pursuing his masters in history, he cleared the examination in the first attempt. Iyer completed his graduation in science from Fergusson College.

Born in Nagpur, Iyer has always been a bright student. He stood sixth in the all-India ranking merit list in the National Defence Academy exam, but failed in the medical tests. “I always wanted to be a fighter pilot,” he said.

Aversion to join the corporate world and desire to serve society made him appear for the UPSC examination. Iyer’s preference is the Indian Foreign Service as he believes he would get a chance to represent the country abroad.

The UPSC topper’s father, MR Gurunathan, retired from the Maharashtra State Textile Corporation in 2003 and mother Kamlam is working with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd in Bangalore.
Having appeared for the exam with political science and history, his advice to aspirants is that hard work and dedication are the two keys to success. “The examination is not tough at all,” he said.