Naga youth cracks UPSC exam, secures 133rd rank

August 5, 2020 426 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, Aug 3 (NPN): After 13 long years, Richard Yanthan, a youth from Nagaland is set to become an IAS officer. He cleared the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE), 2019, results of which were declared on Tuesday.

In his first attempt for the UPSC exam in 2018, Yanthan got through the interview stage, but failed to make it to the final list. But in his second attempt, he managed to get through into the final list and was ranked 133 among 829 successful candidates. With 180 vacancies for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre, he is set to become one of the youngest IAS cadres from Nagaland at the tender age of 25.

Hailing from Lakhuti village in Wokha district, 25-year-old Yanthan is the son of late Chenithung James Yanthan and Shilomenla Longchari (NSS), a deputy secretary in the F&CS department.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, Yanthan credited God for his success and his mother, who worked hard to ensure that he didn’t compromise with his education.

Eldest among his three siblings, his father had passed away when he was in his 4th standard. He did his schooling from Chandmari HSS, before getting enrolled in Kohima Science College, Jotsoma and then going to Guwahati to pursue his B Tech in Civil Engineering and graduating in 2017. He then took up coaching at Rau’s IAS Study Circle based in New Delhi.

After failing his first attempt in 2018, he cleared NPSC 2018 exams, results of which were declared by Nagaland Public Service Commission. Ranked 7th, he was EAC under probation at Nagaland House Delhi since then.

Yanthan said initially he had studied for around 11-12 hours per day and reduced this thereafter when his preparations got better.

On challenges, he remarked that every stage of the exam presented him different challenges. “But always give your best and at the end you do get rewarded,” he said.

To upcoming UPSC aspirants, he observed that perseverance was something many lose track during preparation as it was not very easy to keep concentrating. “We do get distracted and sometimes we feel like giving up, but continue to struggle and in the end something does happen,” he said.

It may be mentioned Kesonyu Yhome (2007 Nagaland cadre) was the last Naga to become an IAS officer. Swapneel Paul from Dimapur also cleared the UPSC 2017 exam and was ranked 64th in 2018. Meanwhile, chief minister Neiphiu Rio, deputy CM Y Patton, advisors– Mmhonlumo Kikon and Mhathung Yanthan took to twitter to congratulate Richard.

Besides, Richard, 9 others from the North East cleared the UPSC exam– four from Assam (including Assam lad Aranyak Saikia with 59th rank), two each from Sikkim and Manipur and one from Tripura.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/naga-youth-cracks-upsc-exam-secures-133rd-rank/220155.html