Serving in a Naxal-affected area yet pursuing the UPSC dream: An officer makes history

The story of Raju Wagh, a native of Nashik, Maharashtra, is unique. He did not prepare for the UPSC exam in a coaching center or a quiet environment; instead, he studied amidst the rigors of his demanding duty as a CRPF officer.

UPSC Success Story: The UPSC exam is considered one of the toughest in the country. Candidates often spend years preparing for it, employing various methods ranging from coaching classes to self-study; however, Raju Wagh's journey stands apart. He prepared for the exam not in a coaching center or a peaceful setting, but while performing his challenging duties as a CRPF officer.

Despite being deployed in a Naxal-affected region, handling operational responsibilities, and working long hours, he persisted with his studies and ultimately secured All India Rank 871 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024.

For Raju, this journey was about more than just passing an exam. While fulfilling his responsibilities amidst Maoist activities in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, he simultaneously nurtured the dream of joining the civil services. He established a disciplined study routine amidst his hectic schedule, and maintaining this consistency was a crucial factor in his success.

Raju Wagh was born in Indori village in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. He received his early education at a Zilla Parishad school and later attended Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. He went on to graduate in Civil Engineering from NIT Nagpur, completing his degree in 2014. After his studies, he worked at Coal India for about five years. Subsequently, he decided to join government service; he passed the CAPF examination in 2018 and joined the CRPF.

During his service with the CRPF, Raju was posted in Sukma, in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh—an area plagued by Maoist insurgency. He faced numerous challenging situations while on duty there. During his deployment, Raju successfully detected 32 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). During this time, he also experienced the pain of losing fellow soldiers in operations.

However, his role was not limited to combat operations alone. He worked with the local population, striving to build trust in areas long plagued by an atmosphere of fear and conflict.

While stationed in Sukma, Raju noticed that many children lacked access to education. He subsequently converted the CRPF camp into a classroom and began teaching them himself. Thus, he was simultaneously fulfilling his security-related duties and contributing to the education of local children.

Balancing UPSC preparation with his CRPF duties was no easy task. Operational responsibilities often required him to work long hours; nevertheless, Raju established a routine for his studies.

He used to wake up at 4 AM to study and would continue his preparation even after long hours of duty. Instead of studying for extended periods at a stretch, he focused on studying for a few hours daily with complete concentration. The foundation of his preparation was not the sheer number of hours spent studying, but rather the consistency and discipline he maintained every day.

The results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 bore witness to Raju Wagh's hard work; he secured All India Rank 871. Notably, even when the results were announced, Raju was not preparing for any celebration; instead, he was gearing up for one final anti-Maoist operation. Even after learning of his success, he returned to his duty.

Following his success in the UPSC examination, Raju Wagh joined the Indian Audit and Accounts Service in August 2025; he is currently posted in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.