Naan Mudhalvan: Tamil Nadu’s Civil Services Success
“As an IAS officer, I want to improve the service delivery systems so govt programmes reach people more effectively,” stated Rajeshwari Suve, who secured All-India Rank 2 in the recent UPSC civil services exam.
Suve, along with A R Rajah Mohaideen and Sruthi R, who achieved All-India Ranks 7 and 18 respectively, highlights the success of Tamil Nadu’s candidates in this year’s examination. A total of 56 candidates from the state cleared the exam, maintaining a performance level similar to last year’s tally of 57.
The Naan Mudhalvan scheme, which provides guidance and coaching for competitive examinations, has been instrumental in this achievement. Of the successful candidates, 39 received residential coaching under this initiative, which aims to enhance the prospects of aspirants in civil services.
Rajah Mohaideen reflected on his journey, saying, “The Covid pandemic made me think of becoming a civil servant.” His proactive approach included forming a Telegram group for joint preparation with fellow aspirants from Tamil Nadu.
Rajeshwari Suve, currently a deputy collector in Dindigul district, had previously attempted the UPSC exam three times before shifting her focus to TNPSC exams. Her determination and the support from the Naan Mudhalvan scheme have clearly paid off.
According to T Sankara Saravanan, a representative of the scheme, “While 39 candidates, including Rajeshwari Suve, were residential aspirants, 17, including Rajah Mohaideen, received fellowship.” This structured support has contributed to the remarkable results seen this year.
S Boominathan, another key figure in the coaching initiative, noted, “We expected around 80 candidates to be selected this year. However, we got better results in terms of ranks.” This unexpected success underscores the effectiveness of the Naan Mudhalvan program.
Historically, Tamil Nadu has not seen a national topper in the civil services examination since 2010, making this year’s results particularly noteworthy. The performance of candidates like Arunkumar A and Dr Nishanth T, who wrote the exams in Tamil and cleared them, further emphasizes the diverse capabilities of aspirants from the state.
As Tamil Nadu continues to foster talent through initiatives like Naan Mudhalvan, the state is poised for further successes in future civil service examinations.
