Pulwama, November 4: Mohammad Owais Bhat, a 22-year-old from the Dangerpora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, has qualified the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) with an All India Rank (AIR) of 107.
Bhat cleared the examination in his third attempt after two earlier unsuccessful efforts. The achievement followed a sustained preparation spanning more than four years (described in some accounts as four-and-a-half years). News of the result brought cheer to his family and neighbourhood, with relatives, friends and neighbours visiting his residence to congratulate him.
“I am very happy. It has been a journey of more than four years, during which I faced two unsuccessful attempts before making it through,” Bhat said. He described the success as particularly satisfying after periods of difficulty. “This was my third attempt, so I feel very satisfied. I have flashbacks from the time when I was at my lowest. Back then, I dreamed that one day, an All India Rank would come my way. Thanks to the Almighty, I achieved AIR 107. It feels wonderful.”
Bhat has cited decorated Army officer Brigadier S.S. Shekhawat as a major source of inspiration. “If I talk about present-day leaders, Brigadier S.S. Shekhawat sir inspires me immensely. He is one of the most decorated Army officers. He has inspired me a lot,” he told PTI.
On his preparation, Bhat emphasised a targeted approach and the use of modern tools. He advised aspirants to thoroughly study the syllabus first: “Entering the preparation without understanding the syllabus makes it feel like an endless ocean. If you adopt a targeted approach, you can narrow down that ocean into manageable ponds.” He also noted that effective preparation is possible without expensive coaching, stating that it can be done for as little as ₹4,000 and recommending the use of YouTube lectures.
Bhat said he made extensive use of artificial intelligence tools during preparation. “I leveraged artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and other bots significantly. I took a paid subscription for Rs 399, fed in the syllabus, and prompted it to predict the ongoing trends. That helped me identify patterns easily, allowing me to anticipate around 20 to 40 questions beforehand by analysing the question formats alongside AI.”
He also highlighted the physical demands of the selection process. After gaining more than 20 kilograms during the written-examination phase, he lost 20 kilograms within two months ahead of the physical tests. “I had to work extremely hard to get back in shape,” he said.
Bhat credited his parents for their consistent financial, moral and ethical support, describing it as essential to his success. He will join the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in January for approximately one-and-a-half years of training before being commissioned into the Indian Army.
The UPSC conducts the CDS examination twice a year to select candidates for officer training at the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Air Force Academy and Indian Naval Academy. The process evaluates academic knowledge and mental ability alongside physical fitness, medical standards and personality through the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, which assesses leadership qualities, decision-making and suitability for service in the armed forces.
Bhat’s result has been widely reported as an encouraging example for defence aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir, underscoring the outcomes of sustained preparation and perseverance.