Gautam Goyal (right), Superintendent of Police, with publications of The Hindu during the inauguration of the UPSC Aspirants’ Meet at Vysya College in Salem in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, 18 March 2025.
| Photo Credit: E. LAKSHMI NARAYANAN

Cutting-edge decision-making that influences others is possible only in civil services, said Gautam Goyal, Superintendent of Police, Salem District, during the inauguration of the UPSC Aspirants’ Meet here on Tuesday.

Shankar IAS Academy partnered with The Hindu to launch the club at Vysya College in the city. Addressing the students, chief guest Mr. Gautam Goyal said that as a civil service officer, one faces numerous problems daily at the local, state, and national levels, and the decisions made have a tremendous impact. “Though you can excel and achieve greater comfort in the private sector, only in civil services can your decisions influence many lives in a single move, giving immense satisfaction,” he added.

Explaining the career opportunities in civil services, he said the service provides recognition in society, and one can enter the field at a very young age. “Cracking the civil service exam is a dynamic process, and one should master the basics,” he said. The officer mentioned that while IAS, IPS, and IFS are well-known, there are numerous other services within the Government of India. “Make yourself aware of all the services and prepare accordingly,” he advised.

Outlining the three stages of the examination – preliminary, mains, and interview – Mr. Goyal emphasised that each stage requires a unique strategy and stressed the importance of full-time preparation. He highlighted that staying updated with current affairs through newspapers is essential for preparation and encouraged students to understand the syllabus thoroughly, focus on in-depth study, and review previous years’ question papers.

He advised students not to be overwhelmed by the vast amount of study material available. Instead, he recommended selecting a few reliable sources and studying them meticulously. “After gaining clarity, choose whether to opt for online or offline coaching or self-study,” he said.

Finally, Mr. Goyal emphasised that success in learning is achieved through hard work and persistence. He urged students to be sincere, honest, and focused to succeed in the exam. Mr. Gautam Goyal handed over ₹30,000 worth of special publications from The Hindu Group, sponsored by Shankar IAS Academy, to the college library.

T. Thilakraj, Branch Head of the academy, Salem, L. Gokula Krishnan, Faculty for Development Administration of the academy, explained the scope, preparations and opportunities in the civil services. P. Venkatesan, Principal of the college was present.