82 from Tamil Nadu secure ranks

Chennai: Of the 82 Tamil Nadu students who secured ranks in the exams, Chennai student Sharanya Ari secured the overall seventh rank and was the state’s topper.

“My parents had a goal that I have to serve the nation. So, I chose civil service over defence forces. I would like to work for the development of women and children,” she said.

She said she was inspired by civil servants whom she met during her college days  and their work. She cracked the UPSC exam in the fourth attempt. Her optional subject was sociology.

She studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya at Tambaram and I did my B.Tech (IT) in SRM University. Her father M.Arivazhagan is a retired Air Force officer and mother was  working as PG teacher.

R.Vaithinathan from Puducherry secured 37th rank in the exams. He
said he was inspired by his sister R.Ponni, who is serving as Superintendent of Police in Tiruvannamalai He completed his MBBS from Puducherry University. “It was my third interview. I was so dejected and give up preparation last year. But my sister and parents encouraged me to continue. My teachers also supported me,” he said.

“Earlier when I was working as a house surgeon, my work revolved round the curative part. I wanted to work as a social doctor where administration plays a major role. I want to bring in transparency in government and make the government more people-friendly,” he said.  His father K.Ramalingam is an advocate and mother Vasanthi is a homemaker.

Sibi Adhithya Senthilkumar from Salem got the 72nd rank. He cleared
the exam in his first attempt. He started preparing in 2015 for the exam.