Junaid Ahmad (UPSC AIR 3), Education, Preparation Strategy & Success Journey 

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the most competitive exams in India. It tests a candidate’s knowledge, patience, mental strength, and preparation strategy. Every year, lakhs of aspirants appear with the dream of becoming officers in the IAS, IPS, IFS, and other services. To clear this exam, one needs a clear understanding of the syllabus, strong basics from NCERT books, regular current affairs reading, and consistent answer writing practice.

One such inspiring example is Junaid Ahmad, who achieved All India Rank 3 in UPSC CSE 2018. What makes his journey special is that he came from an average academic background and succeeded in his fifth attempt. With dedication, proper planning, and hard work, he transformed from an ordinary student into a successful IAS officer. His journey shows that with the right mindset and effort, any determined aspirant can achieve success in the UPSC exam.

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About Junaid Ahmad

Junaid Ahmad is a distinguished Indian civil servant who achieved All India Rank 3 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2018. His journey to success is a testimony to resilience, strategic learning, and hard work. Despite a modest academic background, Junaid proved that consistent effort and proper planning can lead to extraordinary outcomes. His success in one of India’s toughest competitive exams has inspired countless UPSC aspirants across the nation.

Junaid Ahmad (IAS) Date of Birth

Junaid Ahmad was born on 30th October 1991 in Nagina, a small town located in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, India. As of 2024, he is 32 years old. His early environment played a significant role in shaping his aspirations and values, particularly with his father being a lawyer and his family supporting education and service-oriented careers.

Junaid Ahmad Personal Life

Junaid Ahmad comes from a middle-class family background that emphasized education and ethical values. His father, Javed Hussain, is a lawyer by profession, and his mother, Ayesha Raza, is a homemaker. He has three siblings—an elder sister and two younger brothers.

In his personal life, Junaid got married to Dr. Nadia Nazim, a pediatrician from Delhi, on 15th February 2024 in Corbett, in an arranged marriage setting—highlighting the cultural traditions many Indian civil servants adhere to. He maintains an online presence via Instagram at @junaidahmad_91, where he shares motivational content and glimpses of his personal journey.

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Junaid Ahmad Educational Background

Junaid Ahmad’s academic journey began in his hometown.

• He received his primary education from St. Mary’s School, Nagina.
• He completed his intermediate education from Aligarh University.
• For higher education, he pursued Electronic Engineering.

Although sources differ on the exact institution, it’s widely noted that he studied initially at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and later graduated from Sharda University, Noida. This transition may have been strategically made to access better UPSC preparation resources due to Noida’s proximity to Delhi.

Junaid was not a top-performing student in school or college.

• He scored 41% in Class 10, around 60% in Class 12, and 65% in graduation.
  This average academic background makes his success particularly inspirational, especially for students who feel discouraged by their past academic results. It reinforces the idea that academic excellence is not a prerequisite for success in UPSC.

Junaid Ahmad Professional Background

Junaid Ahmad began considering the UPSC Civil Services as a career option during the final year of his engineering. His goal was to serve society meaningfully, which naturally aligned with the values of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

• He began serious preparation in 2014 and initially moved to Mumbai for studies.
• Realizing the importance of environment, he relocated to Delhi and joined Jamia Millia Islamia’s Residential Coaching Academy, which supports minority and underprivileged aspirants.

In his fourth attempt, he secured AIR 352 and was selected for the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), serving as an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax.

• He underwent professional training at Hyderabad and the National Academy of Customs, Faridabad.

However, his true aspiration was the IAS, and hence, he made a fifth attempt in 2018—achieving AIR 3 and fulfilling his dream. His professional journey reflects goal clarity, continuous improvement, and persistence, even after achieving a respectable government position.

Junaid Ahmad UPSC Rank & Preparation Strategy

In UPSC CSE 2018, Junaid Ahmad secured All India Rank 3 with a total score of 1077 out of 2025, which includes:

Subject	Marks (Written)	Interview	Total
Essay	132	–	–
GS Paper I	108	–	–
GS Paper II	110	–	–
GS Paper III	111	–	–
GS Paper IV	111	–	–
Optional Paper I (Geography)	148	–	–
Optional Paper II (Geography)	173	–	–
Total (Mains)	893	184	1077

Key Elements of His Preparation Strategy

1. Study Duration: 5–6 hours daily with increased intensity near the exam.

2. Integrated Preparation: Simultaneous study plan for Prelims and Mains.

3. Optional Subject: Geography, chosen for its relevance to GS papers and personal interest.

4. Foundation Building: Focused on NCERTs (Class 9–12) for basics. Standard Books Used:

• Polity: M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity
• Geography: GC Leong, Majid Husain, Savindra Singh
• Economy: Ramesh Singh’s Indian Economy
• History: Bipan Chandra, Spectrum

5. Current Affairs: Daily reading of The Hindu, The Indian Express, Yojana, and Kurukshetra.

6. Answer Writing Practice: Daily practice with structured answers (intro, body, conclusion).

7. Mock Tests: Vision IAS (Prelims), Forum IAS (Mains), Vajirao and Reddy (Interview Guidance).

8. Use of Internet: Smart utilization of online resources and government documents (Economic Survey, ARC Reports, NITI Aayog reports).

9. Note-Making: Concise, bullet-point notes updated with current affairs.

Junaid Ahmad’s UPSC Attempts

Junaid Ahmad’s UPSC journey is marked by five attempts, showing his resilience and learning mindset.

Junaid Ahmad – UPSC Attempts
Attempt	Year	Result
1st	2014	Did not qualify
2nd	–	Did not qualify
3rd	–	Did not qualify
4th	–	AIR 352 – Indian Revenue Service
5th	2018	AIR 3 – Indian Administrative Service

He prepared for 7 years, constantly refining his strategy and learning from failures. His journey emphasizes that persistence, rather than perfection, leads to success in UPSC.

FAQs

1. Is IAS Junaid Ahmad married?

Yes, Junaid Ahmad got married to Dr. Nadia Nazim, a pediatrician from Delhi, on 15th February 2024 in an arranged marriage.

2. Is Junaid Ahmad IAS or IPS?

Junaid Ahmad is an IAS officer. He secured All India Rank 3 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2018.

3. Who is Junaid Ahmed?

Junaid Ahmad is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who achieved AIR 3 in UPSC CSE 2018, known for his inspirational journey from an average academic background to success.

4. What is the rank of Junaid Ahmad in IAS?

He secured All India Rank 3 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2018.

5. How many attempts did Junaid Ahmed become IAS?

Junaid Ahmad became an IAS officer in his fifth attempt, after initially securing IRS in his fourth attempt.