Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi (DD)

New Delhi, May 31: Clearing the UPSC civil services examination is a dream shared by millions of Indians. For Ajit Kumar Yadav, it was much more than just a career goal — it was a personal battle against physical limitations and institutional hurdles.

Today, Ajit Kumar Yadav is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer serving in Tripura’s Dhalai district, one of the most underdeveloped regions in the state. But his journey to that office has been anything but ordinary.

Ajit lost his eyesight at the age of five due to a severe bout of diarrhoea. The sudden loss changed the course of his life, but not his ambition. He grew up in Kheri village in Haryana, and despite limited access to assistive technology in the 1990s, he excelled academically. He topped his class throughout school, earned a master’s degree in Political Science from Ramjas College at Delhi University, and began teaching in a government school in Haryana.

Later, after qualifying for the UGC-NET and JRF, he became an assistant professor at Shyamlal College, Delhi University. Still, he aspired for more — and in 2008, he cleared the UPSC Civil Services Exam with an All India Rank of 208.

That should have marked the beginning of his IAS career. Instead, it marked the start of another battle.

Despite his rank and eligibility, Yadav was initially allotted a post in the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) instead of the IAS. Believing this to be an act of discrimination, he approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which ruled in his favour in 2010. But even then, no appointment letter came.

It took the intervention of disability rights advocates from the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), support from CPI(M) MP Brinda Karat, and eventual escalation to the Prime Minister’s Office before Yadav, along with six other visually impaired candidates, was finally inducted into the IAS.

He officially joined the Tripura cadre in 2012, first serving as joint secretary in the department of industries. Now, as sub-divisional magistrate in Ambassa, he uses screen-reading software and assistive technology to manage daily administrative work with efficiency and precision.

But Yadav’s commitment goes beyond his role in governance. He is currently working on a career guidance website tailored for visually impaired aspirants — a platform that will offer resources, mentorship, and access to the kind of information that once felt out of reach.

Ajit Kumar Yadav’s story is one of perseverance, resilience, and quiet determination. It is a reminder that while physical sight can be lost, the ability to lead, serve, and inspire — when rooted in purpose — remains unshakable.