Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din BhatIndian Administrative Service

Aspirants

Guidance for Civil Services Aspirants

Dr Bhat's examination record, preparation approach and talks to students, compiled from his published essays and public addresses.

Examination Record

  1. 2010
    J&K Combined Competitive Examination: Rank 22, first attempt. Optional subjects Public Administration and Veterinary Science (425/600). Also appeared in the Civil Services preliminary examination; did not qualify.
  2. 2012
    Indian Forest Service Examination: All-India Rank 23. Optional subjects Zoology and Veterinary Science (198/400). Allotted the Uttar Pradesh cadre. Civil Services preliminary examination: did not qualify.
  3. 2013–15
    Third attempt at the Civil Services preliminary examination while undergoing IFoS training at IGNFA, Dehradun, and joining as Deputy Conservator of Forests.
  4. 2016
    Civil Services Examination: All-India Rank 10, fourth attempt. Prepared while serving as a forest officer in Lucknow.

Marks Obtained, Civil Services Examination 2016

ComponentMarksMaximum
Written examination (Main)8961750
Optional: Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science (Papers I and II)304500
Personality test182275
Total10782025

Source: UPSC final marks list, as reproduced by BYJU'S and Insights IAS.

In His Words

"Patience, passion, perseverance and hard work are the key ingredients."

Topper's strategy, Insights IAS, 11 June 2017

"I believed in this quote: try, try, try again. I have been trying from 2010. I have had to sacrifice every comfort to achieve my goal."

On the result, to PTI, 31 May 2017

"Stop searching for so-called IAS/IFS veterinary material. It does not exist anywhere."

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science strategy, Insights IAS, 24 June 2018

"Life is simple, let's not complicate it. Destiny is destined, but hard work should be the only visible reality."

Corporate Citizen, September 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

What rank did Dr Bilal Bhat secure in the UPSC Civil Services Examination?

All-India Rank 10 in the Civil Services Examination 2016, declared on 31 May 2017, with 1,078 marks (896 in the written examination and 182 in the personality test).

In how many attempts did he qualify?

Four. He did not clear the preliminary examination in his first three attempts (from 2010) and secured All-India Rank 10 in his fourth attempt in 2016.

What was his optional subject?

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, in which he scored 304 out of 500. His detailed strategy for the optional is published on Insights IAS.

Which other examinations did he qualify?

The J&K Combined Competitive (KAS) Examination 2010 at his first attempt (Rank 22) and the Indian Forest Service Examination 2012 (All-India Rank 23, Uttar Pradesh cadre).

What is his educational background?

Minto Circle School and Amar Singh College, Srinagar; B.V.Sc & A.H. from the College of Veterinary Sciences, SKUAST-Jammu (2010); professional training at IGNFA Dehradun and LBSNAA Mussoorie.

Has he written a book?

Yes. Environment and Ecology for UPSC CSE by Dr Bilal M Bhat, IAS, published in 2024.

Which batch and cadre does he belong to?

Indian Administrative Service, 2017 batch, AGMUT cadre (Jammu & Kashmir). He is presently Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag.

Preparation Approach

His record and strategy for the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science optional

Dr Bhat addressing students at Amar Singh College, Srinagar, March 2023
Photo: Greater Kashmir

Dr Bhat has published two first-person essays on Insights IAS: a general strategy written shortly after the 2017 result, and a subject guide for the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science optional, with a recommended book list.

The principles he has consistently conveyed to students are: patience, passion, perseverance and hard work; thorough reading and revision of NCERT textbooks before other material; treating the preliminary and main examinations as distinct in approach; and maintaining a simple, disciplined routine. He has addressed students at Cluster University Kashmir (2023), the University of Kashmir (2024), GDC Budgam (2025) and schools across his districts, and established a library and reading room for aspirants in Kulgam in 2022.

Library and reading room for civil-services aspirants, Kulgam, April 2022
Photo: Greater Kashmir

Media

Talks and Interviews on Preparation

All interviews and talks