After studying from IIT, he joined a job with a salary of Rs 1 crore, then left it; what are you doing now?

IAS Success Story: Kanishka Kataria had it all - an IIT degree, a well-paid job abroad, and a salary that most people can only dream of, but he wanted something more, something beyond money and comfort. What could make a man leave a package of Rs 1 crore in South Korea and return to India? The answer is his passion for public service.

A native of Rajasthan, Kataria earned a degree in computer science from IIT Bombay. His career took off immediately, landing him a lucrative job at Samsung in South Korea. Despite his illustrious status, Kanishk's real target lay elsewhere - his dream was to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Inspired by his father Sanwar Mal Verma, an IAS officer and director of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in Rajasthan, Kanishk knew his path.

In 2017, Kanishka quit his job and returned to Jaipur, determined to crack the UPSC civil services exam. What made his story even more remarkable was that he decided not to join any coaching. Instead, he relied entirely on self-study. With unmatched dedication, Kanishka took the UPSC exam in 2019 and emerged victorious by securing All India Rank (AIR) 1 in his first attempt.

Kanishka's success was a proud moment for his family, especially his father and uncle KC Verma, who is the divisional commissioner in Jaipur. Talking about his journey, Kanishka once said, "Since childhood, I have seen my father and uncle serving the country. I wanted to follow in their footsteps." Today, Kanishka Kataria is posted as Joint Secretary in the Department of Personnel (DOP) of the Rajasthan Government, where he is busy fulfilling his dream.