NEW DELHI — In a shining example of perseverance and determination, Syed Muhammad Arif, a young lawyer from Bhiwandi, has successfully cleared the prestigious Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination in his fourth attempt, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 594.
The journey was anything but easy. Despite facing multiple setbacks, including the heartbreak of narrowly missing the final list in 2022 and failing to qualify prelims in 2023, Arif refused to give up. Instead, he chose to introspect, correct his course, and prepare again with renewed energy. And now, Alhamdulillah, his efforts have borne fruit.“I started my UPSC journey very quietly and crossed it with determination,” said Arif in an exclusive conversation with Clarion India.
Arif’s academic journey began at MES School (English Medium) in Bhiwandi, where he scored 90% in his 10th board examination in 2012. He followed this with an 85% in 12th commerce from Baedeker Junior College, Thane, in 2014. With his father being a practising lawyer, Arif was naturally inclined towards the legal field.“I started preparing for CLAT and got into National Law University, Bengaluru, where I completed my BA LLB (Hons) in 2019 with 75% marks,” he shared.
After completing his degree, Arif briefly practised at the Bhiwandi, Thane, and Mumbai High Courts under the guidance of his father. However, he felt a void and a desire to do more for society.“I spoke to my father and he advised me to go for competitive exams. I took his advice seriously,” he recalled.
Arif began his UPSC preparations in September 2020, shortly after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he moved to Delhi and joined Hamdard Study Circle for initial preparation.“I cleared prelims in my first attempt and joined Jamia Millia Islamia’s Residential Coaching Academy for Mains, but I couldn’t clear it due to lack of experience,” Arif admitted.
In 2022, he again qualified both prelims and mains, reached the interview stage, but just missed a spot on the final merit list. Then came 2023, a year he describes as the most disappointing and emotionally draining.“When I failed to qualify even prelims, I decided to quit UPSC preparation. I was shattered. I had performed well before, so the failure hit me hard,” he said.
But with the support and motivation of his family, especially his father, he decided to make a comeback. He analysed his shortcomings and admitted that fear and anxiety had affected his consistency.“This time I worked on my mindset and prepared positively. I appeared for the 2024 exam with new determination and Alhamdulillah, I cleared all the stages—prelims, mains and interview,” Arif said with a smile.
Born into a well-educated and supportive family, Arif credits his parents for his achievements.
His father, Advocate Moinuddin, originally from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, is a respected legal practitioner. His mother, Hajra Syed, is a homemaker and studied at Anjuman-e-Islam High School in Kurla. His sisters, Rafia and Shahida Syed, are highly qualified—Rafia is a lawyer, while Shahida holds postgraduate and management degrees. His brother, Haider Syed, is also a law graduate.“My parents understood the importance of education and ensured all of us siblings received the best education possible. This success belongs to them,” Arif said emotionally.
Arif, who completed his LLM while preparing for UPSC, now plans to appear again for the civil services exam in an effort to improve his rank.“Determine the purpose of your life, plan well and make hard work your motto,” he advised young aspirants.“Do not be discouraged by failures. Especially to Muslim youth—I urge you to aim for government services and contribute positively to the country.”
