Meet IAS Sreenath K, worked as coolie, used free railway station Wi-Fi to study, cracked UPSC with AIR..., he is now...

India.com

10-07-2025

IAS Sreenath K once worked as a coolie at a railway station in Kerala. (File)
IAS Sreenath K Success Story: The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is arguably the toughest recruitment test in India, and often requires extensive preparation and dedicated coaching for aspirants to crack the formidable exam. However, there are some who do not even have enough resources to purchase books for self-study, and have to rely on innovative methods to prepare for the UPSC exam.
One such heartwarming example of IAS Sreenath K, an IAS officer from Kerala, who once worked as a coolie (porter) at a railway station, and used the free Wi-Fi service at the station to study for UPSC on his mobile phone. Who is IAS Sreenath K?
A resident of Munnar in Kerala, Sreenath K came from a poverty-ridden background, and worked as a porter at the Ernakulam railway station, earning a modest Rs 400-500 daily which was barely enough support his family. But despite his adverse financial situation, Sreenath persevered and did not give up on his dreams of becoming an IAS officer.
However, the path was arduous as he did not even have enough money to buy the recommended study material for UPSC examination. Yet, the enterprising man devised a way to turn his dire situation into opportunity. How Sreenath K prepared for UPSC CSE?
In several interviews post his UPSC success, IAS Sreenath K revealed how he used free Wi-Fi available at the railway station to prepare for UPSC exams on his mobile. Sreenath would toil hard during the day to earn a livelihood, and study for almost the entire night with the help of f YouTube videos, mock tests and free online study material.
Sreenath K's hard work and perseverance ultimately bore fruit when he cracked the UPSC CSE in 2018, scoring an impressive 82% in the written part of the CSE, according to reports. While his exact All-India Rank (AIR) is not known, logic dictates that Sreenath K achieved a good rank as he was accorded the prestigious IAS cadre.
The heartwarming success story of IAS Sreenath K serves as an inspiration to millions of young aspirants who lack resources to fund their preparation for tough competitive examinations such as the UPSC CSE.