Latest news with #KanikaAnabh
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chinese university demands PhD for canteen manager role. Netizens ask: 'Since when does a cafeteria need a doctorate?'
A Job Post That Left the Internet in Disbelief Salary Offers Stability, Not Sensibility You Might Also Like: How a PhD dropout became the Indian Forest Service topper: Kanika Anabh's journey of grit and persistence University Responds, But Questions Remain Broader Concerns About Employment Discrimination You Might Also Like: PhD student rejects a career-defining opportunity at NASA. The reason will shock you Golden Rice Bowl or Just Stirring the Pot? A prestigious university in eastern China has come under fire after advertising a canteen manager job requiring a PhD, fluency in English, and even Communist Party membership. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Southeast University in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, published the controversial recruitment notice on its official website on May University, one of China's elite institutions is known for academic excellence. However, its latest job post appears to have blurred the lines between scholarly achievement and routine administration, sparking widespread debate across Chinese social position, officially titled office manager for the university's canteen operations, includes responsibilities such as overseeing food preparation, managing canteen contractors, supervising hygiene and safety, and handling routine paperwork. While those duties are fairly standard, what shocked many was the academic threshold: a doctoral SCMP reported that candidates are also expected to be proficient in English and office software. Additional weightage would be given to applicants with majors in food, nutrition, or culinary arts, relevant work experience, and those with cooking certificates. Membership in the Chinese Communist Party was listed as a annual salary attached to the position stands at 180,000 yuan (approximately ₹20.8 lakh or USD 25,000). While this is significantly higher than the national average income—urban employees in non-private sectors earned 124,110 yuan on average in 2023—it has done little to justify the high academic SCMP noted that many online users were baffled by the listing. 'Since when does a canteen need a PhD to operate?' one user asked, while another cited 'neijuan', a term describing the intense and often irrational competition for limited resources and opportunities in Chinese response to the backlash, a staff member from Southeast University clarified to local outlet Shangyou News, as reported by the SCMP, that candidates would not be expected to cook themselves. The high qualification bar was intended to attract those with formal training or research backgrounds in food sciences or related this clarification has not stemmed public criticism. Some online commentators speculated that the post might be 'custom-built' for a specific candidate, noting the improbability of someone holding both a PhD and a culinary canteen job posting has reignited debates around educational discrimination in hiring. While Chinese laws protect against employment bias based on ethnicity, religion, and gender, academic qualifications are not covered. Given China's rising youth unemployment—15.8% for those aged 16 to 24, excluding students—the job market is increasingly under scrutiny. Netizens argue that job postings like this one reflect systemic issues that push young people toward overqualification without meaningful managerial role at Southeast University is seen by many as a 'golden rice bowl'—a term used to describe secure, high-status jobs in the public sector. With such positions becoming more desirable amid economic uncertainty, competition has intensified, and so have the standards, often at the cost of fairness and the university revises its listing or not, the debate it has triggered around educational inflation and employment policy is likely to simmer for some time. As one social media user aptly commented:'When a canteen needs a PhD, perhaps it's the hiring system—not the kitchen—that needs a rethink.'
Time of India
22-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
How a PhD dropout became the Indian Forest Service topper: Kanika Anabh's journey of grit and persistence
Kanika Anabh , who secured Rank 1 in the Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam 2024 after three attempts, highlighted the importance of persistence and strategic preparation in cracking one of India's toughest competitive exams. Kanika shared how her approach evolved significantly by her third attempt. She revealed that while initially focusing heavily on prelims, she later balanced her preparation between mains and prelims more effectively. 'Until December, I focused on mains. From January to May, I shifted to prelims prep—solving questions, reading current affairs, and revision,' she explained in an interview with The Indian Express . She also described how she mastered Forestry, a critical optional subject, in just six weeks using online courses and topper notes, showing how smart study techniques mattered more than sheer hours. She shared that her journey to securing All India Rank 1 was far from smooth. After leaving her PhD program in 2021, she revealed she faced multiple setbacks in her first two attempts before finally achieving success in her third. 'There's no formula, but there is persistence,' she said, emphasizing how every attempt taught her valuable lessons. Strategic Preparation and the Power of Mentorship She explained that her choice of optional subjects—Zoology and Forestry—was closely aligned with her academic background and the technical nature of the Forest Service. Kanika detailed how her preparation strategy evolved over time: initially focusing on prelims, then shifting to mains before intensively revising prelims closer to the exam date. Remarkably, she revealed mastering Forestry in just six weeks through online courses and topper notes, highlighting the importance of smart work over rote learning. Kanika also credited mentorship for playing a critical role. She shared, 'A good mentor makes a huge difference… helps cut through the noise,' explaining how targeted guidance helped her navigate the overwhelming information during preparation. Unlike many aspirants, she did not rely on traditional coaching but used online resources and selective mentorship to stay focused. — JNU_official_50 (@JNU_official_50) Balancing Routine, Social Media, and Mental Fortitude On her daily routine, Kanika told how she typically studied 8 to 9 hours a day, avoiding early mornings but dedicating consistent time to weaker areas like CSAT. She admitted to temporarily deactivating social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to avoid distractions during crucial preparation phases. Kanika also opened up about the emotional challenges she faced, saying that after every failure, moments of doubt arose but she never seriously considered quitting. 'I'd ask myself, 'What more can I do?' then rebuild from there,' she shared, underscoring the resilience required to keep going despite setbacks. Inspiration for Aspirants and Future Plans To others on the same demanding path, Kanika advised that clarity, consistency, and resilience matter more than sheer hours of study. 'Every attempt teaches you something. If you're honest with yourself about what went wrong and work on that, success will come,' she explained. Looking ahead, Kanika revealed that her service training will begin soon. She expressed gratitude for the journey's uncertain nature and the eventual success that crowned her efforts, offering inspiration to countless aspirants chasing their dreams with grit and smart hustle.
News18
21-05-2025
- General
- News18
After 3 UPSC Failures, Jharkhand's Kanika Anabh Secures AIR 1 In IFS 2024
Last Updated: IFS 2024: After 3 unsuccessful attempts in the UPSC Civil Services Exam, Ranchi's Kanika secures AIR 1 in Indian Forest Service, showcasing how dedication and perseverance pays off UPSC Success Story: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the results of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination, and Kanika Anabh, a resident of Ranchi, Jharkhand, has made her city and state proud by securing All-India Rank 1 (AIR 1). Her journey to the top has been nothing short of inspiring. Just a month ago, Kanika faced disappointment when the Civil Services Examination results were declared, and she was not among the successful candidates. It was her third unsuccessful attempt, and the setback left her disheartened. Yet, within weeks, she emerged as the topper in the IFS exam, an achievement she describes as an 'immensely joyful and emotional moment". Kanika shared insights into her preparation strategy, noting that she studied 8 to 9 hours each day, extending to 12 hours during exam periods, beginning her day at 7:00 am. For the Mains, she placed special emphasis on government publications such as Kurukshetra and Yojana, and kept detailed, concise notes from The Hindu newspaper to stay current with affairs. Focused And Methodical Preparation For the preliminary exams, she relied heavily on NCERT textbooks, especially for Geography and History, revisiting them multiple times to strengthen her fundamentals. For Polity, she turned to Laxmikanth, a standard text among aspirants. To boost her confidence and practice, she solved at least 50 mock test papers before the prelims. She currently resides in Bariatu, Ranchi, with her family. Her father, Abhay Kumar Sinha, is a retired Principal District Judge (Khunti), and her mother, Anita Sinha, is a homemaker. Advice For Future Aspirants Kanika has a powerful message for aspiring candidates: 'Do not be disheartened by failure. Analyse your mistakes, adjust your strategy, and stay consistent. This exam tests your patience as much as your knowledge." She began her UPSC journey in 2021 and tasted success after four years of determined effort. Her story is a testament to the value of perseverance and the belief that every setback is a setup for a greater comeback. First Published: May 21, 2025, 12:36 IST
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
‘Good mentor makes a huge difference… helps cut through the noise': Indian Forest Service exam topper
After three attempts and multiple setbacks, Kanika Anabh secured Rank 1 in the Indian Forest Service exam. After the results, which were delayed by over 10 days, were declared, she talks with about her failures, strategy, and the long road to success. Excerpts: This was my third attempt. I began preparing in 2021 after leaving a PhD program. In my first attempt, I cleared the Civil Services interview but didn't make it to the final list. I couldn't even clear the Forest Service prelims that year — the cutoff is higher. In my second attempt, I didn't clear prelims at all. This third attempt, I cleared both Civil and Forest prelims and mains. I didn't make the final Civil list, but I topped the Forest one. For both Civil and Forest Services, my optional subject was Zoology. For Forest, I added Forestry as the second optional — a common choice for science students since the service is technical in nature. I chose these based on my academic background; it aligned well with the exam pattern. For the first attempt, I focused about 70–80% on prelims. By the third, I planned better. Until December, I focused on mains. From January to May, I shifted to prelims prep — solving questions, reading current affairs and revision. After the Civil mains ended in September, I had six weeks for Forest Services mains and started Forestry from scratch. It was intense, but focused. Challenging, but not impossible. I didn't just rely on books — that would have taken too long. I took an online course to grasp concepts quickly. I also used topper notes and previous year questions. It was all about smart work. Not in the traditional sense. For prelims, I relied on online resources, YouTube, and test series. For mains, I took targeted help— value-added notes, test series, mentorship. A good mentor makes a huge difference in this journey. There's too much information now — a mentor cuts through that noise. I'm not a 5 am person. I usually woke up around 7 or 8 am. On a study days, I put in 8 to 9 hours- subject study, newspapers and solving MCQs or CSAT questions. I feared CSAT – math isn't my strength – so I gave it 30–40 minutes daily in the last few months. The schedule intensified as exams approached I was on Instagram and Facebook, but I deactivated both between March and December last year, just before the prelims. I'd sometimes reinstall them post-interviews, just to see what people were up to. Social media isn't bad, but you have to know when to disconnect. Definitely. After each failure — the interview in the first attempt, the prelims in the second, and not making the Civil Services list in the third — there was disappointment, and self-doubt. I'd left my PhD and taken a risk. But I never seriously thought of quitting. I'd ask myself, 'What more can I do?' Then rebuild from there. There's no formula, but there is persistence. Every attempt teaches you something. If you're honest with yourself about what went wrong and work on that, success will come. You don't have to study 14 hours a day. You just need clarity, consistency, and some resilience. Service training will begin soon. Beyond that, I'm just grateful. I know how uncertain this journey can be. And I'm thankful it ended with this result.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Stay consistent, use online resources: IFS topper Kanika
Kanika Anabh , an alumna of JVM Shyamli (2014 batch), has topped the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2024. Sharing her journey on the way to AIR 1 with TOI's Kritika Tiwary, Kanika said she relied on digital resources and her own discipline rather than traditional coaching to bag the top spot. Excerpts... When did your IFS preparation journey begin? I started preparing in 2021. Initially, I went to Delhi for self-study using local libraries and reading rooms. But by January 2022, I returned home and prepared entirely from here. For mock interviews, however, I had to travel to Delhi, as our city doesn't yet have such facilities. Did you join any coaching institute for your preparation? I didn't enrol in any full-time classroom coaching. Instead, I used online content from different coaching institutes, mostly through YouTube and their websites. I opted for selective paid courses for mains and interview preparation based on what I felt was needed. I did my Class X from Secret Heart Convent School and completed my Class 12 from JVM Shyamli in 2014. After that, I pursued BSc in zoology from Delhi followed by a post-graduation in environmental science from JNU. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo Later, I also started my PhD. How many attempts did it take to crack the IFS exam? This was my third overall attempt. I appeared for both the civil services and forest services in all three attempts. It's the first time I cleared the forest service mains and interview. Previously, I had appeared for two interviews for the civil services but didn't make it to the final list. Who has been your biggest pillar of support? My parents, without a doubt. I prepared from home, so their support was crucial right from creating a peaceful study environment to taking care of my health and mental well-being. Their belief in me kept me going, especially during low phases. My father is a retired district judge and currently serves as the president of the consumer forum in Koderma. My mother is a homemaker, and I am their only child. What is your message to aspirants, especially those preparing from smaller cities? You don't need to shift to Delhi or spend on expensive coaching to crack big competitive exams. Stay consistent, use the vast online resources available today, and most importantly, believe in your own journey. Having a strong, positive support system around helps immensely.
