Pulwama, November 4: Mohammad Owais Bhat, 22, from the Dangerpora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, has cleared the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and secured All India Rank (AIR) 107.
His selection came after two earlier unsuccessful attempts, with the breakthrough arriving in his third try. According to the report, Bhat had spent more than four years preparing for the examination, a period described in some accounts as four-and-a-half years. The result sparked celebration at his home, where relatives, friends and neighbours arrived to congratulate him.
Speaking about the moment, Bhat said the outcome felt especially meaningful after a difficult journey. He said, “I am very happy. It has been a journey of more than four years, during which I faced two unsuccessful attempts before making it through,” and added, “This was my third attempt, so I feel very satisfied. I have flashbacks from the time when I was at my lowest. Back then, I dreamed that one day, an All India Rank would come my way. Thanks to the Almighty, I achieved AIR 107. It feels wonderful.”
Bhat said Brigadier S.S. Shekhawat was one of his main inspirations. Referring to him, he told PTI, “If I talk about present-day leaders, Brigadier S.S. Shekhawat sir inspires me immensely. He is one of the most decorated Army officers. He has inspired me a lot.”
How he prepared
In his account of preparation, Bhat stressed the need to begin with the syllabus and study in a focused manner. He said that approaching the course without first understanding the syllabus can make it seem overwhelming, while a targeted plan can make it manageable. He also said serious preparation can be done without expensive coaching and suggested that it can be managed for as little as ₹4,000, with YouTube lectures as a useful aid.
He further said he relied heavily on artificial intelligence tools during his preparation. “I leveraged artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and other bots significantly. I took a paid subscription for Rs 399, fed in the syllabus, and prompted it to predict the ongoing trends. That helped me identify patterns easily, allowing me to anticipate around 20 to 40 questions beforehand by analysing the question formats alongside AI,” he said.
The report also notes the physical demands that followed the written stage. Bhat said he had put on more than 20 kilograms during that phase and then lost 20 kilograms within two months before the physical tests. “I had to work extremely hard to get back in shape,” he said.
Support, training and the CDS route
Bhat credited his parents for steady financial, moral and ethical support, calling it essential to his achievement. He is expected to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in January for approximately one-and-a-half years of training before being commissioned into the Indian Army.
The CDS examination is conducted by the UPSC twice a year to select candidates for officer training at the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Air Force Academy and Indian Naval Academy. As described in the report, the process assesses academic knowledge and mental ability, along with physical fitness, medical standards and personality through the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, which examines leadership qualities, decision-making and suitability for service in the armed forces.
Bhat’s success has been reported as an encouraging example for defence aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir, and as a reminder of the role of persistence in competitive examinations.
