Bandipora, Oct 1 (JKNS): In a moment of pride for North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Aniyat Bashir Sheikh, a resident of Vijpara Hajin, Sonawari, has successfully cleared the prestigious UPSC Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Examination 2025.
Aniyat has been serving as a Panchayat Secretary in the Rural Development Department since 2015. He is the third from Bandipora district to achieve such a feat, following Altaf Hussain Haji (2001) and Syed Aadil Bukhari from Baramulla (2022).
Speaking about his journey, Aniyat as per news agency JKNS said, “It has been a two-and-a-half-year journey. I started preparing for two exams in 2023, and the final one was held in 2025. One must maintain target-focused study and have strong clarity of basics.”
He credited his success to his family, saying, “My parents played a crucial role in this achievement, and my role model throughout has been my cousin, who serves as an Assistant Professor in the Higher Education Department.”
In 2022, I was inspired by Syed Aadil Bukhari who qualified ISS in 2022, and i was also guided by Altaf Hussain who qualified this exam in 2001, Anayat noted.
Recalling the sacrifices made during preparation, he shared, “For the last two years, I hardly gave any time to my wife and children. I often asked my wife to stay with her parents so that I could focus entirely on studying. She never complained and silently supported me. This success belongs to her, to my parents, and to my children.”
Describing his daily routine, Aniyat said, “I used to wake up at 4 a.m. and study till 8 or 9 before leaving for work. After returning from my job, I continued my preparation late into the night.”
“Balancing work and studies was very challenging, but I managed it with determination. I am thankful to Allah. Hard work truly pays,” he added. (JKNS)