Kulothungan A IAS reached the civil services after a long period of preparation, financial pressure and unsuccessful attempts. His story is a reminder that the final result rarely reveals everything a person had to manage along the way.
He secured All India Rank 319 in the Civil Services Examination 2016 and joined the 2017 IAS batch. This profile looks back at the journey described in MindVoices' original November 2018 article.
From a Village in Ariyalur to Higher Education
Kulothungan grew up in Maruvathoor, in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur district. His father worked as a cycle mechanic, and money was limited. He studied in Tamil at Ponparappi Government Higher Secondary School before continuing into higher education.
He completed a B.Sc. in Agriculture at Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and an MBA in Agribusiness Management at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Growing up around people struggling to meet everyday needs shaped his interest in public service and rural development.
Preparing for the civil services, however, had to wait. Supporting his family came first, so he took a job. After two years, with encouragement from family and friends, he left that role to pursue his ambition.
Beginning UPSC Preparation and Managing the Cost
In 2011, he began preparing with the savings from his job. After around a year and a half of study, his first attempt ended at the preliminary stage.
A disappointing result was difficult enough. Financial pressure made the decision to continue even harder. Preparation required time, but daily expenses and family responsibilities did not pause for an examination.
The Support That Helped Him Continue
A teaching opportunity at Shankar IAS Academy helped him manage those pressures. The academy's founder, Shankar Sir, offered him a faculty role.
Teaching gave him a way to earn while staying connected to preparation. It also shows why this story is about more than individual determination: support at the right moment can make it possible for someone to keep going.
Success still did not come immediately. Further attempts brought further disappointment. He continued working towards the examination while balancing the practical demands around him.
A Fifth Attempt and All India Rank 319
Before his fifth attempt, a family health crisis interrupted his preparation when his father was hospitalised. Once his father recovered, Kulothungan returned his attention to the examination.
He progressed through the preliminary examination, mains and interview, finally securing AIR 319. The official CSE 2016 cadre-allocation record lists Kulothungan A at that rank, allocated to the AGMUT cadre.
The examination year and batch year are different: this was CSE 2016, followed by the 2017 IAS batch. The Government of Mizoram's historical officer list dated 28 November 2022 also records his batch and B.Sc. (Agriculture)/MBA qualifications.
Persistence, Family and the Support to Continue
His preparation was a marathon: years of effort alongside earning a living, accepting help and caring for family.
What stays with me is the combination of persistence and practical support. Encouragement mattered, but so did the teaching role that helped him pay his way.
His experience can encourage anyone whose plans have taken longer than expected. There is no single timetable for moving forward, and the people who help us continue deserve a place in the story too.