Trainee IPS officer Gaurav Agarwal, who topped the civil services examination 2013, has overnight become a youth icon in the city. Gaurav is the first ever candidate from Rajasthan to top the exam.

Gaurav holds Bachelor of Technology (Computer Science) degree from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow. 

Presently, Gaurav is under training at National Police Academy in Hyderabad, after clearing the civil services exam 2012.

Gaurav left a high-salary job with Citi group in Hong Kong to prepare for the IAS examination. 

“After clearing IIT and IIM, I worked in Citi group in Hong Kong for four years. But I found civil services more distinguished and challenging. So I left my job in investment and banking sector and started preparing for civil service exams,” he told Deccan Herald over the phone on Thursday after the results were announced. 

“Last year my ranking was 244 and I got selected in police services, but I aspired to be an IAS officer,” he added.

Gaurav married just days ago. His wife Dr Preeti Agarwal couldn't utter a word when she heard about his achievement.

“He called me in the evening. There was a complete silence for a minute as we both had no words to say,” said Preeti , who is studying at NIMS medical college in Jaipur. 

“Gaurav faced the IAS interview on May 30 and medical examination on June 2. On June 4 we were married,” she said.

Preeti said that Gaurav wanted to quit IPS and become an IAS officer. “He would often say that all his education and knowledge will go waste if sticks to police service. His potential and knowledge can best be utilised as an IAS officer,” said Preeti.

Gaurav’s father SC Gupta who is manager at Jaipur Dairy said Gaurav attended coaching for six months in Delhi to prepare for History and then returned to Jaipur, as he always believed in self study. 

“Last year his subjects were History and Economics. This year he cleared the exam with Economics,” said SC Gupta. 

“The entire family was first annoyed when he decided to quit the Citi group job. His annual package was over Rs 1.25 crore. But we had faith in our son.” 

Elated over the success, mother Suman Gupta and 85-year-old grandfather L N Gupta wanted Gaurav to serve in their home town of Karauli.