Muhammad Uwais Siddiqui/Mumbai

Muhammad Simab Khan, who grew up amid the slums and congested lanes of Mumbai’s Govandi where crime and drug usage are common among the youth, overcame formidable hardships to clear the gruelling UPSC examination. Today, posted as a District Youth Officer in Assam’s Dhubri district, he hopes his journey will inspire young people from his community.

Speaking to Awaz-The Voice, Simab said he comes from a modest family. His father was a carpenter and his mother is a homemaker. Despite financial constraints, his parents ensured that their children received a good education. Simab studied at New Model English High School in Chembur before graduating in Microbiology and Biochemistry from K. J. Somaiya College.

According to Simab, a lack of awareness and proper guidance often discourages Muslim youth from appearing for the UPSC examination. After graduation, he could have taken up a regular job, but his desire to improve his circumstances led him towards the civil services.

Simab Khan during a conference in New Delhi

When he began preparing for the UPSC, Simab did not have a peer group of fellow aspirants around him. He enrolled in a foundation course at Pursue IAS in Dadar and then began his serious preparation.

The journey was far from easy. “This exam is not just a test of your knowledge, it’s also of your character, mental strength, and faith,” he said.

Over six to eight years of preparation, Simab experienced repeated setbacks and moments of anxiety. On one occasion, he missed success by just 0.66 marks.

Seven years ago, during the early years of his struggle, he lost his father, the strongest pillar of support in his life. The loss made him consider giving up his UPSC preparation, but his self-belief helped him regain his resolve.

Simab continued to revise his strategy, which he considers essential for adapting to the demands of the examination. He cleared the preliminary examination on his third attempt and subsequently joined residential coaching at Mumbai’s Haj House, which he credits with significantly helping him prepare for the Mains.

For his fifth attempt, he moved to Delhi for a few months to prepare for the Mains and personal interview.

Simab Khan receiving an honour

While EdTech platforms have made UPSC preparation more accessible, Simab points out that resources such as test series can still be expensive. He was fortunate to receive access to free test series at the Haj House. He also acknowledges the contribution of organisations such as the Zakat Foundation in supporting promising students.

Simab is encouraged by the growing number of residential coaching institutes opening across the country and providing free education to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

He urges Muslim youth to view competitive examinations not merely as a route to a government job, but as an opportunity to participate in the country’s decision-making process. When he qualified the UPSC civil services in 2023, after training her was appointed a District Youth Officer under the Ministry of Youth Affairs in 2025.

His family and neighbourhood back home, celebrated each moment of his success by distributing sweets.

Moving from Govandi to Assam’s Dhubri district was an entirely new experience for Simab. However, he sees it as one of the great rewards of public service, giving him an opportunity to understand India’s diversity at close quarters.

He says the youth of Dhubri are highly talented and believes the government’s ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ (MY Bharat) initiative can provide them with a larger platform to realise their potential.

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For young aspirants who are considering giving up their dreams because of a lack of resources, Simab has a message:“I know that the challenges standing before you might seem very big right now, and you might feel completely helpless. But do not lose courage, because the night is darkest just before the dawn. If you keep walking with resilience, success will definitely find its way to you.”