Srinagar: Inspired by the heroics and dedication of decorated Army officer Brigadier S S Shekhawat, Mohammad Owais Bhat from Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir worked hard for four years to achieve his dream of cracking the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination.
Bhat (22) secured a 107th rank in the final list of successful candidates for the CDS examination released on Monday.
“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,” Bhat told PTI from his home in the Dangerpora area of the south Kashmir district.
He said the success feels all the more sweet as it came after a struggle of four-and-a-half years, including two failures.
“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,” he added.
Bhat said he used Artificial Intelligence (AI) extensively to prepare for the examination.
“My first advice to those preparing for any competitive examination is to thoroughly study the syllabus. Entering the preparation without understanding the syllabus makes it feel like an endless ocean. If you adopt a targeted approach, you can narrow down that ocean into manageable ponds.
“I would also highlight AI innovations. I am very glad to have had AI in my 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.
He said one can make full use of modern AI resources and YouTube lectures, which are exceptional.
“Avoid spending two to two-and-a-half lakh rupees on extravagant coaching centres; effective preparation can be done for as little as Rs 4,000. Focus on that, and you will easily excel in whichever field you choose,” he said.
Asked why few youngsters go for CDS examinations, Bhat said the reasons could be lack of awareness about the requirements of defence examinations and inadequate knowledge about the armed forces.
“Many don’t even distinguish between the CRPF and the Army. UPSC conducts several exams for defence, besides IAS/IPS, which come under the UPSC Civil Services Examination. The youth and children in Kashmir generally are not aware of these exams,” he said, adding that he himself got to know about it from a relative.
Bhat credited his parents for their support, saying they “always play the greatest role”.
“Without their will, and their financial, moral and ethical support, this would have been impossible,” he said.
Bhat said he gained more than 20 kilograms while preparing for the written examinations.
“I had to work extremely hard to get back in shape by losing 20 kilograms within two months ahead of the physical tests,” he said.
Bhat will join the Indian Military Academy in January for a one-and-a-half-year training before he is commissioned into the Army.
