Kanhu Charan Behera (27), son of fisherman Kali Charan from Sorada, secured the 56th rank in the general category after three unsuccessful attempts. His father had urged him to settle for any job to support the family. Behera coached high school students in his small home, using the income to fund his OCS preparation. "Coaching students helped him study better and prepare for competitive exams," he said. He relied solely on self-study through the internet and social media. "Determination and hard work, along with parents' blessings, helped him crack the exam," he added.
T Narasingha Patro (27) of Gosaninuagaon in the silk city, son of a farmer, achieved the 24th rank after three attempts. "I did not give up hope," said Patro, who works as a government high school teacher at Panchama.
Khageswar Behera (25), son of a primary school teacher in Gourangapatna near Rambha, cleared the exam on his second attempt, securing the 98th rank.
Four candidates groomed by the Berhampur district administration's Lakshya Niketan through mock interviews cracked the prestigious exam. "The candidates who cleared the exam are T Narasingha Patro (Rank 24), Khageswar Behera (Rank 98), Sunil Kumar Das (Rank 74), and Madhusudan Behera (Rank 125)," said Sunil Sai Debasish, nodal officer of Lakshya Niketan. Before their personality test from May 14 to 20, eight candidates, including in-house students Patro and Khageswar, attended mock interviews. On May 13, three IAS officers, an IPS officer, and two senior OAS officers guided them on interview techniques.
"We are happy that four of them cleared the exam," said Ganjam collector Keerthi Vassan V. Other jury members included SP (Berhampur) Saravana Vivek M, Berhampur Municipal Corporation commissioner A Sasya Reddy, Berhampur sub-collector Avinash Kumar, and others.
