Kenneth Chakma from Silachari village in South Tripura has cracked the prestigious UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Examination 2025, securing an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 116. He is the only candidate from the state to make it to the final list this year, making the entire state proud.
Currently serving as a Senior Geologist with the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Kenneth’s academic background is equally remarkable. He holds a Master’s degree in Applied Geology from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, and is a JRF and GATE-qualified scholar. He completed his early education at Holy Cross School in Agartala and later completed his Class 12 from Vikas Vidyalaya in Visakhapatnam.
Kenneth was also enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, but decided to take a break from academics to pursue his dream of joining the Indian Civil Services. His journey has not been easy—he cleared the IFoS exam on his fifth attempt, having faced setbacks in the previous four. His persistence and dedication have now paid off, making him a beacon of inspiration for civil service aspirants across Tripura and the Northeast region.
His father, Uttam Kumar Chakma, an IAS officer currently serving as a Secretary in the Government of Tripura, expressed immense pride in his son’s achievement. The success story of Kenneth Chakma has sparked celebrations throughout the state, especially in rural and remote areas, where many see his journey as a testament to the power of resilience and hard work.
Kenneth is set to join the 2025 batch of All India Services officers this September at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, for the foundation course. After that, he will proceed to the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) in Dehradun for specialized training in forestry and environmental management.
Officials from the state government and the education sector have praised Kenneth’s achievement, noting that his success will motivate many more youths from Tripura to consider careers in civil services. They emphasized the importance of supporting aspiring students with proper guidance and resources to achieve similar goals.
With his success, Kenneth has not only brought honor to his family and the state of Tripura but also demonstrated that geographical or economic limitations cannot hold back determination and ambition. His story is now being widely shared across social media and news platforms, positioning him as a role model for the youth of India’s Northeast.
