After winning Rs 50 lakh at KBC last year, Himachal’s Vikas Panwar now cracks UPSC in 1st attempt

Shimla: Vikas Panwar (22) from Himachal Pradesh cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 in his first attempt, securing All India Rank of 159.Panwar is a resident of Jubli village in Kupvi, a remote area under the Chopal sub-division of Shimla district. Panwar earlier gained national attention after participating in the popular television quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati, where he won Rs 50 lakh last year. His father, Chatar Panwar, serves as a school principal in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Police inspector Sanjeev Kumar also qualified the examination, securing the 844th rank. Currently posted at the police station, state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau in Nahan of Sirmaur district, Kumar hails from Nurpur in Kangra district.In related news, Sunawardeep Singh Masoun (26) from Faridkot secured All-India Rank (AIR) 76 in his third attempt. A BTech graduate from Symbiosis Institute, Pune, he earlier worked as an inspector in the cooperative societies department and said grassroots interactions inspired him to pursue the civil services.Abohar's Aakriti Singla secured AIR 122. A BCom graduate from Daulat Ram College and MCom from Hansraj College, Delhi University, she had earlier topped the UGC NET and JRF in commerce.Rahul Patar from Hisar secured AIR 379. A BTech graduate from Delhi Technological University, he cleared the exam in his fifth attempt after preparing from home.