At 22, he cracked UPSC: Meet IPS Abhijeet Patil and 5 other officers under 25

Sneha Kumari | Jun 03, 2026, 16:27 IST

Instagram | ips_abhijeet.patil | Meet IPS Abhijeet Patil, who cleared UPSC at just 22<br>

In a world where UPSC preparation is often associated with years of coaching, endless mock tests and multiple attempts, IPS officer Abhijeet Tulshiram Patil's story feels refreshingly different.

At just 22 years old, Patil cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 in his very first attempt, securing All India Rank (AIR) 470 and earning a place in the Indian Police Service (IPS). Today, he serves in the Rajasthan cadre as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Rajgarh Circle, Churu district, while also leading Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) operations in the region.

From Maharashtra to the IPS

Born on June 11, 1999, in Bhiwandi, Thane, Maharashtra, Abhijeet grew up in a family that valued public service and education. His father, Tulshiram Patil, retired as Chief Auditor with the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), while his mother served in the Irrigation Department before retirement.

As the only son among three siblings, with two elder sisters, he was raised with a strong sense of discipline, responsibility and hard work.

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A post shared by Abhijeet Patil (@ips_abhijeet.patil)

Why does his story inspire Gen Z?

Well, what makes Patil's journey stand out is that he achieved success without relying on expensive coaching or multiple attempts. His story proves that focused self-study, consistency and a clear goal can sometimes matter more than resources.

For many young aspirants scrolling through productivity videos and career advice online, his journey is a reminder that discipline still beats distraction.

Instagram | ips_abhijeet.patil | Meet IPS Abhijeet Patil

5 other IPS officers under the age of 25

Arun Mohan Joshi

Arun Mohan Joshi is often cited among the youngest officers to enter the civil services.

Image credit : X | Cracked UPSC at 25

Hakay Akshay Machindra

Hakay Akshay Machindra is part of the 2015 batch; he joined the service at a remarkably young age.

S. Sushree

While S. Sushree cracked UPSC in her very first attempt in 2017 with AIR 151 just at the age of 23 and became one of India's youngest female IPS officers.

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A post shared by @indianpservice

Merin Joseph

At just 22, Merin Joseph cleared UPSC on her very first attempt in 2012, securing AIR 188, and became one of the youngest women to join the IPS.

Safin Hasan (Age 22)

A native of Kanodar village in Gujarat's Palanpur region, he achieved a remarkable milestone by securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 570 in the 2018 Civil Services Examination. At the age of just 22, he earned recognition as one of India's youngest IPS officers.

But here's the bigger takeaway

From Abhijeet Patil to Merin Joseph, these officers prove that age is no barrier to making an impact. Their journeys show that with determination, focus and self-belief, extraordinary achievements can happen much earlier than most people expect.