Mayur Hazarika AIR 5 UPSC 2022 – Marksheet, IFS Journey & Success Story

Early Life and Humble Beginnings

Mayur Hazarika was born and raised in Tezpur, a historic town nestled along the banks of the Brahmaputra river in Sonitpur District, Assam. Growing up in a modest, middle-class family, young Mayur imbibed the values of hard work, perseverance, and selfless service from his parents. His father, Mr. Krishna Hazarika, worked as an Assistant Executive Engineer in Assam’s Public Works Department, and his mother, Mrs. Moushoumi Hazarika, was a dedicated homemaker. The family’s ethos of diligence and simplicity became the invisible compass guiding Mayur through every chapter of his extraordinary life.

Educational Struggles and Early Brilliance

 From his very first years at Don Bosco High School in Tezpur, Mayur stood out as a student of exceptional promise. He earned a state-level rank in the HSLC (Class X) Board Examination — a feat that placed him among Assam’s finest young minds. Continuing this trajectory, he secured another state rank in the Higher Secondary (Class XII) examination from Ramanujan Junior College in Nagaon District. These achievements opened the doors to one of Northeast India’s most prestigious medical institutions: Gauhati Medical College & Hospital in Guwahati.

The MBBS Years and a New Calling

 During his third and fourth years of MBBS, something profound began to stir inside Mayur Hazarika. He found himself increasingly drawn to the world of foreign affairs, international relations, and governance — topics that lay far beyond the corridors of the medical college. He began following India’s foreign policy developments, absorbed by the analytical and diplomatic dimensions of public service. S. Jaishankar, India’s Minister of External Affairs, became his personal inspiration — a brilliant bureaucrat-turned-politician who represented exactly what Mayur wished to become.

The Double Life: Doctor and UPSC Aspirant

 After graduating with his MBBS degree in 2020, Mayur Hazarika made a defining decision: he would pursue the Civil Services Examination without abandoning his medical responsibilities. In May 2021, he joined the National Health Mission (NHM), Assam as a Medical Officer, posted in Nagaon district. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he led his hospital’s COVID team as the doctor-in-charge — administering care to hundreds of patients while carrying the immense weight of UPSC preparation on his shoulders.

Every morning before his hospital shift, Mayur would study for an hour. Every evening after returning from duty, he would dedicate another 4–6 hours to UPSC preparation. He chose self-study over formal coaching, supplementing his learning with free online video lectures — particularly from NEXT IAS — which he could access flexibly around his medical duties. He chose Anthropology as his optional subject, bridging his scientific background with the social sciences that fascinated him.

The UPSC Interview — A Masterclass in Confidence

 When Mayur appeared for his UPSC Personality Test (Interview), his declared preference for the Indian Foreign Service shaped the entire conversation. The interview revolved around International Relations — from the Global South and nuclear diplomacy to medical diplomacy and India’s relations with neighboring countries. His dual expertise as a doctor and a student of international affairs made him an unusually compelling candidate. He emerged from the interview with 193 marks out of 275 — an outstanding performance.

The Historic Result — AIR 5

On 23rd May 2023, the Union Public Service Commission declared the final results of UPSC CSE 2022. Among 933 successful candidates, Mayur Hazarika stood at All India Rank 5 — the highest-ranked male candidate in the entire country. The top four positions had been claimed by four remarkable women: Ishita Kishore (AIR 1), Garima Lohia (AIR 2), Uma Harathi N. (AIR 3), and Smriti Mishra (AIR 4). Mayur’s score of 1054 marks placed him firmly in the national spotlight.

Legacy and Inspiration for Northeast India

Mayur Hazarika’s story resonates deeply with millions of aspirants — especially those from Northeast India, who have historically been underrepresented in the upper echelons of India’s civil services. His journey — from a small town in Assam, through medicine, COVID service, and self-study UPSC preparation — is a living testament to the fact that geography, resources, and formal coaching are not prerequisites for excellence. What matters is clarity of purpose, disciplined effort, and the courage to pursue one’s convictions.