Telangana candidates clear UPSC Indian Forest Service exam, five mentored by DGP Bhagwat
HYDERABAD: At least five candidates from Telangana cleared the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2025. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the final results on Friday.
The UPSC recommended 148 candidates for appointment to the Indian Forest Service. Earlier, it conducted the written examination in November 2025 and personality tests in April 2026.
Among the successful candidates from Telangana are Yamini Challa, K Sai Goutham, Ganji Srikanth, Bharath Kumar and Shashank Dahagama.
Bhagwat Mentors 84 Successful Candidates
Notably, many successful candidates across the country received mentorship from Telangana Director General of Police (Law and Order) Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat. The five Telangana candidates were also part of the initiative.
According to Bhagwat, 84 successful candidates benefited from the mentorship programme this year.
“The initiative began informally through WhatsApp groups in 2015 for IAS and IPS aspirants. Later, we expanded it in 2018 to include Forest Service candidates,” Bhagwat said.
Besides online sessions, the programme conducts one-to-one mock interviews and personality development discussions. It also focuses on international relations, hobbies and native-place-based interview preparation. In addition, mentors analyse previous years’ question papers.
Yamini Challa Secures AIR 119
Meanwhile, Yamini Challa, 29, secured All India Rank (AIR) 119. She currently works as an auditor in the defence accounts department.
A native of Suryapet district, Yamini said her father inspired her to pursue public service. He works as a head constable at Suryapet Rural police station.
“In the age of climate change, the Forest Service offers an opportunity to contribute towards sustainability and tribal development,” said Yamini. She completed her BTech from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.
Shashank Dahagama Focuses on Sustainability
Similarly, Shashank Dahagama, 30, from Peddapalli district, secured AIR 78.
Shashank graduated in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad. He said growing up in the industrial belt around Ramagundam shaped his interest in sustainability and environmental protection.
“Coming from a region with thermal plants, coal and cement industries, I understood the importance of balancing development with environmental conservation,” he said.
Earlier, Shashank worked at a startup. At present, he is pursuing law. He cleared the examination after narrowly missing the preliminary stage earlier by half a mark.
Srikanth Credits Study Circle Support
Likewise, Ganji Srikanth, 30, from Gopanpally in Rangareddy district, secured AIR 115.
A Computer Science Engineering graduate, Srikanth prepared for the examination for seven years. At the same time, he also helped at his family’s kirana store.
He credited the SC Study Circle and mentorship support for helping him succeed.
“The diversity of work in the Forest Service — from tribal welfare to conservation and policymaking — motivated me. I want to promote eco-tourism while protecting forests,” he said.
Category-Wise Selection Details
Overall, among the 148 selected candidates, 42 belong to the General category. Further, 21 belong to Economically Weaker Sections, 52 to Other Backward Classes, 22 to Scheduled Castes and 11 to Scheduled Tribes categories.
