Pulwama, Nov 04 (KNO): After more than four years of sustained preparation, two unsuccessful attempts and a demanding physical transformation, 22-year-old Mohammad Owais Bhat from Dangerpora area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district has secured All India Rank 107 in the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination.
Owais, who secured the rank in his third attempt, said he drew inspiration from decorated Army officer Brigadier S S Shekhawat, whose achievements and dedication to the armed forces motivated him to pursue a military career.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Bhat said qualifying the examination in his third attempt made the achievement particularly special, as he had experienced two setbacks during his preparation. Recalling those difficult years, he said he had often imagined securing an All India Rank during moments when success appeared distant.
"After four-and-a-half years of struggle and two unsuccessful attempts, this was my third attempt. I have flashbacks of the time when I was at my lowest, when I used to dream of securing an All India Rank. By the grace of Almighty, I have achieved AIR 107, and the feeling is wonderful," he said.
Bhat said he extensively used Artificial Intelligence tools, including ChatGPT and other AI-based platforms, to understand examination trends, analyse question patterns and streamline his studies. He subscribed to a paid AI service for ₹399 and used the examination syllabus as a reference to generate targeted preparation material and identify recurring patterns. According to him, analysing previous question formats with the assistance of AI helped him anticipate the nature of approximately 20 to 40 questions.
He advised aspirants to begin preparation by thoroughly understanding the prescribed syllabus rather than studying without a clear direction. "Without understanding the syllabus, preparation can feel like an endless ocean. Once you divide it into specific topics and adopt a targeted approach, the task becomes much more manageable," he said.
Owais also encouraged candidates to make effective use of online lectures, YouTube resources and emerging AI technologies instead of depending entirely on expensive coaching institutes, adding that quality preparation does not necessarily require spending lakhs of rupees if one remains disciplined and follows a well-planned strategy.
He said lack of awareness about available opportunities and recruitment procedures remains a major challenge. He observed that many youngsters are unfamiliar with the different examinations conducted for recruitment into the armed forces and often lack clarity about the distinction between various security and defence organisations.
"Many youngsters do not even clearly understand the difference between the CRPF and the Army. The UPSC conducts several examinations for defence services apart from the Civil Services Examination for IAS and IPS. Unfortunately, awareness about these opportunities among children and youth in Kashmir remains limited," he said.
Bhat said he himself came to know about the CDS examination through a relative, which eventually opened the door to his ambition of joining the armed forces. He urged young people to explore defence career opportunities and acquire proper information about eligibility criteria, examination pattern and selection procedure.
On physical fitness, he said it was another major challenge during his preparation. He disclosed that he had gained more than 20 kilograms while concentrating on written examination preparation and subsequently had to work intensively to regain his fitness. "I worked extremely hard and managed to lose around 20 kilograms within two months ahead of the physical tests," he said.
"Parents always play the greatest role. Without their willingness, financial assistance, moral encouragement and ethical support, achieving this would have been impossible," he said.
With AIR 107, Bhat has moved closer to fulfilling his ambition of becoming an Army officer. Owais is scheduled to join the Indian Military Academy in January for approximately one-and-a-half years of training before being commissioned into the Army—(KNO)