Thu Mar 20 12:40:56 UTC 2025: **The Hindu Launches UPSC Aspirants’ Club in Salem**
**Salem, Tamil Nadu, March 20, 2025** – The Hindu newspaper, in collaboration with Shankar IAS Academy, launched a club for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) aspirants at AVS Arts and Science College in Omalur, Salem district. The event featured Y. Saravanakumar, Divisional Operations Manager of Salem Division, Southern Railway, as chief guest.
Saravanakumar, himself a successful civil servant, inspired students with anecdotes of inspiring public servants. He highlighted the transformative impact civil servants can have, citing examples of a collector who facilitated ₹110 crore in education loans and another who crowdfunded a 100km road in Manipur.
He emphasized the importance of a positive support system, urging aspirants to surround themselves with positive influences and to analyze their strengths and weaknesses. He stressed the importance of strong drafting skills, recommending thorough study of Plus One and Plus Two NCERT and Tamil Nadu textbooks and extensive reading of books and newspapers. He debunked the myth of the UPSC exam’s difficulty, stating that success hinges on the aspirant’s mindset rather than inherent exam difficulty.
The event also included presentations on the UPSC exam patterns by Shankar IAS Academy faculty and a speech by the college principal. Shankar IAS Academy sponsored ₹30,000 worth of The Hindu Group publications for the college library.
First Piper 