# After Failing PSC Exams Repeatedly, This Patwari Kept Trying for 29 Years and Is Now a Deputy Collector > Ashutosh Sharma, who served as a tehsildar in Balod, has been promoted to Deputy Collector after a nearly 29 year journey that began with a patwari's job. **Type:** article · **Category:** Success Stories · **Published:** 2026-07-04 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/29-sala-ki-tapasya-rnga-lai-patavari-rahe-ashutosh-sharma-aba-banenge-kabirdham-ke-dipti-kalektara-4578 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Ashutosh Sharma, Deputy Collector, Patwari to Officer, PSC Success Story, Chhattisgarh Administrative Service, Kabirdham, Balod Tehsildar, Inspirational Story A journey that began with a humble patwari's job and stretched almost three decades has ended with a promotion to Deputy Collector for Ashutosh Sharma, who was serving as a tehsildar in Balod district. His story of patience, persistence and hard work has become an example that today's youth look up to. ## From Shahdol to Pakhanjur Ashutosh Sharma's ancestral village lies in the Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. His father's job took the family to the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, and they eventually settled in Pakhanjur. Ashutosh completed his early schooling in Pakhanjur and Kanker. He was in the middle of his BSc Previous studies when he was selected for the post of patwari. ## A Government Job at Just 21 After clearing the selection, Ashutosh left for patwari training without finishing the final year of his BSc. He got the job just five months after completing the training, and later finished his BSc Final privately. Landing a government job at the age of just 21 was a major achievement for him. Many people advised him to quit the job and pursue further studies, but given the unemployment situation at the time, he chose to stick with the job. He served as a patwari from December 1996 to June 2015, with his first posting at Durgukondal sub-tehsil under Bhanupratappur tehsil. ## Repeated PSC Failures, Then a Turning Point Alongside his job, Ashutosh kept preparing for the PSC exam. He appeared for the PSC exam for the first time in 1998. Over the following years, he cleared the preliminary exam multiple times but could not clear the mains. Balancing his job, family and other responsibilities while preparing for the exam was never easy, yet he refused to give up. In 2014, a limited departmental exam conducted by the Revenue Department turned out to be the turning point of his life. This exam was open only to employees who had completed five years of service and held a graduation degree. Ashutosh Sharma cleared this exam and was promoted to Naib Tehsildar. He went on to serve in Makdi, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Keshkal and Balod. ## A New Role Awaits in Kabirdham Ashutosh Sharma has now been promoted to Deputy Collector and will take up his new responsibility in Kabirdham district. His journey from patwari to Deputy Collector spanned nearly 29 years. Sharma has a message for young people: both effort and fate matter in life. He believes one should never stop working hard, because success does eventually arrive, even if it takes time. ## What this means for you This story does not directly affect anyone's finances, but it offers a practical lesson for the many young people preparing for government jobs and competitive exams. - **Across India:** Youngsters preparing for PSC and other state exams get a real example of how sticking with a job while continuing to attempt exams can eventually lead to a big career jump. - **In Chhattisgarh:** Kabirdham district's administration gains an officer with long, ground-level field experience as Ashutosh Sharma takes charge as Deputy Collector. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Who is Ashutosh Sharma? Ashutosh Sharma, who served as a tehsildar in Balod district, has now been promoted to Deputy Collector. ### 2. How long did his journey from patwari to Deputy Collector take? The journey took nearly 29 years. ### 3. At what age did he get his first government job? He got his first job, as a patwari, at just 21 years of age, five months after his training ended. ### 4. For how long was he a patwari? He served as a patwari from December 1996 to June 2015. ### 5. Where was his first posting? His first posting was at Durgukondal sub-tehsil under Bhanupratappur tehsil. ### 6. What was the turning point of his career? A limited departmental exam conducted by the Revenue Department in 2014 was the turning point, and clearing it made him Naib Tehsildar. ### 7. Where will he serve now? As Deputy Collector, he will take up his new responsibility in Kabirdham district. ### 8. What message does he give to young people? He says both effort and fate matter in life, and one should keep working hard because success eventually arrives, even if it takes time. ## Inspiration & Lessons Ashutosh Sharma's journey offers several lessons that can help anyone chasing a big, long-term goal. - **Don't treat failure as final:** despite failing the PSC mains multiple times, he never stopped preparing. - **A job and exam preparation can coexist:** he kept preparing for PSC even while working, balancing financial security with his ambitions. - **Recognise the right opportunity:** he seized the 2014 limited departmental exam as his chance, and it became the turning point of his career. - **Patience eventually pays off:** it took him nearly 29 years to go from patwari to Deputy Collector, but he never lost patience. - **Trust hard work alongside fate:** he believes both effort and fate matter in life, so one should never stop working hard. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. 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