Bandipora Youth Cracks UPSC Indian Statistical Service Exam\n\nAnayat Bashir Sheikh, a resident of Bandipora, has qualified the highly competitive Indian Statistical Service (ISS) exam, conducted annually by the UPSC for recruitment of specialists in statistics and applied economics. The exam, considered among the most rigorous in the country, demands strong mathematical and analytical skills.\n\nSheikh’s accomplishment has been widely celebrated in Bandipora, with neighbors, friends and community members hailing it as a milestone for Kashmiri youth aspiring to compete at the national level.\n\n“It is a matter of great pride for our area. Anayat has shown that with dedication and discipline, our young generation can shine on the biggest platforms,” Abdul Majeed said.\n\nFamily members described his achievement as the result of years of focus and determination. “He was always committed to academics and wanted to achieve something remarkable through the civil services. Today, his dream has come true,” said one of Sheikh’s relatives.\n\nSheikh, who pursued higher education in statistics before attempting the ISS exam, said his journey was not without challenges. “The examination requires relentless preparation, clarity in concepts, and confidence. It has been a tough road, but I am grateful for the support of my teachers, family, and friends,” he told the media.\n\nSheikh credits his success to his wife and daughter and said that from the last two years during his preparation he even did not give them time properly.\n\n"I even asked my wife to sit at her parents' home till my exams will be completed, but she stays and supports me and it is because of her I achieved my dream.\n"