Mother Worked As Ragpicker, Son Made It To IIT Madras And Cracked UPSC: Gautam Padibhar’s Success Story

Last Updated:September 25, 2026, 3:32 PM IST

secured All India Rank 139 in the UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination 2022 and was selected for the 2023 batch of the Indian Forest Service.

Gautam Padibhar was allotted the Chhattisgarh cadre and currently serves as the Director of Kanger Valley National Park in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. (Image: @gautam_ifs/Instagram)

Gautam Padibhar’s journey from a financially struggling family to the Indian Forest Service is closely linked to his mother’s determination to educate her children. After his father died early, his mother, Sakhubai Padibhar, worked as a daily-wage labourer and later moved to Mumbai, where she worked as a ragpicker for several years to support the family.

Sakhubai had never attended school herself, but she remained determined to ensure that her children received an education. Despite financial hardship, illness and an accident, she continued working to keep their education going.

Gautam completed his early education at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Jalna, Maharashtra. He later cleared the JEE examination and secured admission to IIT Madras for a B.Tech degree.

His journey to IIT Madras came without the benefit of expensive coaching. Gautam has credited his mother for playing a major role in his success, saying that despite the family’s limited resources, she never allowed financial difficulties to come in the way of his education.

After completing his engineering degree, Gautam chose to pursue a career in the civil services. He secured All India Rank 139 in the UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination 2022 and was selected for the 2023 batch of the Indian Forest Service.

He was allotted the Chhattisgarh cadre and currently serves as the Director of Kanger Valley National Park in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.

A memorable moment in his journey came when his mother visited his office. Gautam seated Sakhubai on his official chair and shared a photograph of the moment on social media.

For him, the chair represented more than his position as an IFoS officer. It was also a reminder of the years his mother spent working as a labourer and ragpicker to support her children’s education.

Gautam’s journey from a financially disadvantaged family to IIT Madras and the Indian Forest Service highlights the role his mother’s sacrifices played in helping him pursue education and a career in the civil services.

Quick Answers

Powered by

Ask News18

What is Gautam Padibhar’s current professional role in the Indian Forest Service?

Gautam Padibhar currently serves as the Director of Kanger Valley National Park in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.

How did Gautam Padibhar’s mother support the family financially after her husband’s death?

Following her husband’s early death, Sakhubai Padibhar worked as a daily-wage labourer and later as a ragpicker in Mumbai to support her children’s education despite severe financial hardships.

Which higher education institutions did Gautam Padibhar attend before joining the civil services?

Gautam completed his early schooling at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Jalna, Maharashtra, and later cleared the JEE to earn his B.Tech degree from IIT Madras.

Powered by

Ask News18

About the Author

Education.Careers Desk

A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, …Read More

Read More