UPSC Success Story: From doctors to IAS-IPS officers- meet UP’s brother duo Ajay Pal Sharma, Amit Pal Sharma
Two Brothers Who Moved From Medicine to India’s Civil Services
Bharatmorningnews.com – The journey of Dr Ajay Pal Sharma and Dr Amit Pal Sharma stands out as an example of two brothers choosing public service after beginning their professional paths in medicine. Originally from Ludhiana, Punjab, the brothers cleared the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination five years apart and went on to serve in two of India’s most prominent services.
Ajay Pal Sharma entered the Indian Police Service, while his younger brother Amit Pal Sharma joined the Indian Administrative Service. Their story has drawn attention not only because both qualified for the demanding UPSC examination, but also because each first pursued a medical education before opting for careers in government administration and public service.
An academic foundation in Ludhiana
The brothers were born in Vikas Nagar in Ludhiana and completed their early schooling in the city. They grew up in a family that placed importance on education and learning. Their father, Amarjit Pal, worked as a Punjabi lecturer at a government school and played a central role in guiding their upbringing. Their mother, Prem Sharma, managed the household and supported the family as the two children progressed through their studies.
That educational environment became an important foundation for both brothers. Although they ultimately selected different branches of the civil services, their academic and professional choices followed a similar pattern in the early years: both trained in medicine before taking the UPSC route.
From medical studies to public service
Dr Ajay Pal Sharma studied dental surgery before entering the civil services. His younger brother, Dr Amit Pal Sharma, also prepared for a career in healthcare and completed his MBBS from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences.
The shift from medical education to the UPSC examination reflects the broad range of backgrounds represented in the civil services. A medical degree can demand disciplined study, sustained preparation and the ability to work through complex situations—qualities that can also be useful in public administration and policing. For the Sharma brothers, the transition led to separate but influential roles in Uttar Pradesh.
The UPSC Civil Services Examination is widely regarded as one of India’s most challenging competitive examinations. Candidates must clear several stages, including the preliminary examination, the mains examination and a personality test, to secure a place in services such as the IAS and IPS. The brothers’ success, achieved five years apart, shows that similar family support and educational preparation can lead to distinct public-service careers.
Ajay Pal Sharma’s IPS career
Ajay Pal Sharma belongs to the 2011 batch of the Indian Police Service and is allotted to the Uttar Pradesh cadre. Over the years, he has held several policing assignments and developed a reputation for taking a firm approach to crime control and law-and-order matters.
His postings have included districts such as Shamli, Jaunpur, Noida and Rampur. In these roles, he took measures aimed at strengthening law and order. He also played an important part in action against the mafia network associated with Atiq Ahmed in Prayagraj.
Ajay Pal Sharma is currently serving as Additional Police Commissioner (DIG) in the Prayagraj Police Commissionerate. The position places him within a major urban policing structure, where coordination, public safety and the management of law-and-order responsibilities are central to the role.
Amit Pal Sharma’s administrative path
Amit Pal Sharma joined the Indian Administrative Service as a 2016-batch officer. Before becoming District Magistrate of Kaushambi, he worked in a number of significant administrative assignments in Uttar Pradesh.
His earlier responsibilities included serving as Vice Chairman of the Prayagraj Development Authority, Municipal Commissioner of Meerut, Chief Development Officer of Sonbhadra and SDM Sadar of Ghaziabad. These positions involve different aspects of governance, from urban development and municipal management to district-level administration and development programmes.
During preparations for Maha Kumbh 2025, Amit Pal Sharma helped speed up development work in Prayagraj. He also had a role in crowd-management arrangements at Prayagraj Junction, an important responsibility during an event that attracts very large numbers of visitors.
Different services, shared commitment
The brothers now represent two complementary sides of public administration. The IPS focuses on policing, public order and crime prevention, while the IAS is closely associated with district administration, development work and implementation of government programmes. Their careers demonstrate how officers in different services can contribute to public life through distinct responsibilities.
For UPSC aspirants, their story also offers a useful reminder that there is no single academic route into the civil services. Ajay Pal Sharma’s dental training and Amit Pal Sharma’s MBBS qualification did not limit them to clinical careers. Instead, both used their educational background as a stepping stone toward a broader role in public service.
From their early education in Ludhiana to their present responsibilities in Uttar Pradesh, Ajay Pal Sharma and Amit Pal Sharma have followed parallel journeys marked by academic discipline, professional change and a shared decision to serve through India’s civil services.
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