Raipur, March 7 -- After a long battle with cancer and multiple surgeries, Sanjay Dahariya from Beltukri village in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district has cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 946.

Diagnosed with parotid cancer in 2011 at the age of 23 while working in a Kolkata bank, Dahariya began his civil services preparation amid his health struggles.

Born into a farmer's family, Dahariya studied at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Raipur after clearing the entrance test. During his school days, an interaction with a visiting IAS officer inspired him to pursue a career in the civil services, he said.

Medical tests confirmed parotid cancer after he noticed abnormal swelling...