The Success Story: IPS officer left dentistry to crack UPSC, now inspiring civil services aspirants

IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma's journey from a dentist's chair to a police uniform has become one of the most compelling career transformation stories in India's civil services. Born on October 26, 1985, in Ludhiana, Punjab, Sharma holds a BDS degree and had established himself as a dental surgeon before making the bold decision to pursue the Union Public Service Commission examination. Coming from a family that valued education and discipline, with his father Amarjit Sharma serving as a government school teacher, Ajay grew up in Ludhiana's Vikas Nagar area where academic rigor was a way of life.

After completing his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Government Medical College, Patiala, Sharma faced a crossroads. He could have settled into a comfortable and respectable medical career, but instead chose the uncertain path of civil services. His first attempt at the UPSC in 2009 saw him clear the written examination but fail at the interview stage. Rather than accepting defeat, he prepared again and secured All India Rank 160 in 2011, earning him a place in the Indian Police Service with the Uttar Pradesh cadre. This decision to abandon a stable profession for an unpredictable challenge forms the cornerstone of his success story.

Sharma's younger brother Amit Pal Sharma also made his mark in civil services, achieving an impressive 17th rank in the UPSC examination and becoming an IAS officer. The two brothers from the same family reaching the highest echelons of administration and police service became a source of local pride in Ludhiana, where residents remember them cycling through the neighborhood, serious about their goals and grounded in their approach.

As an IPS officer, Sharma earned the moniker "UP's Singham" and "encounter specialist" through his aggressive policing style in challenging districts including Shamli, Rampur, Noida, and Jaunpur. His tenure in Jaunpur as Superintendent of Police proved particularly noteworthy, with media reports citing 136 police encounters during his approximately 22-month posting. Throughout his career, over 500 encounters have been associated with his name, though it's important to note this figure refers to confrontations with criminals, not fatalities. His approach emphasized sustained pressure on criminal elements, with reports from Rampur in July 2019 indicating that 146 wanted accused surrendered in court during his watch.

Sharma's career has not been without controversy. In 2020, he was among several IPS officers facing investigation, leading to his removal from Rampur. He denied the allegations, and subsequent reports indicated departmental proceedings were closed and he received clearance, paving the way for his promotion to Deputy Inspector General in January 2025. Currently serving as Additional Commissioner of Police in Prayagraj, Sharma held a key role in the security arrangements for Mahakumbh 2025, demonstrating his capabilities extend beyond crime control to managing one of the world's largest religious gatherings.

Most recently in April 2026, Sharma returned to national headlines when the Election Commission deployed him as a police observer in South 24 Parganas during the West Bengal Assembly elections. A viral video showing him issuing stern warnings to supporters of a Trinamool Congress candidate for allegedly intimidating voters sparked political controversy, with petitions filed in the Supreme Court demanding his removal. The Calcutta High Court declined immediate intervention, reinforcing that electoral mechanisms should handle such matters during the election process. Sharma's story ultimately transcends the "Singham" label, illustrating that success belongs not to those who never fall, but to those who rise after falling, recalibrate their direction, and persist toward their goals.