Agartala, May 22, 2025: In a remarkable achievement that has brought immense pride to Tripura, Kenneth Chakma, a Senior Geologist at the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has successfully cleared the prestigious Indian Forest Service (IFoS) examination conducted by the UPSC securing an All India Rank of 116.

Kenneth’s success came on his fifth attempt, reflecting unwavering dedication and perseverance. A native of Tripura, he holds a Master’s degree in Applied Geology from IIT Bombay and is also a GATE scholar and Junior Research Fellow (JRF). His early education took place at Holy Cross School in Agartala and Vikas Vidyalaya in Visakhapatnam. He later pursued a Ph.D. at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, before choosing to focus entirely on civil services preparation.

Celebrations erupted across the state as news of Kenneth’s success spread. He is slated to join the 2025 batch of All India Services officers and will report to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, in September for his foundation course. This will be followed by specialized training in forestry at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) in Dehradun.

“This achievement is not just mine—it belongs to my family, my mentors, and my home state,” Kenneth said, expressing gratitude for the support he received throughout his journey.

Kenneth is the son of Uttam Kumar Chakma, a serving IAS officer and Secretary in the Government of Tripura. His success stands as an inspiration for many aspiring civil servants in the state.