Stories
From Engineering Dream to IPS Officer: The Inspiring Journey of Suraj Kumar Rai
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News18•08-10-2026, 17:22
From Engineering Dream to IPS Officer: The Inspiring Journey of Suraj Kumar Rai
- •Suraj Kumar Rai originally dreamed of becoming an engineer and was studying at Motilal Nehru Engineering College in Allahabad.
- •His life took a dramatic turn when his father, Mahendra Kumar Rai, was murdered just a month after he joined college.
- •Running between police stations and courts for justice made him realize the flaws in the system and inspired him to join the police.
- •After facing initial failures in his first two attempts, he cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2017 with an All India Rank of 117.
- •A 2018-batch IPS officer, Suraj Kumar Rai has now been appointed as the new Senior Superintendent of Police of Muzaffarnagar.
Key Questions Answered
Suraj Kumar Rai initially wanted to become an engineer, but his father's murder shortly after starting college changed his life path. Experiencing police and court procedures firsthand while seeking justice for his father, he realized the system's flaws and decided to join the police service to help others.
Suraj Kumar Rai was appointed as the new Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Muzaffarnagar on October 7, 2026, following a major police reshuffle by the Uttar Pradesh Government that transferred 20 IPS officers.
After facing failures in his initial attempts, Suraj Kumar Rai successfully secured All India Rank 117 in the 2017 UPSC Civil Services Examination and was selected for the Indian Police Service as a 2018-batch officer.
