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Gopalakrishna Ronanki, IAS: Profile, Bio, Caste, Wife and Family



Introduction

Gopalakrishna Ronanki is a standout name in the Indian bureaucratic landscape—an Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer who shot to fame after securing All India Rank 3 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2016. A former primary school teacher from Srikakulam district, his journey embodies resilience, rural roots, and unwavering determination. This article unpacks his early life, UPSC feat, career trajectory, controversies, and unique facts.

Early Life & Education

Gopalakrishna hails from Parasamba village, Palasa block, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. Born into a humble agricultural family, his parents worked as laborers, yet he pursued education relentlessly—attending government schools and even working as a primary school teacher in Regulapadu MPP School while preparing for the civil services. (Deccan Chronicle, Ahmedabad Mirror)

He completed his B.Sc., likely through Andhra University via distance learning, alongside his teaching job. His academic journey culminated with a phenomenal success—securing Rank 3 in the UPSC exam of 2016, which he attempted four times. (Ahmedabad Mirror)

UPSC Journey & Inspirational Struggle

Gopalakrishna’s civil service results were historic—not just for his rank, but also for his background. Despite struggling with English and Hindi, he cleared the exam in Telugu medium and consistently built his knowledge base for over a decade. (The Indian Express, Firstpost, The Tribune)

He once shared:

“I saw how my parents worked very hard … I always wanted to work for society and for the uplift of my own family.”
His dedication and perseverance led to national recognition despite language barriers. (The Indian Express, Firstpost)

In an interview with Times of India, he emphasized his commitment:

“I will make villagers’ lives better… Education, employment and health are quintessential for a better society.”
He also noted that in his UPSC interview he said, “I come from a village and am competing with many candidates from cities with good backgrounds—I am the example.” (The Times of India)

Career Postings

After his UPSC success, Gopalakrishna joined the Andhra Pradesh IAS cadre. Among his known postings:

  • He was Additional Director, Survey Settlement & Land Records, before being posted as Joint Collector of Prakasam district in a major reshuffle. (The Hans India, The Hindu)

Additional details of other postings or portfolios are not widely available in mainstream media.

Controversies & Legal Challenges

Despite his exemplary journey, Gopalakrishna's rise was accompanied by a serious controversy—the allegation of a fake disability certificate during his UPSC attempt.

The Allegations:

A PIL filed in the Hyderabad High Court accused him of submitting a fake orthopedically handicapped certificate, claiming that his 45% disability status enabled him to access extra time and secure a lower qualifying threshold. Allegedly, without that, his score (91.34) would not have cleared the OBC cutoff of 110.66. (Mumbai Mirror, eastcoastdaily.in, Deccan Chronicle)

His Defense:

Gopalakrishna strongly refuted the allegations. He stated that his disability was real—stemming from a 2002 accident in which he broke his right hand. He had acquired the certificate from AP authorities and later was examined by multiple medical boards (King George Hospital, RIMS Srikakulam, Osmania General Hospital). UPSC-appointed doctors also verified his condition. He contended that the system thoroughly validated his claim. (Sakshi Post, Mumbai Mirror, Deccan Chronicle)

Coaching Claims Controversy:

After his success, some coaching institutes falsely claimed credit for training him. He publicly denounced this, stating he only received guidance from Ms. Bala Latha for General Studies, and had done mock interviews at multiple institutes—but none trained him wholly. (Deccan Chronicle, The New Indian Express)

Administrative Style & Vision

His statements and actions reflect a vision rooted in rural empowerment:

Interesting Facts

  • UPSC Rank 3 (2016): Despite language limitations, he secured All India Rank 3 in the highly competitive exam. (The Indian Express, Firstpost)

  • Four attempts: Cleared on his fourth attempt; work ethic and perseverance marked his path. (Ahmedabad Mirror)

  • Hometown teacher: Before UPSC, he taught in a rural primary school while studying for the exam—a dual burden he carried with tenacity. (Deccan Chronicle, Ahmedabad Mirror)

  • Denied coaching claims: Rejected false credit from coaching institutes and acknowledged only minimal guidance. (Deccan Chronicle, The New Indian Express)

FAQs

Q1: Who is Gopalakrishna Ronanki?
A: A 2016 UPSC All India Rank 3, he is an IAS officer from Andhra Pradesh. Before joining IAS, he taught in a rural school and cleared the exam in Telugu medium.

Q2: Where is he from?
A: Parasamba village, Palasa block, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh.

Q3: What controversy did he face?
A: A PIL accused him of using a fake disability certificate to gain preferential UPSC treatment. He denied the allegations and maintained that his disability was medically validated.

Q4: Has he held notable administrative postings?
A: Yes—he served as Additional Director in Settlements and was posted as Joint Collector of Prakasam district. (The Hans India, The Hindu)

Q5: What motivates him?
A: Improving rural life, especially in education, employment, and health. He remains an example for rural aspirants overcoming linguistic and economic hurdles.

Conclusion

Gopalakrishna Ronanki’s story is one of hope and grit: from a small village and primary school classroom to securing a top rank in UPSC, and now shaping policies as an IAS officer. Though controversies aimed to cast doubt on his credentials, he responded with evidence and conviction. His journey continues to inspire countless aspirants, especially from rural and Telugu-medium backgrounds, who dare to dream big.

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