A 21-year-old post graduate student of the Indira Gandhi NationalOpen University (IGNOU) has secured the seventh rank in the Civil Services 2010 examination.

Karthik Gurunathan Iyer of Nagpur has cleared the examination in his first attempt using IGNOU’s course material.

Iyer chose Political Science as the optional subject for preliminary examination and International Relations for the main examination.

‘While it took time and effort to complete reading the IGNOU books, they surely boosted my performance and helped me in getting good marks,’ said Iyer.

‘The university helped me in proving that attending gruelling coaching sessions in Delhi is not the only way to prepare for the UPSC exams. Good reading material coupled with hard work and determination can also surely take you there,’ he added.