Two Kuki Siblings from Manipur cracked UPSC 2023 exam despite challenges

Despite the violence that has marred India’s northeastern state, Manipur for the past one year, a story of success has emerged, where two Kuki siblings cracked UPSC Civil Services Exam 2023 despite trying times.

Siblings Hatchinghoi Haokip and Dominic Sominthang Haokip, hailing from the Kuki-Zo community achieved this remarkable feat with perseverance and resilience.

While Dominic secured the 994 rank in the CSE exam in his very first attempt, his elder sister Hatchinghoi, secured the 898 rank. Interestingly, this was her third success in the Civil Services Exam.

Born to Jamkhomang Haokip, a retired peon from the Manipur Forest Department, and mother, Nemjalhing Haokip, a homemaker, Dominic is the youngest of the six siblings.

While sharing the accounts of violence that broke in Manipur last year, Dominic said it was all chaos and everyone was affected by the crisis, reported East Mojo.

“I was at home to do the final revision for the prelims when violence erupted, and it was all chaos and tension,” he was quoted as saying. 

He also had to change the preliminary exam center to Delhi and had to leave his home.

While, Hatchinghoi, is an alumnus of IIT Madras with a B.Tech degree, Dominic, holds a Master's degree in General Studies from Ashoka University, Haryana. They both studied at JNV Tuinom Manipur, and have credited their school for foundational education.

Hatchinghoi had previously cleared the Civil Services Exam and served in the Indian Defense Accounts Service (IDAS) from 2021 to 2023. Subsequently, she secured a position in Indian Forest Service (IFOS) in 2023 and is currently training at the Indian Forest Academy, Dehradun. 

Dominic also said that he was fortunate to have received support from his parents and siblings, which allowed him to sail through it.

The young bureaucrat said his priority is to provide essential commodities and health facilities to the people in the state, especially those displaced persons in relief camps, the report said.

"I would also like to give my priority to the education of our young kids who have been affected since COVID, to minimise the learning loss," he added.

On May 3, 2023, ethnic violence erupted in Manipur after the clashes began between the Meitei people, a majority that lives in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo tribal community from the surrounding hills. Meitei is the predominant ethnic group in Manipur and Kuki is one of the biggest tribes.