New Delhi, May 16 : From the Naxal heartland of Andhra Pradesh to the cacophonous bylanes of Janakpuri in west Delhi, the new crop of men and women who join the civil service this year is as varied as it gets.

Adapa Karthik who has topped the examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission this year hails from Khammam. Karthik, currently an IPS probationer, studied to be a doctor in Chennai, was offered a seat by the Harvard University for medical research but stayed on to try for the civil services. While Delhi boy Supreet Gulati (27), an electrical engineer from IIT Madras, has stood second, Delhi School of Economics post-graduate Ashima Jain has emerged as the overall topper among women.

But perhaps the most striking story is that of the sister-brother duo of Mukta (26) and Mukul Arya (23). Born to a father who worked his way up from a clerical job in the Delhi government to the Delhi Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services as an officer — his father was a contract labourer — the siblings from the Scheduled Tribes category didn’t expect such astounding twist of fate.

The results declared on Friday evening place sister Mukta well above the reservation benefits of her category to qualify in the general category with an All India Rank of 48 even as brother Mukul with rank 347 makes it to the ranks in the reserved category for Scheduled Tribe candidates.

“Mukta is and has always been more hard-working than me, which is what explains why she has made it to top 50 in the UPSC exams. She has been a constant source of inspiration for me,” says Mukul.

A BCA graduate from Delhi University’s Maitreyi College, Mukta appeared for the UPSC exams for the fourth time last year while for brother Mukul, an Economics graduate from Sri Ram College of Commerce and currently a student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, this was a second attempt.

And Friday was a day that brought proud moments for the family. “My grandfather was a contract labourer and grandmother did odd jobs. But my father was bright and worked his way up. This is what is needed to excel in life,” Mukul says.

Seven women are among the top 20 in the list of successful candidates. Of the 734 recommended for appointment this year, OBC candidates account for 266 while 128 belong to Scheduled Castes and 54 to Scheduled Tribes. There are 580 men and 154 women on the list. The selected candidates include 22 physically challenged.

Out of the 20 top-rankers, seven are from engineering background while three are medicos. Interestingly, all the 20 toppers took their examinations in English.