Interestingly, when he was preparing for UPSC, he took not one or two but about 37 competitive exams and was successful in almost all of them. Today he is recognized as an excellent officer.
It is said that if you have passion and determination to do something, it will not take you any time to achieve your goal. Similar is the story of IPS officer Anurag Arya, who on the basis of his hard work cracked the UPSC exam in the first attempt and secured 163rd rank. Interestingly, when he was preparing for UPSC, he took not one or two but about 37 competitive exams and was successful in almost all of them. Today he is recognized as an excellent officer. Who has defeated many dreaded criminals during his tenure. This is the reason why Anurag Arya has made it to the list of 100 best district police chiefs of the country.
Born in Chhaprauli village of Baghpat
Anurag Arya was born in 1987 in Chhaprauli village of Baghpat district. His family consists of his mother Dr. Poonam Arya, wife Vanika Singh and daughter Anaika Arya. Wife Vanika Singh is a PCS officer. IPS Anurag Arya has served in Amethi, Balrampur, Mau, Pratapgarh and Azamgarh. He is a basketball player. The mountaineer trained from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, is a certified skier from Auli and has successfully completed the Hyderabad Marathon and Delhi Half Marathon.
Where did you study from?
Anurag Arya received his primary education from Saraswati Shishu Mandir in the same village and obtained B.Sc (Hons.) degree in Physics. Earlier, he was selected in RBI, after about eight months in the year 2013, he became IPS in the first attempt itself, in which his rank was 163.
Passed 37 competitive exams
In a YouTube video, he tells that when he was preparing for UPSC, he had appeared for about 37 competitive exams and had succeeded in all of them. But the first competitive exam in which I failed was the RBI exam. He says that I participated in that examination for the first time, but could not succeed. One reason for this was that I was a science student. He says that for that exam I suddenly had to prepare for subjects like Economics and Finance. But if you try again, you will be successful.
such preparation
Not only this, he tells that first he prepared hard for UPSC for about one and a half years. After this he prepared with a group of about 7 to 8 friends. He says that he often used to sit up and study the whole night and rest during the day. What he liked the most was the team spirit created among his friends during this period. According to him, it is generally difficult to build this kind of team spirit while preparing for a tough exam like UPSC. But it proved to be perfect for him. Ultimately he succeeded in UPSC in his first attempt. But he also had many friends who were continuously trying. Some had made their second attempt, some were in their third attempt and some had been preparing for many years.
Made place in top 100
Let us tell you that in the national survey of Fame India-Asia Post, 10 police captains from Uttar Pradesh have got a place among the 100 officers selected from the district police chiefs across the country, including Anurag Arya. In this survey, the leadership of police officers, law and order, crime control and their relations with the public have been made the main basis. Apart from this, aspects like safety of women and children, decision-making capacity in times of crisis, use of modern technology and innovation and transparent and accountable working style have also been included.
Selection after evaluation at several levels
Along with official data and administrative sources, media reports, experts’ opinions, information available on social media and ground level surveys were also made the basis for selection. Besides, ten standards were set including crime control, improvement in law and order, people-friendly policing, visionary leadership and innovation, transparency and accountability, quick decision making, crisis management, practical skills and public relations, opinion of the intelligentsia and media and public image.
These officers of UP were elected
The list from UP includes Akash Patel (Chandauli), Anurag Arya (Bareilly), Aparna Rajat Kaushik (Mirzapur), Deeksha Sharma (East Zone Lucknow), Dr. Kaustubh (Gorakhpur), Ilamaran G. (Eta), KK Bishnoi (Sambhal), Prachi Singh (Ambedkarnagar), Dr. Iraj Raja (Ghazipur) and Sarbananda T. (Amethi) have been selected.
Anurag Arya’s successes during Bareilly tenure
– Ended the terror by arresting serial killer Kuldeep in Shahi-Shishgarh area in August 2024, thereby stopping the continuous murder of women.
– Disclosure of the incident of firing by Goldie Brar gang at the house of actress Disha Patani in September 2025. Two shooters killed in encounter, one injured in encounter, three arrested.
– In September 2025, ten cases were registered against Tauqeer Raza for inciting ruckus. 101 miscreants including Tauqeer were sent to jail.
– Since deployment, more than 213 miscreants involved in robbery, cow slaughter, crimes against women and murder have been arrested in encounters.
-Encounter of Firoz alias Shaitan alias Iftekhar, who was wanted for a robbery with a reward of Rs 1 lakh in October 2025 and the officer who murdered his wife and brother-in-law in March 2016.
