Patiala born IAS officer scores 171/170 marks in a Harvard exam

An IAS topper in 2002, Ankur Garg has secured 171 marks out of 170 at a Harvard University macroeconomics master's degree exam. Born in Patiala, Garg who is currently pursuing a two-year programme on Public Administration in International Development from Harvard, posted this near impossible feat on his fb account on December 22. The post started as:
"When I was in school, my father used to say - 10 out of 10 isn't good enough in any exam.Always strive for 11 out of 10. I hardly understood how that's done."
He continued to write…
"In the last phase (possibly!) of student life now, I end up getting this score (171 out of 170) in the final exam of the macroeconomics course. The icing on the cake - it comes at Harvard and is signed by Jeffrey Frankel himself! This one is for you, dad."
Jeffrey Frankel, world-renowned macroeconomist, is also a professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Garg, who is an IIT Delhi graduate, and is known for his sharp decision-making, held senior and important positions during his tenure in Chandigarh, Arunachal Pradesh and Delhi. His wife, Swati Sharma is also an IAS officer. In 2002, he became one of the youngest people to top the IAS entrance exam at 22 years of age.

‘Was not aiming for any particular score’
This course has been a tremendous value addition. When I join the government back after its completion in India, it will help me take better policy decisions. I studied hard for it as I wanted to gain the maximum from this prestigious university. The score was a pleasant surprise. I have always tried to follow the principle - whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well. I wasn’t aiming for any particular score, but just wanted to learn the maximum.
– Speaking to Etimes from Harvard University, Cambridge
–Ankur.Batra@timesgroup.com