UPSC Success Story: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination annually in three stages—preliminary, main, and interview—to select officers for the posts of
UPSC Success Story: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination annually in three stages—preliminary, main, and interview—to select officers for the posts of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and others. While some aspirants prefer to prepare for the examination through self-study, others opt to join the coaching institute. Well, read the success story of IAS Taruni Pandey, a woman who left medical after 2 years due to health issues, battled COVID-19 just four days before the exam, cleared UPSC in 2021 through self-study, she is…
Taruni, originally from Chittaranjan, West Bengal, completed her schooling in Jamtara, Jharkhand. She later earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English literature from IGNOU. Despite dreaming of becoming a doctor since class 3, her journey took an unexpected path, leading her in a different direction.
While pursuing an MBBS degree, health issues compelled her to discontinue her medical studies in the second year. Undeterred by this setback, she sought new opportunities and eventually decided to aim for the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination.
In an interview with Better India (2022), Taruni said, “While I was in my second year of medical college, I faced a plethora of health issues. Nothing was chronic, but it was a line of acute infections. I had dengue, typhoid, and cerebral malaria. To add to all of this, I slipped from a hill slope and hurt myself.”
A turning point in Taruni’s life came with the loss of her brother-in-law, a CRPF commandant. While accompanying her sister to various government offices, she witnessed firsthand the profound influence politicians and bureaucrats have on people’s lives. This experience sparked a new aspiration: to serve the nation as a civil servant and create meaningful change.
Determined to take the UPSC prelims in 2020, Taruni faced a significant obstacle when she contracted COVID-19 just four days before the exam. Undeterred by this challenge, she resolved to give her best, knowing that her next attempt in 2021 would be her final chance due to the age limit for general category candidates.
“The first bout of COVID hit me really hard. I was hospitalised for almost four months. After that, I was left with just about six months to prepare for the exams. Also, while it was my first attempt, it was also my last, so I had a lot of pressure,” Taruni shared in an interview with Better India in 2022.
Taruni did not attend any coaching classes for her UPSC preparation. Instead, she relied on self-study, determination, and a focused approach to clear the exam despite the challenges she faced.
Taruni prepared her own notes and supplemented her studies by watching YouTube videos, leveraging online resources to strengthen her preparation for the UPSC examination. “I had to prepare for my prelims in just four months. I honestly believe that under normal circumstances, a person should prepare for UPSC for at least two years. Since I didn’t have a choice, I had to develop an ultra-smart strategy to clear the exam. I prepared my notes by watching YouTube videos. I didn’t read from the standard books as I simply didn’t have time,” Taruni shared in an interview with Better India in 2022.
Taruni achieved an impressive milestone by securing Rank 14 in the Consolidated Reserve List of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021, showcasing her determination and perseverance in overcoming challenges to fulfill her dream of becoming a civil servant.
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