Each year, the UPSC Civil Services Exam results spark celebration across India. But for a few, their ranks carry stories far deeper than the numbers suggest—stories of struggle, sacrifice, and spirit.
From writing exams mere days after childbirth to studying without electricity, these seven individuals show us that resilience, not privilege, often shapes true achievement.
1. Shakti Dubey, AIR 1: A Policeman’s Daughter With Big Dreams
Hailing from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Shakti is the daughter of a police officer who credits her success to family and faith. Her father, Devendra Kumar Dubey, said, “We just gave her support. The rest was hers.” With her mother anchoring the home and Shakti’s focus unwavering, she turned silent sacrifice into national triumph.
2. Iqbal Ahmed, AIR 998: From Bicycle Repairs to Bureaucracy
Iqbal Ahmed’s journey from Nandaur, UP, began at a bicycle puncture shop. His father’s illness forced the shop to shut, but Iqbal pursued education across Gorakhpur and joined UPPSC as a Labour Enforcement Officer. Cracking UPSC was his next step—a testament to sheer grit.
3. Malavika G Nair, AIR 45: A New Mother Who Refused to Wait
Seventeen days postpartum, Malavika from Kerala appeared for her UPSC mains. An IRS officer from the 2020 batch, her sixth attempt was her last shot. With her family caring for her newborn and her husband in IPS training, Malavika showed that motherhood and ambition can coexist powerfully.
4. Harshita Goyal, AIR 2: Charted by Loss, Driven by Purpose
After her mother passed away from cancer, Harshita moved from Rajasthan to Gujarat. A Chartered Accountant and MSU Baroda graduate, she cleared UPSC on her third attempt. “It was my father who kept me going,” she shared. Her story is one of quiet purpose and deep conviction.
5. Manu Garg, AIR 91: A Mother’s Light in a Sightless World
Manu lost his eyesight in Class 9. His father walked away. His mother stayed. From Jaipur to Hindu College to JNU, she read to him, typed his notes, and believed in his dream. Without Braille, with no vision, Manu passed the exam using technology and unbreakable support.
6. Preethi AC, AIR 263: A Cook’s Daughter Who Studied Her Way Up
When Preethi called her father with the results, his voice shook with pride. A part-time cook who never went to school, Channabasappa had supported his daughter through government schooling, BSc in Agriculture, and MSc at BHU. Preethi never took coaching—just her father’s dream and her own will.
7. Beerappa Doni, AIR 551: From Herding Sheep to Serving the Nation
While tending sheep in Nanavadi, Karnataka, Beerappa received the call that changed his life. A BTech graduate and a postal worker, he once dreamt of the Army like his brother. Today, his dreams wear a new uniform—civil service. “He always wanted to serve the country,” said his father.
What These Stories Tell Us
- Privilege is not a prerequisite.
- Support systems matter—be it a mother, a sister, or a village.
- Grit, not coaching, often writes the real story.
Each of these seven UPSC toppers shows that success isn’t born in silence—it is built in struggle. Their lives challenge every notion of what makes an aspirant “ideal.” And in doing so, they redefine who gets to dream big in India.