In 2020, Anjali Vishwakarma walked away from what many might consider a dream life—an elite engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, a stable, high-paying job in an oil company in the United Kingdom, and a future mapped in corporate comfort.
But for Vishwakarma, that wasn’t enough.
“I realized I wasn’t contributing to the change I wished to see. I wanted to be part of something larger than myself,” she would later say in interviews, reflecting on her decision to return home and begin preparing for one of India’s most grueling examinations.
Today, Anjali Vishwakarma is an officer in the Indian Police Service, a position she earned after clearing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam on her second attempt. Her story—one of conviction, risk, and relentless preparation—has struck a chord with aspirants across the country, especially young women seeking purpose in public service.
An Unusual Crossroad Between Comfort and Calling
Born and raised in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Anjali was always academically inclined. After completing her schooling in Dehradun, she earned a coveted seat at IIT Kanpur, one of India’s premier engineering institutions. Post-graduation, her professional trajectory took her to an oil company in the UK—prestigious, secure, and well-compensated.
But it didn’t feel right.
“I was doing well, but something was missing,” she once said. “I couldn’t shake the thought that my skills could serve people more directly—especially in India.”
The Return and the Rigour of Reinvention
Quitting her job abroad was not a decision made lightly. For months, Vishwakarma quietly prepared for the UPSC examination, widely regarded as one of the toughest entrance exams in the world. Her first attempt ended in disappointment.
But that failure only hardened her resolve. “I learned how not to prepare,” she noted. “My second attempt was sharper, more focused, and grounded in real self-discipline.”
In 2020, she cracked the exam and was inducted into the IPS—one of India’s top civil services. She now undergoes training that will position her to take on law and order responsibilities, leadership in crisis, and engagement with vulnerable communities.
A Story That Inspires Beyond the Rank List
Vishwakarma’s story is not just about academic achievement or civil service success. It’s about courage to pivot, the humility to start over, and the belief that personal ambition can align with public purpose.
For many young Indians—especially women in STEM—her trajectory offers hope: that it’s never too late to change paths, that serving one’s country is still a worthy dream, and that failure can be a stepping stone, not an endpoint.
Her transition from an oil company in England to the Indian Police Service is a lesson in finding strength not in comfort, but in conviction.