https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Appeared for CSE Interview When in Deep Emotional Trauma, Yet Aced It to Come in Top Fifty

Indian Masterminds Stories

Everyone who triumphs in the UPSC Civil Services Examination go through their own fair share of struggles. But there are some for whom the journey becomes very difficult to continue, yet they still trudge along. Such is the story of Ms. Aparajita Sharma, who secured AIR 40 in CSE 2017. She lost her mother just before the interview round, but she still gave the interview strongly and cleared the exam with a good rank, coming in the top 50.

Currently, posted as the SDM, Ballabhgarh in Haryana, Ms. Sharma is an inspiration for everyone who is preparing for civil services. Indian Masterminds presents her UPSC success story – a journey marred by tragedy.

MATERNAL GRANDFATHER’S ROLE

The only child of her parents, Ms. Sharma hails from Varanasi. Her father is an ex-IRS officer while her mother was a professor and had always pushed her to gain as much knowledge as she could. Since childhood, she was very pampered by her extended family, especially her maternal grandfather.

In an article written by her, she says, “My grandfather had a great influence on me, and he took many decisions regarding my education. It was he who sent me to a Hindi medium school so that I could get command on the language.” 

Ms. Sharma during Republic Day celebration

According to her, when she didn’t even understand the meaning of ‘officer’, her grandfather would inspire her to become one. Today, she is an IAS officer.

Ms. Sharma did her Chemical Engineering from BIT, Mesra, and took up a job. She describes her job as the turning point in her life. She was posted in a small plant in North UP. Being the only female employee there, she faced many challenges which pushed her to prepare for UPSC.

OWNING UP FAILURES

After making up her mind, Ms. Sharma came to New Delhi for preparations. “That was really a difficult time for me as I was not able to make use of coaching classes. I did take a class for my optional subject, history. But to be honest, my preparation before the first attempt was really scattered.” 

She made the first attempt in UPSC in 2015 and then again next year. In her second attempt, she could not clear her mains due to ineffective time management. According to her, she was ignoring this aspect all the while, but when she saw failure in the second attempt, she made serious attempt to sort herself out. 

APPEARED STRONG DESPITE SETBACK

However, there was no immediate end to her struggles. Before her interview in the 2017 exam, she lost her mother. She was shattered and was not able to seriously prepare for the interview. She was in deep emotional trauma, but she could not afford to waste her last chance. Gathering all her courage and mental strength, she went for the interview and was selected to the final list of successful candidates, with AIR 40.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT