“They tried to write my destiny when I was just 15. But I rewrote it – with courage in my heart, tears on my cheeks, and books in my hands. Today, I don’t wear success like a crown – I wear it as proof that no cage is stronger than a woman’s will.”
If Anjali Sondhiya from Madhya Pradesh were a writer, this is how she might have expressed her journey. Her story is nothing short of a modern-day fairy tale.
Born in a remote and socially conservative region, Anjali achieved what countless girls in our country dream of but are often denied due to societal restraints. Despite being a brilliant student from a young age, she was engaged by her family while still in her teens – a common practice in her community, where early marriage is the norm.
But Anjali was not one to surrender to tradition. With remarkable courage, she stood against the forces trying to dictate her life. She turned to education not just as an escape, but as a weapon. Through relentless study and quiet defiance, she resisted the pressure to marry early and instead carved a path few dared to walk.
Today, Anjali has cracked the UPSC and is on her way to becoming an officer in the Indian Forest Service (IFS). Her journey is a powerful reminder – when a girl dares to dream, even the strongest chains can be broken.
Indian Masterminds had an exclusive interaction with her to learn more about her inspiring journey and how she achieved success against all odds.
JOURNEY SO FAR
Anjali decided to pursue the UPSC journey after she topped her district in Class 10. She began preparing on her own right after completing her 12th in 2016. Over the years, she made a total of four attempts at the UPSC exams.
She had initially planned to take her first attempt in 2020, but due to the outbreak of COVID-19, she postponed it. In her actual first attempt at UPSC CSE 2021, she could not clear the prelims. The same outcome repeated in her second and third attempts in 2022 and 2023.
However, in her fourth attempt, she decided to appear not just for CSE but also for the IFS exam. This time, her determination paid off. She cracked the IFS exam with an impressive All India Rank of 9, and she is now set to become an IFS officer – likely with the Madhya Pradesh cadre due to her high rank.
Speaking about her journey, Anjali shared, “My journey has been full of ups and downs, with many unexpected turns. But I remained adamant about my dedication, and my focus never shifted from UPSC. I think that single-minded determination is the real reason behind my success.”
Defiance. Determination. Triumph
She hails from a deeply conservative and backward area, where restrictions on girls are a part of everyday life. So much so that her marriage was fixed when she was still in Class 10. “My family had decided early on that I should be married off as soon as possible,” she recalls.
Determined to escape that fate, Anjali threw herself into UPSC preparation with unwavering focus. However, societal pressure didn’t ease. The constant push to get married loomed over her – even as she studied.
She remembers 2023 as the most difficult year of her life. “I failed the prelims again, and the pressure to get married became unbearable,” she says. But in that darkest moment, someone stood firmly by her side – her mother.
It was her mother who told her to try one last time. And not just that – she took the boldest step a woman in their society could take: she broke off Anjali’s engagement, going against the entire family and community.
“My mother stood like a wall between me and the world,” Anjali says with emotion. “She told me, ‘Now you will study, and you will not get married until you choose to.’ That was the biggest struggle of all – but it became the turning point in my journey.”
BACKGROUND
She originally hails from Chandrapura village in Rajgarh district, Madhya Pradesh. Her parents were both farmers and worked tirelessly in the fields to support their family. However, tragedy struck in 2023 when she lost her father. Now, her mother and brother continue to manage the farming responsibilities.
Anjali studied up to Class 8 at the village’s primary school. For higher education, she moved to Biaora town in the same district, where she completed her Class 10 – and emerged as the district topper in the board exams. Her academic excellence continued to shine.
After completing her Class 12, she shifted to Indore to pursue higher studies. There, she completed her B.Sc. from Shri Jain Diwakar College in 2019, laying the academic foundation for her UPSC journey.
UPSC PREPARATIONS
Despite coming from a socially and educationally backward area, Anjali was always a bright student and believed strongly in her ability to prepare for the UPSC on her own. Relying primarily on self-study, she began her preparation with NCERT books and developed the habit of making detailed notes. She gradually supplemented her studies with standard reference books, which helped her build a strong conceptual foundation.
After finally cracking the prelims, Anjali shifted her focus to her optional subjects and enrolled in online coaching and mentorship through Planet Geology. She credits this step as a turning point in her preparation. For the IFS, she chose Geology and Forestry as her optional subjects, finding Geology to be especially technical and aligned with her strengths. For the Civil Services Examination (CSE), her optional was Geography.
Her Strategy: Anjali’s approach was simple but deeply focused. She avoided coaching notes and instead relied entirely on standard textbooks. According to her, the UPSC 2024 paper was very diverse, and having broad, conceptual clarity played a crucial role. “The most important part of my strategy,” she says, “was that I gave everything I had to UPSC. I had no distractions. You can call it my dedication-whatever this exam demanded, I gave it.”
She also emphasized the importance of understanding the syllabus thoroughly, solving previous years’ question papers (PYQs), and taking regular mock tests. These practices helped her assess her preparation and fine-tune her strategy in the final stages.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Anjali shared an interesting insight about her interview experience. After facing several setbacks and failures, she found herself becoming a bit spiritually inclined. Before the interview, she read the book The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, which helped her approach the panel with a calm and positive mindset. She says, “Because of this, I went into the interview feeling happy and confident, which made all the difference.”
Anjali entered the interview room with a bright smile, immediately setting a positive tone. She recalled that the interview board was very cordial and welcoming. One of the first questions was about her home district, Rajgarh. When she stumbled on a few questions, the board kindly stepped in to provide explanations and guide her.
The panel also noticed and appreciated her saree, which represented tribal culture – an acknowledgment that added warmth to the conversation.
The board then asked her about Rajgarh’s forests and ecological significance, followed by questions about Madhya Pradesh’s rich wildlife.
One particularly interesting question stood out: despite Madhya Pradesh having extensive forest areas, why do the people – especially in tribal regions – still struggle with educational development? Although Anjali couldn’t answer all the follow-up queries in detail, the board thoughtfully shared their insight, highlighting teacher absenteeism in tribal areas as a major challenge.
ANJALI’S SUGGESTIONS
Giving suggestions to the aspirants, she said, “UPSC holds its prestige because of the immense toughness and dedication it demands. Don’t start preparing just because it sounds impressive or you’ve heard good things about it. Prepare only if you’re ready to invest several years and put in hard work with full commitment.
If you decide to start, first focus on understanding the syllabus thoroughly. There are plenty of online resources available, so coaching is not absolutely necessary. If you have the will and determination, you can definitely succeed on your own.”
