https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How a Father’s Words Ignited an Unconventional Path to UPSC Success

Medha Sinha's UPSC journey is a tale of resilience, guided by her father's wisdom, culminating in triumph as an IFS officer. Read the article…
Indian Masterminds Stories

Medha Sinha’s path to becoming an Indian Forest Service officer (IFS) reads more like a captivating novel than a traditional civil service exam success story. It’s a tale brimming with ambition, resilience, and the unexpected twists that life can throw. Speaking with Indian Masterminds Medha shared about her journey. 

Fresh out of Hindu College, a wide-eyed Medha, like countless others, fell for the allure of the UPSC exam – the “toughest exam” and the gateway to a prestigious career in public service. Armed with a strong academic record, she embarked on her journey, blissfully unaware of the challenges that lay ahead.

FATHER’S SUPPORT

A rude awakening awaited her. Her initial underestimation of the exam’s rigor resulted in a string of failures at the crucial mains stage. Discouraged and questioning her very capabilities, Medha plunged into a period of self-doubt. It was during this dark phase that her father emerged as a beacon of hope. He, recognizing her masked vulnerability, offered a powerful piece of advice: “कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते, मा फलेषु कदाचन्” (focus on your actions, not the fruits). These words from the Bhagavad Gita became her guiding light. “I would have spiraled deeper into this negativity, if not for my father, who has always been my anchor and who saw my fragility despite the facade,” Medha shared. 

Embracing a new approach, Medha diversified her pursuits. She landed a coveted job as a probationary officer (PO) at the State Bank of India (SBI) and even secured a full merit scholarship for an MBA at the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad. In 2022, amidst her MBA studies, success struck again – she cleared the BPSC exam, bagging a rank of 24 and a position in the Bihar Administrative Service (BPSC).

The experience of working in Bihar solidified a crucial realization: public service was indeed her calling. With renewed determination, she returned to the UPSC arena, this time with a wealth of life experiences in tow. “And, so, after all this time, I plucked up my courage and decided to give the exam one more try,” Medha shared with Indian Masterminds

PRELIMS STRATEGY

Medha’s strategy for the UPSC prelims was practice-intensive. She relied heavily on mock tests and foundational books for civil services and diligently followed The Hindu newspaper. Her practice paid off, as she scored 103 in GS1. For CSAT, her finance background helped her avoid extensive preparation, though she acknowledged the increasing difficulty of the section. Her tip for aspirants is to solve previous years’ questions within a time limit.

For the mains, she opted for online coaching for her optional subjects (forestry and geology) due to her work commitments. However, she stresses the importance of developing a clear and visually appealing writing style, incorporating diagrams and charts for enhanced impact.

Medha’s excellence in the general English paper was notable, achieving one of the highest scores. “Incorporating inspirational lines from renowned authors, such as Rabindranath Tagore, can leave a positive impression on examiners, indicating a familiarity with good literature,” she added. 

WISE WORDS 

Her advice to future aspirants resonates with empathy: “Face this exam with confidence; you have it in you.” She acknowledges the shared struggle of UPSC aspirants, offering a message of solidarity and reminding them that the knowledge gained throughout the process is invaluable.

Medha’s triumph, achieved with an All India Rank 13 in the UPSC IFS 2023 exam, is a testament to her spirit and the transformative power of perseverance. It’s a story that transcends mere exam success – it’s a journey of self-discovery, adaptation, and ultimately, achieving one’s true purpose. 

“I realize now how the trials and tribulations of life have forged me into a kinder individual and a better officer. It has been a special journey, and, looking back, I would change nothing about it,” she said in conclusion.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
SBK Singh IPS CP
Delhi Police Commissioner S B K Singh Bans Aerial Platforms from August 2 to 16 for Security Reasons
IPS-logo-resized_new
10 Senior Cops Get New Roles In Bihar Police; DG Jitendra Kumar Gets Additional Charge of B-SAP
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
Jharkhand IFS Rajneesh Kumar Transferred Amid Ongoing Legal Proceedings - Details Inside
Uttar Pradesh UP Government
17 Review Officers Transferred in Uttar Pradesh Secretariat Administration Reshuffle - Details Inside
IFS-forest-resized
6 IFS Officers Transferred in Odisha to Strengthen Environmental Administration, Jagayandatt Pati Made RCCF, Koraput Circle
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
4 Young IAS Officers Reshuffled in Uttarakhand, Rahul Anand Made Joint Magistrate, Dehradun
Odisha Government
Odisha Elevates Two Promising IFS Officers to Senior Time Scale, Strengthening Forest Leadership - Know More About Them
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
SBK Singh IPS CP
Delhi Police Commissioner S B K Singh Bans Aerial Platforms from August 2 to 16 for Security Reasons
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT