On March 6, 2026, celebration spread through the quiet town of Nileshwar in Kerala’s Kasaragod district as Kajal Raju’s UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 result was announced. Her home was filled with calls, visitors, and emotion as the young woman who had spent years chasing one of India’s toughest dreams finally saw her hard work rewarded with All India Rank 167.
For many aspirants, clearing UPSC once is enough. For Kajal, success was never about merely clearing the exam. It was about getting closer to her ultimate goal: becoming an IAS officer. Her story is not simply about rank or recognition; it is about pushing beyond limits, returning stronger after every attempt, and refusing to stop halfway.
GROWING UP WITH CHALLENGES AND COURAGE
Kajal Raju was born and raised in Nileshwar, a town in Kerala known for its simplicity and close-knit community. But her life from the very beginning came with challenges that many cannot imagine. Kajal was born without one forearm, a condition that made even ordinary daily activities more difficult.
Writing, carrying books, eating, and managing daily tasks required adjustments and extra effort. Along with physical challenges came the social realities of growing up differently: curious stares, silent assumptions, and people who often underestimated what she could achieve.
But Kajal never allowed those limitations to define her. Instead, she learned to adapt early. She found her own methods, built her own confidence, and slowly shaped a mindset that focused more on possibilities than obstacles. Somewhere in these formative years, she began dreaming of a life in civil services, a career where she could not only build her own future but also make decisions that impacted others.
THE FIRST STEP INTO UPSC SUCCESS
Kajal’s first major breakthrough came in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022, when she secured an All India Rank of 910. For most candidates, this would have marked the end of a long and exhausting journey. It opened the doors to government service and earned her recognition across Kerala as a differently abled candidate who had cracked one of the toughest examinations in the country.
Her success brought her into the spotlight. She became an inspiring figure in her hometown and beyond. But while others celebrated the achievement as the finish line, Kajal saw it as only the beginning. AIR 910 meant entry into the system, but it was not enough to bring her closer to the service she truly wanted.
She wanted the IAS.
That dream remained alive, and instead of settling, Kajal chose to prepare again.
BALANCING SERVICE AND A BIGGER GOAL
After her earlier rank, Kajal reportedly entered government service and was associated with Indian Railways. At that stage, most aspirants would choose stability. Training, work responsibilities, and a secure future often make people leave the UPSC struggle behind.
Kajal did not.
She balanced professional responsibilities with preparation. Her days likely became a mix of work, revision, answer writing, mock tests, and current affairs. Preparing for UPSC itself is exhausting; preparing while already serving in a government role demands even more discipline and focus.
She continued because she was not just trying for a better rank. She was trying for a dream she had carried for years.
THE QUESTION THAT STAYED WITH HER
During one of her UPSC interviews, Kajal faced a question that likely captured the emotional weight of her journey. The panel asked her, “How hard will it be if you don’t clear the test?”
For many aspirants, that question would touch a nerve. UPSC preparation often comes with emotional stress, uncertainty, and years of sacrifice. Failure can feel deeply personal.
But Kajal had already spent her life learning how to face difficult questions, not just in interview rooms, but in life itself. Her journey had already prepared her to deal with setbacks and return stronger.
And she did return.
Again and again.
FROM AIR 910 TO AIR 167
Years of preparation, lessons from failure, and the experience of already being in service sharpened Kajal’s approach. In her fourth attempt, she turned her dream into a stronger reality by securing All India Rank 167 in UPSC CSE 2025.
This was not just an improvement in numbers. It was proof of growth.
Proof that persistence matters.
Proof that one success should not stop you from aiming higher.
The jump from AIR 910 to AIR 167 transformed her story from an inspiring success to an extraordinary one.
A CANDIDATE WITH DEPTH BEYOND BOOKS
Kajal’s UPSC interview experiences also reflect her wide understanding of issues beyond academics. In her earlier interview, she was reportedly asked about Theyyam, Kerala’s traditional ritual art form, because she had mentioned it in her Detailed Application Form.
In her 2025 interview, the questions were more intense and covered topics like geopolitics, marital rape, and other governance-related issues that required maturity, balance, and clarity of thought.
These are not questions answered through memorisation. They demand perspective, awareness, and judgment… qualities Kajal appears to have developed through both study and life experience.
THE STORY IS STILL BEING WRITTEN
Even after securing AIR 167, Kajal Raju’s story feels unfinished because the dream she has spoken of is still alive. She has not just fought to clear UPSC; she has fought to move closer to becoming an IAS officer.
That is what makes her journey so compelling. It is not only the story of a young woman born without a forearm. It is the story of someone who refused to settle after one success. Refused to stop after one rank. Refused to let limitations become identity.
From the quiet town of Nileshwar to the national stage, Kajal Raju has already inspired countless aspirants. And if her journey so far is any indication, this may only be the beginning.
