https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Reet Sundaram: A Tale of Tenacity, Triumph, and Transformation in Civil Services

Reet Sundaram's relentless seven-year journey from five years of continuous failures to clearing multiple prestigious exams, including UPSC and BPSC, stands as a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and strategic preparation.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Reet Sundaram’s story is one of resilience, determination, and an unwavering dream to serve her country. After five consecutive years of heartbreak in the fiercely competitive civil services examinations, Reet transformed her setbacks into stepping stones. With grit and a strategic approach, she not only cleared the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2021 but also aced several other tough competitive exams, including UPPCS and BPSC. She secured 21st rank in the reserve list and was selected for the Indian Post and Telecommunications Finance and Accounts Service. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and self-belief.

“For five years, I faced failure after failure,” Reet shared on a media platform, her voice steady with resolve. “But every time I fell, I got back up, determined to find out where I went wrong and how I could improve.”

A HUMBLE BEGINNING IN SAHARSA

Reet’s journey began in the small district of Saharsa, Bihar, where she was born into a family that valued education deeply. Her mother, a state services officer, and her father, a dedicated tutor, instilled in her a love for learning. Growing up in an environment where academic excellence was celebrated, Reet excelled in her studies and harboured dreams of making a difference through public administration.

After completing her formal education, she began working in a well-paying job at TCS. However, the allure of corporate success couldn’t overshadow her calling. “I wanted to be part of policy-making and contribute to India’s development at the highest level,” she says. In pursuit of this dream, she left her secure job and moved to Delhi to prepare for the civil services examination.

BATTLING SETBACKS

Reet’s initial attempts at the UPSC examination were met with disappointment. Each year, she fell short, grappling with the intense competition and vast syllabus. “I thought being a good student would make it easier, but I was unprepared for the unique challenges of this exam,” Reet admits. The failures were demoralizing, but they also pushed her to analyze her weaknesses and refine her approach.

She diversified her efforts, attempting exams like UPPCS, BPSC, and others. These experiences broadened her understanding of competitive exams and provided valuable insights into different formats and expectations. Gradually, Reet’s persistence began to pay off. She cleared the UPPCS in 2019 and followed it up with success in the 2020 edition. Her confidence grew with every triumph, setting the stage for her ultimate goal: cracking the UPSC.

THE WINNING STRATEGY

Reet attributes her eventual success to a combination of self-discipline, strategic planning, and effective time management. She meticulously prepared for the preliminary exams, focusing on mastering the core subjects of history, polity, and current affairs. She supplemented her preparation with practice papers and previous years’ question banks.”I realized the importance of consistency,” Reet explains.

“You don’t have to be perfect every day, but you need to show up, put in the effort, and trust the process.”For the mains, Reet chose anthropology as her optional subject, dedicating months to perfecting her understanding of the syllabus and developing her answer-writing skills. Regular discussions with peers and mentors helped her refine her perspective, while practice tests improved her speed and accuracy. By the time she faced the interview stage, Reet had not only built an impressive knowledge base but also developed the confidence to present her ideas with clarity.

GIVING BACK AND INSPIRING OTHERS

Reet’s success story is not just about personal achievement but also about inspiring others. She often shares her strategies and lessons learned with aspirants, emphasizing the importance of patience and resilience. “This journey taught me that success is not always linear,” she reflects. “Every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow.”

Today, as an IAS officer, Reet is living her dream of shaping policies and making a meaningful impact. Her journey from Saharsa to the corridors of power is a beacon of hope for countless aspirants across the country. It reminds them that with determination and the right mindset, no dream is too distant to achieve.


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