13 November 2026
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Rising from Humble Beginnings: The Story of IAS Divya Tanwar

From a small Haryana village to IAS officer, Divya Tanwar’s journey—from losing her father to cracking UPSC twice—inspires countless aspirants to dream big.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Divya Tanwar, a 2022-batch IAS officer, is an inspiring figure for many aspirants dreaming of cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Her journey from a small village in Haryana to serving the nation as an IAS officer is nothing short of remarkable. What makes Divya’s story even more special is her perseverance in overcoming personal and financial challenges to achieve her dreams—not once, but twice.

A VILLAGE DREAMER

Divya Tanwar was born in Nimbi, a village in the Mahendragarh district of Haryana. Her life took a challenging turn when she lost her father in 2011 at the tender age of 8. Her mother, Babita Tanwar, worked tirelessly as a laborer, sewing clothes and working on farms to support her three children. Despite these struggles, Babita encouraged her daughter to aim high, becoming Divya’s pillar of support.

Divya’s academic journey began in a government Hindi-medium school, where she excelled in her studies. She later moved to Navodaya Vidyalaya, known for nurturing bright young minds from rural areas. After completing her schooling, Divya pursued a Bachelor of Science degree at Government Women’s College, Mahendragarh.

BECOMING INDIA’S YOUNGEST IPS OFFICER

With her graduation complete, Divya decided to chase her childhood dream of serving the nation through the civil services. Preparing in a modest room with no access to expensive coaching, she relied on free online resources, test series, and sheer hard work.

In 2021, at just 21 years old, Divya appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination for the first time. Her grit paid off when she secured All India Rank 438, making her India’s youngest IPS officer. The achievement put her in the spotlight, but Divya wasn’t done yet.

THE BIGGER DREAM: JOINING THE IAS

Even as an IPS officer, Divya held on to her ultimate dream: becoming an IAS officer. Managing her responsibilities as an IPS officer, she continued to prepare for another attempt at the UPSC exam.

In 2022, Divya appeared again and achieved AIR 105, earning her place in the coveted Indian Administrative Service. At just 22, she had accomplished what many only dream of, proving that with focus and hard work, one can reach greater heights

BREAKING BARRIERS WITH HINDI MEDIUM

What sets Divya apart is her choice to appear for the UPSC exam in Hindi medium—a decision that inspires thousands of aspirants from rural and non-English backgrounds. Her success challenges the stereotype that only English-medium candidates excel in this examination.

With over 2,25,000 Instagram followers, Divya uses her platform to motivate other aspirants. From sharing study tips to speaking about her journey, she has become a source of inspiration for countless young minds

Divya’s rise from a small village in Haryana to the corridors of power as an IAS officer is a story of hope, hard work, and unshakable resolve. It reminds us that dreams are within reach, no matter where we start.

Get Latest Updates on Indian Bureaucracy News, IAS News, IPS News, IFS News, IRS News, Civil Services Excam News, Judiciary News, State Civil Services News, PSU News


Indian Masterminds Stories
Join our WhatsApp Channel
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Safari Violation
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Issues Notice to Retired IAS Officer’s Son Over Alleged Safari Route Violation
Tamil Nadu Library AI Generated Book Scam
PMO Approves Prosecution of Two Tamil Nadu IAS Officers in ₹98.25-Crore Tender Scam Case 
Mohan Yadav Uttarakhand Visit
CM Mohan Yadav Praises PM Modi's Leadership During Uttarakhand Visit, Highlights India's Global Influence 
telangana-police-resized
Telangana Govt Transfers 21 IPS Officers; Mahesh Bhagwat Appointed Hyderabad Police Commissioner 
AGMUT resized
MHA Transfers IAS Officer Owais Ahmed to Ladakh, Keeps Rakesh Minhas' Transfer on Hold
GAIL KRIBHCO Fertiliser Plant
GAIL and KRIBHCO Sign MoU to Explore 1.27 MMTPA Gas-Based Fertiliser Plant in Andhra Pradesh
pump deep boring ban
Jharkhand to Revive 9,519 Dry Borewells Under VB-G RAM-G Scheme, Boost Rural Employment
cmpdil
CMPDIL Partners with Tata Steel Foundation to Upgrade Technical Education at ITI Tamar 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Five years after Kargil, India sent its cricketing heroes to Pakistan where terrorism posed a deadly threat. The man guarding them, former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Yashovardhan Azad, reveals what all went behind the scenes during that crucial tour. 
Trust No One, Said His Instinct in Pakistan
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
How India Plans to Boost Tourism, Create Jobs and Ease Overcrowding : Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on the Road to 2047
Dr Saket Badola IFS
Beyond Tigers and Safaris: How Corbett Literature Festival Wants to Change the Conservation Conversation
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Aniket Sagar ICoAS
No Coaching, Full-Time Job and Two Attempts: How Aniket Sagar Cleared ICoAS
Aniket Sagar, a chartered accountant from Bundelkhand, cleared UPSC ICoAS 2025 after working at PwC,...
IDAS Himanshu Tembhekar
Should UPSC Aspirants Give Up Their Hobbies? IDAS Officer Himanshu Tembhekar Explains
Should UPSC aspirants give up their hobbies? IDAS officer Himanshu Tembhekar explains how hobbies help...
UPSC Story
He Taught Students to Meet Expenses. Today, Sachin Bhadouria is a Scientist ‘B’ at CWPRS
Sachin Bhadouria overcame financial challenges and a Hindi-medium background to secure AIR 2 in a UPSC...
CSR NEWS
cmpdil
CMPDIL Partners with Tata Steel Foundation to Upgrade Technical Education at ITI Tamar 
The project will modernise training infrastructure with robotic welding technology, digital learning...
NCL CSR Blood Bank Project
NCL Signs ₹1.16 Crore CSR MoU to Establish Blood Bank at District Hospital in Singrauli
The project will fund essential medical equipment, furniture and renovation of the existing building...
REC Foundation Solar Street Light
REC Foundation to Install 350 Solar Street Lights Across Six Districts of West Bengal to Improve Rural Safety 
The CSR initiative, undertaken in partnership with Y4D Foundation, aims to improve night-time safety...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Tripura TPS Officers
Tripura Inducts 3 Senior TPS Officers into IPS, DGP G.S. Rao Confers Insignia at Ceremony
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Safari Violation
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Issues Notice to Retired IAS Officer’s Son Over Alleged Safari Route Violation
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Five years after Kargil, India sent its cricketing heroes to Pakistan where terrorism posed a deadly threat. The man guarding them, former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Yashovardhan Azad, reveals what all went behind the scenes during that crucial tour. 
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Dr Saket Badola IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT