Indian Masterminds presents the second instalment of its exclusive series on UPSC Rank 1 toppers from 1990 onwards, chronicling the journeys of those who stood first in India’s toughest examination and went on to shape the nation’s governance. This chapter focuses on the trailblazers of the early 2000s—the UPSC Civil Services Examination toppers from 2001 to 2005—officers who entered public service at a transformative moment in India’s administrative evolution.
Behind these top ranks lie years of quiet discipline, moments of self-doubt, family sacrifices, and an unrelenting belief in service over self. These are stories not merely of marks and merit lists, but of resilience—of choosing public purpose over personal comfort, and perseverance over certainty. Their journeys remind aspirants that the path to Rank 1 is as much an inner battle as it is an academic pursuit.
From Alok Ranjan Jha, AIR 1 of 2001, who today represents India on the global stage as its Ambassador to Belarus and incoming High Commissioner to Zambia, to Ankur Garg, the youngest topper of 2002, now serving as Chief Secretary to the Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu; from Roopa Mishra, the 2003 topper and trailblazing woman officer currently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to S. Nagarajan, AIR 1 of 2004, presently Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Tamil Nadu, and Mona Pruthi (Mona Sreenivas), the 2005 topper now posted as Additional Resident Commissioner at Haryana Bhavan—each of these officers represents a distinct story of perseverance, intellect, and service.
Together, their journeys capture not just individual excellence, but the evolving face of India’s bureaucracy in the first decade of the new millennium.
Alok Ranjan Jha
Alok Ranjan Jha is a senior Indian Foreign Service officer of the 2002 batch and a distinguished diplomat who secured All India Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2001. Currently, he has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Zambia, and at present he is serving as the Ambassador of India to Belarus. Hailing from Bihar, his journey from academic excellence to global diplomacy reflects a rare blend of intellect, vision, and commitment to public service.
Read Also: Who Are the UPSC Rank 1 Toppers from 1996 to 2000? Careers and Postings Explained
Mr. Jha completed his schooling at St. Michael’s High School, Patna, before moving to Delhi for higher studies. He pursued his graduation and post-graduation in Political Science from Hindu College, University of Delhi, and later earned an MPhil in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Before entering the civil services, he also served as a faculty member at Hindu College, teaching political science, an experience that strengthened his analytical thinking and deepened his understanding of governance and international relations.
In 2001, he achieved the highest rank in one of India’s toughest competitive examinations, the UPSC Civil Services Examination. While many toppers opt for the Indian Administrative Service, Alok Ranjan Jha chose the Indian Foreign Service, driven by a desire to represent India on the global stage and contribute directly to the country’s foreign policy and international engagement.
Over the years, his diplomatic career has involved significant responsibilities, including postings that required handling complex international relations, consular affairs, and strategic cooperation. He has also served as the Consul General of India in St. Petersburg, Russia, further strengthening India’s diplomatic and cultural ties abroad.
Alok Ranjan Jha’s journey from UPSC topper to seasoned diplomat stands as an inspiration for civil services aspirants, highlighting how excellence in academics and a clear sense of purpose can translate into impactful service for the nation at the international level.
Ankur Garg
Ankur Garg is a distinguished IAS officer of the 2002 batch (AGMUT cadre) and the All India Rank 1 holder of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2002. An IIT Delhi graduate, he created history by clearing the examination in his very first attempt at the age of just 22, becoming one of the youngest IAS officers in the country. Born on June 14, 1980, in Patiala, Punjab, Ankur Garg comes from a family of medical professionals, with his father Dr. K. C. Garg being a plastic surgeon and his mother Parveen Garg a child specialist at Government Rajindra Hospital.
He completed his BTech in Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, in 2002. As part of his academic journey, he also studied at INSA, Lyon, France, as an exchange student during his third year and undertook a three-month internship at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland. Despite receiving lucrative private-sector job offers, he chose public service, driven by a childhood dream of becoming an IAS officer and contributing to nation-building.
In the Civil Services Examination, Ankur Garg opted for Physics and Chemistry as his optional subjects, reflecting his long-standing interest in the sciences. Although confident of securing a top rank, even he was surprised to emerge as the national topper. He joined the IAS in 2003 and was allotted the AGMUT cadre, which covers Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories, a cadre often preferred for its diverse administrative exposure and frequent postings in Delhi.
Over the years, Ankur Garg has held several key administrative positions across the country. He is currently serving as the Chief Secretary to the Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, a role that places him at the helm of governance in the Union Territory. His journey from IIT classrooms to the top of India’s civil services continues to inspire countless aspirants across the nation.
Roopa Mishra
Roopa Mishra is a senior IAS officer of the 2004 batch from the Odisha cadre and currently serves as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, where she has recently received a one-year extension on her central deputation beyond February 2, 2025. She is widely regarded as a trailblazer in Indian civil services for creating history in 2003 by securing All India Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her very first attempt. With this achievement, she became the first woman from Odisha and the first married woman in the country to top the prestigious examination.
Born on June 9, 1977, in Angul, Odisha, Roopa Mishra demonstrated academic excellence from an early age. She completed her schooling at St. Joseph’s Girls High School, Cuttack, and DAV Public School, Bhubaneswar. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Commerce degree from BJB College, followed by an MBA in Business Administration from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. Proficient in English, Hindi, and Odia, she combined strong academic grounding with administrative aptitude.
At the time of her UPSC preparation, Mishra was working with the Distance Education Department of Utkal University. Encouraged by her husband, Anshuman Tripathi, an alumnus of IIM Calcutta, she prepared alongside her professional responsibilities and achieved an exceptional result in her first attempt. For the Civil Services Examination, she chose Psychology and Public Administration as her optional subjects, aligning her interests with governance and public policy.
Over the course of her career, Roopa Mishra has held several key administrative positions at both state and central levels, including roles as Deputy Collector, District Magistrate, and senior leadership positions in health and urban governance. Her tenure as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has been marked by a focus on ethical governance, policy implementation, and urban development reforms.
Roopa Mishra’s journey from Angul to the highest ranks of India’s bureaucracy stands as a powerful symbol of determination, discipline, and empowerment, inspiring generations of civil services aspirants across the country.
S. Nagarajan
S. Nagarajan is a senior IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre who has recently been transferred as Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Government of Tamil Nadu. Known for his academic brilliance and administrative depth, Nagarajan cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2004 after four attempts, ultimately securing the top rank and emerging as one of the most inspiring success stories among civil services aspirants.
A native of Tamil Nadu, Nagarajan completed his schooling at Chinmaya Vidyalaya, where he excelled in Computer Science with distinction, scoring 95.4 percent between 1994 and 1996. He went on to pursue Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, graduating between 1996 and 2000 with an impressive CGPA of 3.8. Driven by a strong inclination towards public service, he began preparing seriously for the civil services soon after graduation. His UPSC journey was marked by perseverance—he reached the interview stage in his first attempt, was selected for the Indian Railways in his second attempt, and finally achieved his goal in his fourth attempt by topping the examination.
During his preparation, Nagarajan initially chose Physics and Geography as optional subjects but later refined his strategy by opting for Geography and Sociology. His family played a strong role in shaping his discipline and work ethic. His father, N. Sreenivasan, served as a Divisional Engineer with BSNL, while his mother, Vani, worked as a personal assistant to the Deputy General Manager in BSNL. His brother is a chemical engineer.
Over the years, Nagarajan has held several key administrative positions, including District Collector of Vellore, Kanyakumari, and Theni, Director of e-Governance in Chennai, and senior roles in rural development and district administration. He has also pursued higher studies in public policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. His journey reflects resilience, strategic preparation, and a sustained commitment to public service.
Mona Pruthi
Mona Pruthi, now known as Mona Sreenivas, is a distinguished 2005-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre and currently serves as the Additional Resident Commissioner at Haryana Bhavan. An academic at heart and an administrator by profession, her journey to the top of the Civil Services is marked by perseverance, scholarship, and quiet determination.
Born on January 1, 1978, in Faridabad, Haryana, Mona Pruthi is the youngest of three sisters. Her father, late N. L. Pruthi, was an Additional Sessions Judge who nurtured a deep aspiration to see his daughter become an IAS officer. Although he passed away in March 2006, shortly after her selection, his encouragement played a formative role in shaping her ambitions. Her mother stood firmly by her side throughout her journey, while her two elder sisters went on to become college lecturers in Delhi and Gurugram.
Mona Pruthi completed her schooling at Apeejay Public School, Faridabad, and went on to pursue a BA (Honours) in English Literature from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi. She topped her college and later completed her MA and M.Phil in English Literature from Delhi University. She began her professional career as an English lecturer at Maharaja Agrasen College, Delhi University, where she taught for three years.
She appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination while still closely connected to academics. After missing success in her first attempt, she was selected for the Indian Revenue Service in her second attempt in 2004 and trained with the Customs and Excise Department. Undeterred, she appeared once again and achieved an extraordinary feat by securing All India Rank 1 in the Civil Services Examination 2005, with English Literature and Sociology as her optional subjects.
Mona Pruthi is married to A. Sreenivas, a 2004-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre, who currently serves as CEO of the Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority. Her journey stands as a powerful example of resilience, intellectual depth, and unwavering commitment to public service.
