https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Cambridge Scholar Pranita Dash Bid London Goodbye to Serve Her Nation

Indian Masterminds Stories

Growing up in a small town of Odisha called Baripada, Ms. Pranita Das had always been empathetic towards people with lower income. She used to urge her parents and family members to give money to domestic helps and guards. During one such instance, when she was insisting that her uncle give money to someone, he told her that if she really wants to help them, then she should become a civil servant. This stayed on her mind and she made UPSC her goal. 

Even though life took her to London, she came back to India to fulfill her dream, and cracked UPSC CSE 2022 with an impressive AIR 42. 

TWO WORLDS

Ms. Das did her schooling from Baripada which is part of the Mayurbhanj district, which has a significant tribal population, 5th and then moved to Bhubaneswar. This transition helped her to see the stark inequality in our society. Speaking to Indian Mastermindsshe said, “It was the first time I really saw how two places can be totally different. While people were struggling for basic amenities in my town, the lifestyle in Bhubaneswar was fairly comfortable.” 

This made her resolve to join civil services even firmer. After finishing 12th from Bhubaneswar and graduating in Economic from St. Xavier’s Kolkata, the time came for her to decide between preparing for UPSC CSE or go for Master’s. Around the same time, she got a scholarship for Master’s in Economics from the University of London. She went, and at that very time, Covid hit and the world came to a standstill. This gave her ample time to start her UPSC preparation. 

STARTED TO DOUBT HERSELF 

She gave her first attempt in 2020. She was not prepared fully, so couldn’t clear Prelims. In 2021, she missed the Prelims by just two marks. These failures made her doubt herself, but her family kept motivating her and boosting her confidence. 

However, she was now unsure about a career in civil services. So, as a backup, she applied for M.Phil in Cambridge University, and got in. “My goal was to be part of policy making. Other than civil services, academia can also provide such an opportunity. Besides that, I like research, so I opted for it,” she said.

Before going to Cambridge, she had given her 2022 CSE attempt, and this time, she cracked both the Prelims and Mains. After giving the Mains, she had to immediately leave for Cambridge. It was here that she prepared for the interview while, at the same time, continuing with her studies. About juggling both, she said, “I devoted fixed time to both. The morning was for M.Phil and evening was for CSE. I tried to stick to that routine. This helped, and I believe anyone in such a situation can get through with a proper routine,” she said.

CRACKING ANSWER WRITING CODE 

After Prelims, most aspirants struggle with answer writing. Too much knowledge won’t work if it’s not executed on paper properly. To tackle that issue, she advised, “First thing that one should remember is, don’t go deep into any topic. Have basic understanding and facts. And, always support your answer with examples and graphs.” She said that it didn’t come to her naturally. Only after going through the process, she learned. 

IT’S OK TO FAIL 

She further said that each one has their own journey and should focus on that. Others can only provide guidance. She wants everybody to get used to the idea that it’s okay to fail. If one is passionate about civil services, they should learn from failures also, and put in the hard work. Even after that, if they don’t make it, then civil services is not the only way to serve the society, she said. “There are too many options and opportunities, using which, you can be an asset for our society and the country.”


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