https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Didn’t Join IPS Twice to Become an IAS Officer

Nidhi Bansal from Morena, MP, refused to join IPS after getting selected for it twice, as she wanted IAS. Instead of joining IPS, she decided to prepare herself better to get a top rank to get into IAS. She did the right thing, as she was selected to IAS after securing AIR 23 in CSE 2019.
Indian Masterminds Stories

She was selected to IPS twice, yet Nidhi Bansal did not stop chasing her dream of becoming an IAS officer. She refused to join IPS and chose to keep preparing for another shot at IAS, instead. And she did right, as she made it to her dream service by securing AIR 23 in the Civil Services Exam of 2019.

No doubt, her journey to IAS was long and difficult. She made five attempts at CSE and cleared it three times. But every time, her dream service eluded her because her ranks did not make her eligible for IAS.

It was only in her fifth attempt that she managed to enter IAS, and that too convincingly, by coming in the list of toppers with AIR 23. Indian Masterminds presents her story today – the story of a small-town girl with big dreams.

NOT MEANT FOR CODING

Ms. Bansal is from Morena town in Madhya Pradesh. After completing 12th standard, she got selected to NIT Trichy and completed her B.Tech in Computer Science. She then got a placement in Texas Instrumental with a fat package in Bangalore.

While she was working there, she realised that she was not meant for coding.  She was not able to connect with the work and was not satisfied with what she was doing with her life. Her father being a businessman and mother a homemaker, were unable to give her much advice about her career. But one of her uncles suggested to her to try for UPSC.

In an interview with media, she had said that until then, she didn’t know how many services would be available after clearing UPSC exam. When she researched about that, she made up her mind about becoming an IAS officer one day.

GOING FOR IAS

She quit her job and started preparation. First two attempts were futile, but she didn’t give up. “After the failures, I realised what I was doing wrong. Despite being good in Mathematics, I chose Sociology for my optional without any reasonable reason. I changed that and it really helped me.”

In 2016 and 2017, she made it to the IPS lists and was allotted Tripura and Jharkhand cadre, respectively. Normally one takes the services available, but Nidhi was different. This was not meant to be the culmination of her efforts. She wanted to become an IAS officer and didn’t want to give up after coming this close.

LUCK SMILES ON THE BRAVE

In 2019, she made another go at the Civil Services Exam, and this time, she cleared it with flying colours and secured the All India 23rd rank. She was finally selected for her dream service: IAS, thereby showing how the combined power of will and determination can work magic on our dreams.

However, her advice to UPSC aspirants is not to forfeit their selection to any service, unless they, like her, have absolute confidence in their capabilities.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CANSSEA
Nagaland Govt Employees Protest Non-SCS IAS Induction, Demand Meritocracy and Transparency in Recruitment
CM Yogi Adityanath
UP: Yogi Adityanath Targets Mafia Raj in Bihar, Promises Development and Security Ahead of Elections
Yogi Adityanath sugarcane revolution
Eight Years, 122 Mills, ₹2.9 Lakh Crore Paid: Yogi’s Sugarcane Revolution Explained — Here’s What Changed
mohan yadav
Madhya Pradesh Pioneers PPP-Mode Medical Colleges: Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav Leads Healthcare Expansion
Pushkar Singh Dhami CM
Uttarakhand’s New Development Rules: Ground-Level Survey to Replace Aerial Distance for Construction Approval
CM Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumar’s Unique Path to Power: Bihar’s Chief Minister Who Chose Governance Over Elections
Naval Bravery Museum Lucknow
CM Yogi Adityanath Fast-Tracks Construction of 'Naval Bravery Museum' in Lucknow to Honor Indian Navy's Legacy
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
From Gun Barrels to Growth: 51 Maoists Surrender in Bastar Under CM Vishnu Deo Sai’s Rehabilitation and Peace Policy
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Former IAS Anil Swarup
Former IAS Anil Swarup Reveals His Secrets of Success
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CANSSEA
Nagaland Govt Employees Protest Non-SCS IAS Induction, Demand Meritocracy and Transparency in Recruitment
CM Yogi Adityanath
UP: Yogi Adityanath Targets Mafia Raj in Bihar, Promises Development and Security Ahead of Elections
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Former IAS Anil Swarup
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT