https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

If Motivation is in Right Place, Nothing Can Obstruct Success, says this Topper who Joined IAS After Marriage

Indian Masterminds Stories

No doubt UPSC CSE is one of the most difficult exams in our country, where even after giving 100%, there is a significant chance that you’ll still fail due to several factors. However, IAS officer Saumya Gururani is of the view that failing after preparing for this exam also counts as a success, because it is not the success but the failures in life that shape your personality and help you mature in life. The advantage of CSE preparation is that, along with life lessons, aspirants gain so much knowledge and awareness, which will help them succeed in life sooner or later. 

Ms. Gururani, who is currently posted as Joint Magistrate in Prayagraj, UP, got the success she was looking for after three attempts in CSE. She secured a rank (AIR 30) that would get her into IAS in her fourth attempt in 2018. In 2016, she had secured AIR 148 and had joined IPS. 

WHY UPSC CSE?

Hailing from Almora, Uttarakhand, Ms. Gururani did her schooling from her hometown and then went to College of Engineering, Roorkee. She got campus placement in Infosys but was not able to come to terms with spending her whole life in front of a system. So, after exploring several options, she quit the job to prepare for UPSC CSE. 

While speaking on a media platform, she said, “UPSC CSE seemed a good option to me because it provides you a tremendous opportunity to serve the society. My parents also wanted me to go for this exam as I was a good student from the beginning.”

UNDERESTIMATED THE EXAM

Initially, she thought that it is not difficult to crack the exam or even get a good rank based on her earlier academic performances. In the first attempt, she reached till Mains and in the second attempt she couldn’t even clear the Prelims. These consecutive failures devastated her and pushed her towards self-doubts. At this point, her parents and friends came to her rescue and provided the mental and emotional support she needed. 

“I had, maybe, underestimated the exam, so I pulled up my socks and was ready to give everything for it. Secondly, these failures made me strong and I felt more mature to deal with every situation,” said Ms. Gururani. 

Finally, all her determination paid off and she became an IPS officer by securing the 148 rank in UPSC CSE 2016. Shortly after this, she got married, and while everything was going good for her, she felt the urge to try again to reach her ultimate goal, IAS.

MARRIAGE CAN’T OBSTRUCT SUCCESS 

She secured AIR 30 in UPSC CSE 2018

There is a common belief that life becomes different after marriage for a girl. It seems almost impossible to attempt for any exam with all the responsibilities that comes with marriage. However, Ms. Gururani believes otherwise. She thinks that if you are motivated enough to work hard, then nothing can obstruct success. 

“I believe that a girl needs the support of family and spouse for excelling in her career. But, nothing is impossible even after marriage. I got the support from the family and felt that my motivation was in the right place. You can see that I performed my best after the wedding,” she said.

She advises every aspirant to follow their heart and give their 100% to the preparation without thinking about the result, because nothing ever goes wasted.  


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
supreme-court-4
SCBA Raises Alarm Over Delhi LG’s Notification Allowing Police to Give Evidence at Police Stations-Know more
justice-photo
UP CM Yogi Adityanath Stresses Accessible, Swift Justice and Announces ₹50 Crore Fund to Strengthen Judiciary- Details Inside
Rampage missile
Indian Defence Gets a Boost as IAF Orders Rampage Missiles Following Operation Sindoor; DRDO Demonstrates Next-Gen UAV-Launched Weaponry
Degree with IAS
Dr. Lankapalli Bullayya College Launches Innovative ‘Degree with IAS’ Programme to Help Students Prepare for Civil Services
bihar
Bihar on Fast Track: PM Modi and CM Nitish Unveil Rs13,000 Cr Mega Development Push in Bodh Gaya- Details Inside
Oil India legal workshop
Oil India (OIL) Conducts Legal Awareness Workshop on Contractual Disputes, Launches Vigilance Campaign
(ACB) Court in Ranchi
Jharkhand Liquor Scam: Retired IAS Officer Amit Prakash, Chhattisgarh Businessman Granted Bail - Know More
Department of Justice India
Change in Justice Ministry: IAS RK Goyal to Retire, Niraj Verma to Assume Charge
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
supreme-court-4
SCBA Raises Alarm Over Delhi LG’s Notification Allowing Police to Give Evidence at Police Stations-Know more
justice-photo
UP CM Yogi Adityanath Stresses Accessible, Swift Justice and Announces ₹50 Crore Fund to Strengthen Judiciary- Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT