https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Meet S Awasthy, Daughter of a Construction Labourer, Who Cleared UPSC in Her 4th Attempt

S Awasthy, whose father was a construction worker, managed to clear UPSC CSE despite many challenges on the way up The girl from Thiruvanamthapuram bagged AIR 481 in her fourth attempt Her father Premkumar P says that his daughter has made them all proud by her achievement
Indian Masterminds Stories

S Awasthy from Thiruvanamthapuram cleared UPSC Civil Services Examination in her fourth attempt. Her success assumes more significance because she comes from a very humble background. Her father was a construction worker and Awasthy had to overcome many challenges on her way up. It’s said success comes to those who never give up and believe in themselves, and this applies very well to her. She cracked CSE in 2020 in her fourth attempt.

Today, Indian Masterminds brings to you her inspirational story of not letting a humble background and three failures to come in the way of achieving her desired goal.

BACKGROUND

Awasthy S comes from Thiruvanamthapuram. Her father Premkumar P was a construction worker and mother Sreelatha P a homemaker. Her younger brother P Arun now works in an IT firm.

Ever since she was in class 8, Awasthy nurtured the dream of becoming an IAS officer. After her schooling, she opted for engineering and graduated from Government Barton Hill Enginneering College in Thiruvanamthapuram.

After her post-graduation, Awasthy secured a job in TCS in the year 2015. While doing her 9-7 job, she simultaneously prepared for her UPSC examination. In 2017, she realised that to clear UPSC, she had to work harder, day and night, and so she quit her corporate job to dedicate all her time to preparation.

NEVER-SAY-DIE ATTITUDE

Awasthy was unable to clear even the preliminary examinations in her first three attempts. However, she didn’t lose hope. Instead, she worked harder to achieve her dream. After the three failures, she analysed the pros and cons and evaluated where she was going wrong. Apart from this, she also practised her writing more and improved her content formation. After working on her weaknesses, Awasthy finally cleared CSE in her fourth attempt.

After clearing the exam, she told the media, “It was my fourth attempt at civil services examination. The last three times, I could not clear the preliminary exams and I was a little anxious. To crack the examination, I focused on writing practice and maximum content improvisation, so that I could present my content well in the papers.” 

FIFTH ATTEMPT

Awasthi didn’t hope to clear in her fourth attempt because of her three previous failures. But she didn’t give up and reached the milestone. Awasthy had said at that time that as she cleared her examination with AIR 481, she would get Indian Revenue Service. But her aim was to become an IAS officer and, therefore, she would make one more attempt at UPSC.

“Though I am happy that I cleared the examination, I may get IRS. As my dream is to become an IAS officer, I am preparing for the exam again.”

PROUD FATHER

Her father Premkumar P said that his daughter’s achievement has made him and the family proud. “I am proud of my daughter. She studied and cleared an examination like UPSC under difficult circumstances. She is hardworking and was excellent in studies since her school days.”

Awasthy’s is the perfect example of a never-say-die attitude. Her courageous spirit kept her going till the time the results of CSE were announced and she found her name in the coveted list of successful candidates. That same spirit is urging her on to give the exam again to get IAS. Her story should encourage all those who get bogged down by failures and make them realise that ‘you never fail until you stop trying’.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Set to Promote Two IPS Officers to Director General of Police
Complaint
Complaint Filed Against Senior IPS Officer for Sending Inappropriate Messages
Jammu and Kashmir Government
Three IAS Officers Assigned New Postings in J&K; Check Names Here
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
Senior IAS Officer Rajendra Ratnoo Opts for Voluntary Retirement
SEBI
SEBI Appoints 3 New Executive Directors: Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey & Sanjay Purao Take Charge
Lateral_entry_resized
No Reservation in Lateral Govt Job Entries, Centre Tells Rajya Sabha Citing Single-Post Rule
DelhiPolice
Top-Level Shake-Up in Delhi Police: 3 IPS Officers Reassigned Amid Security Concerns; Chahal Named DG, Civil Defence
mp
MP’s ₹3 Lakh Crore Infrastructure Boom: 255 km Greenfield Highway, ₹5,500 Cr Tiger Corridor Among Key Road Projects
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
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Set to Promote Two IPS Officers to Director General of Police
Complaint
Complaint Filed Against Senior IPS Officer for Sending Inappropriate Messages
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