https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Prioritizing Mental Health in Civil Services Journey

Anjani Yadav cracked UPPCS-23 in her second attempt with Rank 12 Before joining the Civil Services, she worked in the private sector for five years Her journey was a roller coaster ride as she faced issues with her mental health during her preparation
Indian Masterminds Stories

Every civil service aspirant’s journey is a narrative of personal hardship. However, SDM Ajnani Yadav’s tale demonstrates why it is important to prioritize mental wellness. We frequently refuse to take note of it, and it eventually catches up with us, causing serious health problems. Anjani Yadav’s civil service path has been an emotional roller coaster ride.

She started preparing for government examinations and failed. She then went into the private sector, but after 5 years, she felt a strong desire to return to the service and began preparing. Unfortunately, she failed again. Because of these episodes, she had to deal with a lot of stress, which had an affect on her emotional and mental well-being. However, she bravely fought everything and successfully cracked the UPPCS with top rank. She will soon become an SDM and is currently undergoing training.

Speaking exclusively with Indian Masterminds, Ms Anjani Yadav narrated her emotional and inspirational journey. 

Anjani Yadav with her father

JOURNEY SO FAR

Ms. Yadav graduated (B. Tech.) in June 2014. Following that, she prepared for the Government Assistant Engineer exam but was unable to pass. Then, in 2016, she entered the IT industry, where she worked until 2021.

She began her UPPCS preparation in 2021, after leaving her job at an MNC. However, she failed to crack even the preliminary exams in UPPCS-2021.

In her second attempt at UPPCS-2021, she achieved Rank 12 and will now become SDM.

Meanwhile, she also cracked the UPPCL-2022 exam and got posted as an Executive Assistant in Sultanpur in 2023. 

She said, “My struggle is a little different. I faced many failures and had to fight many unhidden fears. But I discovered my problems and sought their solutions.”

Anjani Yadav with her mother (left)

MENTAL STRUGGLE

She considers mental health to be the most difficult aspect of her struggle. She believes that many in our society simply refuse to care for their mental health and emotions, even though this is the biggest battle.

BACKGROUND

She is from Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh. Her father works for the Jail Police, while her mother is a homemaker. She has an older sister who is a deputy jailer.

She did her basic education till 12th grade at Lucknow Public School in Lucknow. After that, she did her B.Tech in Electrical from Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology, Ghaziabad.

Getting felicitated after cracking UPPCS 23 with Rank 12

UPPCS PREPARATION 

Her preparation can be divided into two stages. The first part focused on self-study at home using online materials. When her basics were completed, she was transferred to Prayagraj for additional preparation and began coaching for the Test Series.

In her perspective, the three most crucial resources for this exam are the syllabus, PYQs, and mock tests. She first understood the syllabus, then solved PYQs and gave as many mock tests as she could.

She said, “More than finding a strategy for this exam, one should try to focus on the basics and conceptual clarity. After having a better understanding of concepts, focus on PYQs. You will get all the details of questions that are about to come up in exams from PYQs. Never deviate from that. Even coaching could not provide such help that PYQs give.”

She relied on test series for prelims and mains and suggested the same for every aspirant. Resources should be limited, only read from a few materials, she implies.  

Days of working in UPPCL

INTERVIEWS

Her interview was good, but she was grilled thoroughly. The majority of questions that she was asked were from her technical background and were situational-based.

Should Artificial Intelligence (AI) be brought to India or not? Would it be beneficial for India? How will AI affect the jobs in India, which has a large population?

What can AI do to improve agriculture, and how can it aid farmers? Which problem in India can be solved through solid waste management? Here are a few intriguing questions she was asked.

One of the members asked her, “If, as an SDM, you are posted at Kumbh Mela, then, how would you use Solid Waste Management.”

Another asked, “Are menstrual leave demands justified or not, as we are also demanding the right to equality?”

She said, “For interviews, aspirants should focus on their confidence level. Never fake it; rather, simply deny it if you don’t know something. There is no necessity of giving all questions’ answers.”

Beautiful Smile of Success: Ms Anjani Yadav

MESSAGE 

Giving her message, she said, “Consistency is the key. Avoid social media. Focus on challenges and limitations. Always remember your strengths and weaknesses, and prepare accordingly. You will be able to do it.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
Mohan Yadav
MP CM Mohan Yadav Pushes for Sustainable, Community-Driven Rural Water Policy; Targets 100% Tap Coverage by March 2027
Ajay Bhadoo IAS
IAS Ajay Bhadoo Gets Extended Term as DGFT - What It Means & His Career Journey
THDCIL_Receives_ABMS_Certification_for_Integrity_and_Transparency
THDC India (THDCIL) Awarded ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Certification by BIS - Details Inside
Ministry of Environment
Environment Ministry Clarifies Petrol Vehicle Tender, Cites E-Vehicle Flexibility
Bokaro Steel Plant
PESB Selects Priya Ranjan to Head Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL’s Key Production Unit
REC Limited wins ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC (DNA) Awards
REC Limited Bags ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC Awards
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
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
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