Success stories of the UPSC qualifiers narrated by her father in her childhood days inspired AIR-248 Sushree Suvangi Khuntia to walk on that path herself. Born and brought up in Bhadrak, Odisha, Suvangi cleared UPSC CSE 2022 in her fourth attempt.
Coming from a humble background and the only daughter of her parents, Suvangi had also cleared Odisha Civil Services exam with Rank 97. Her father Satyanarayan Khuntia runs a cyber-café in Bhadrak to earn his livelihood.
After clearing the state service exam, Suvangi was undergoing training at the Collector’s office in Bhadrak, where she made up her mind to start preparing for UPSC examination.
Unfortunately, in her first three attempts, she couldn’t clear the prelims. However, her dream to become an IAS officer came true in UPSC CSE 2022, where she managed to clear all the stages and bagged AIR 248.
THE MOMENT
Suvangi got a call from one of her friends who told her that she got selected for the Indian Administrative Service. She checked the results in complete disbelief and her happiness knew no bounds when she saw her name in the list. Not only she, but her entire family was on cloud nine thereafter! “On getting the news, tears of joy rolled down from my father’s cheeks,” she said.
STUDIED WITH RCA
Residential Coaching Academy at Jamia Milia Islamia greatly helped Suvangi to fulfil her dream. She says that the academy gives one the most appropriate environments to study and stay focused.
“Particularly it helped me in time management, as one studies with officers who have cleared the exam once and reappear, and they tell you what not to do. That is the most important part. One has to know what to leave,” she shared with Indian Masterminds.
LIFE AT RCA
Describing life at the academy, she says that it was her best period in the last 26 years. According to her, the beautiful campus helps one de-stress as there are other people who share their struggle, support emotionally, morally and understand the journey. “So, it helped me to stay calm and to strengthen my focus,” she mentioned.
She further said that that RCA is the epitome of Ganga Jamuna Tehzeeb and for her, it was like a home away from home.
THANKFUL TO CLASSMATES
RCA, which provides free training to people, was a blessing for Suvangi who comes from a middle-class family and could not have afforded expensive private coaching.
“It was an amazing and enriching experience,” she exclaimed. All through her UPSC journey, her classmates helped her in strategizing the entire preparation schedule. She and her classmates discussed in groups, scheduled answer writing sessions that helped her tremendously. “I am very much obliged to them,” she added.
With sheer determination and dedication, she overcame all obstacles on her path and reached the zenith of success. Now she wishes to serve the downtrodden at the grassroot level and bring a meaningful change in their lives. “If given an opportunity, I would prefer to work in the Education Department,” she added.
