Great scientist Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which have been opened for us.” This was true for the hero of our story, whose life took a dramatic turn at one point.
Vennam Anusha had exhausted all her attempts at the UPSC CSE and found herself at a crossroads, deeply disappointed with life. It felt as though the world had come to an end for her. But just when she thought all hope was lost, a ray of light appeared, and a new door opened. What happened next would change Anusha’s life forever.
Anusha was always a brilliant student, consistently topping her class until the 12th grade. However, a personal tragedy struck her life when she lost her father. This loss shook her to the core, leaving her in a state of despair. The emotional toll was so overwhelming that she struggled to even crack the exams needed for admission to college. Yet, her dreams were grand, and her unyielding perseverance kept her going. Despite the setbacks, she never gave up.
This year, her relentless dedication bore fruit – she secured an All India Rank of 73 in the UPSC-2023 exam and became an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer.
Indian Masterminds had the opportunity to interview Ms. Anusha and learn more about her inspiring journey. “My journey was a bumpy road, full of lows and a few highs,” she shared. “Many people think intelligence is the key to success, but I believe it’s perseverance. It’s about how you navigate the lows and keep moving forward.”
NO HOPE & A CLOSE SHAVE
Anusha began her UPSC preparation during her graduation and took her first attempt in 2015. However, she skipped the exam in 2016 due to her job commitments. In 2017, she gave her second attempt but unfortunately failed in the CSAT. The following year, in UPSC CSE 2018, she cleared the prelims but fell short in the mains by just 20 marks. In her next attempt, UPSC CSE 2019, she once again missed out on the mains by a heartbreaking 1 mark.
The year 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she dedicated herself to her preparation more than ever, expecting great results. But once again, fate had other plans. She failed the CSAT by a mere 0.5 marks.
In her final & 6th attempt, UPSC CSE 2021, she gave it everything – heart, soul, and strength. She made it to the interview stage, but her name still didn’t appear on the final list, missing out by just 4 marks. Her dreams were shattered, and she found herself in the depths of despair. She recalls, “After seeing the result, I thought I would never be happy again. There would never be another smile on my face. It was an extremely low point for me, and I blamed my fate for bringing me into this exam.”
In the midst of her despair, one of her mentors in Delhi offered a glimmer of hope. He spoke to her about the IFS, an exam she had never considered before. At that time, she didn’t know much about IFS, but the mentor’s words sparked a new possibility. She decided to take the leap and moved to Delhi to begin her preparation for the IFS exam.
In 2023, she appeared for the UPSC IFS exam for the first time and cleared it with an impressive rank. What’s even more remarkable is that in the CSAT exam, her score was 66.667, just 0.007 marks above the cut-off of 66.66. Anusha humorously remarked, “UPSC saved me by just 0.007 marks. It was a narrow-margin journey, but it was all worth it.”
THE TRAGEDY
Anusha hails from Bapatla District in Andhra Pradesh. Her father, a farmer, passed away when she was just 15 years old, and her mother is a homemaker. She also has a younger sister.
She completed her primary education up to the 8th grade in her village in Bapatla. After that, she traveled to the nearby town of Vijayawada for her schooling until the 12th grade. However, following her father’s untimely passing, her academic journey was significantly disrupted. She faced setbacks, including failing to crack the IIT JEE and other exams for admission to engineering programs. Somehow, she managed to secure a spot at a regional engineering college.
In 2014, she completed her B. Tech in Information Technology (IT) from Bapatla Engineering College. After graduation, she worked in the private sector for a year and a half. Yet, driven by a larger goal, Anusha left her job in 2017 to fully dedicate herself to preparing for the UPSC exam.
ROLE OF OPTIONAL
Talking about her preparation, Anusha emphasized the importance of the CSAT, as she had failed it twice. She noted that the CSAT is becoming increasingly tougher with each year, and candidates from rural areas, in particular, need to focus more on this section.
Regarding the mains exam, she suggested conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis for effective preparation. She explained that many candidates get bogged down by trivial details, but it’s crucial to have a broader perspective—understanding how many marks you can expect in each area, knowing what to write on specific topics, and developing a comprehensive approach across all subjects. In her words, “A proper strategy is key to wise study.”
She also advised putting more focus on the Mains exam from the very beginning of the preparation. She dedicated significant time to preparing notes and solving Previous Year Questions (PYQs).
For the IFS exam, she pointed out that the optional subjects are more technical, so they require special attention, preferably with the guidance of a mentor or tutor. While the optional subjects in CSE tend to be more generic, in IFS, she emphasized the need for specialized guidance and good, ready-made materials.
Anusha’s optional subject in CSE was Political Science, while in IFS, she opted for Forestry and Geology. She also stressed the importance of planning the syllabus effectively and reviewing the exam structure correctly, as these are foundational to successful preparation.
IFS INTERVIEW
The interview stage in the IFS exam is crucial, as it carries 300 marks. Anusha’s interview went well, and she scored an impressive 207 marks. The interview was primarily focused on her home state, Andhra Pradesh, with the panel testing her technical knowledge extensively.
One member asked her how she would tackle the issue of red sandalwood smuggling if posted as an IFS officer. Another panelist inquired why red sandalwood has gained so much attention, even inspiring movies. Additionally, a member questioned her about tissue culture from a scientific perspective. The interview also included discussions on broader topics, such as the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’, Corruption and current political issues, providing a mix of both technical and current affairs-based questions.
Her basic understanding of the environment was also tested, with a member asking about the plants she encounters in her region, further assessing her knowledge of the local flora.
MESSAGE
In her message to all UPSC aspirants, Anusha emphasized that the UPSC journey is extremely arduous. She believes the only thing that will keep you going is a clear understanding of why you are embarking on this preparation. “You need to be clear about your purpose,” she shared. “If it’s your own decision, you will never deviate from your goal, no matter how many failures come your way. But if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons, you might give up halfway and lose all your opportunities.” She stressed that having a clear purpose is essential.
“Rest, to succeed in UPSC, you need passion and proper planning,” she added.
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