There is an old saying, ‘Age is just a number,’ and another famous proverb, ‘All things are possible for those who believe.’ The hero of today’s story is a living legend to both adages. She defied the odds to achieve her dream at an age when many would have chosen to focus on family and settle into life’s comforts. After 17 years of marriage, Ms. Jyotsna Priya has become a revenue officer, having cracked Bihar’s most prestigious civil services exam, the BPSC 69th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), securing an impressive rank of 262.
Ms. Priya married in 2007 and dedicated herself fully to raising her children. However, at a certain point, she realized it was time to pursue her own aspirations. Her journey is remarkable in itself. When she married, she was not a graduate – she had only completed her Plus 2. But in 2014, when her children were a little older, she enrolled in college to complete her graduation. By 2018, she had earned a B.Com degree. It was around this time that she felt a strong desire to contribute more to society and not just live for herself.
In 2019, driven by a sense of purpose, Ms. Priya began preparing for the civil services. However since the age limit for UPSC had passed, she decided to focus on state civil services instead. Her inspiring journey, marked by determination and belief in herself, showcases the power of perseverance.
Indian Masterminds had the privilege of speaking with Ms. Priya to gain deeper insight into her extraordinary, inspiring path.
JOURNEY SO FAR
She began her preparation after graduating in 2019. In her first attempt that same year, she missed clearing the prelims by just 3 marks. In her second attempt, the BPSC 66th in 2020, she made it to the mains but fell short by 6 marks.
In her third and fourth attempts, she was unable to qualify for the prelims. Finally, in her fifth attempt, the BPSC 69th, she succeeded, securing a rank of 262 and earning the post of Revenue Officer.
Priya is not stopping here. Motivated by her own journey, she is taking the BPSC exam again this year, aiming to improve her rank and secure a better post. She aspires to become a DSP.
She said, “The beginning of my journey was the most difficult. I had to do everything – seek permission, endure people’s taunts, and face criticism. People would say, ‘At an age when you should be teaching your children, you’re going back to study yourself. Even if you have so many responsibilities, you should fulfill them through your children.’ I heard a lot of such remarks. Additionally, there was a long gap in my education, so it took a lot of effort to get back into the rhythm of studying and understanding the material. It was a real struggle. But in the end, everything became possible. Finally, I did it.”
STAND & FIGHT
Priya’s story is not just an example for women in our society, but it also offers valuable lessons on personal growth and thinking outside the box. When Priya discussed the idea of working to support her family financially while raising her children, many people suggested that she work in a parlour or take up something at home. However, Priya emphasized that in our society, women often have to compromise after marriage, but instead of accepting this, they should fight for their dreams. Priya fought for herself and pursued what she truly wanted to do.
HUMBLE BACKGROUND
She hails from the Sitamarhi district of Bihar. Her father runs a medical store, while her mother works as an Anganwadi worker.
She completed her matriculation from Sonaul Sultan High School in her village. After finishing her intermediate studies, she married Praveen Singh in 2007. Praveen runs a medical shop in Sitamarhi, and together they have three children. Her eldest daughter is 15 years old, while her twin sons are 10. Her basic education was completed in Sitamarhi.
BPSC PREPARATIONS
She did most of her preparation on her own, studying at home while living in the village. She never joined any coaching, except for an online program specifically for Mains answer writing, where she would take the exam and have her answers evaluated. In addition, she sought guidance from various mentors.
However, social media played a key role in her preparation, where she watched educational videos, took book recommendations, and made notes. She also paid close attention to previous years’ questions (PYQs), solving question papers from the last 10 years multiple times to understand the pattern of the questions. For interview preparation, she stayed in Patna for a few days and took several mock tests.
She shares, “After each BPSC test, I identified my shortcomings and worked to improve them. I maintained a diary where I noted my mistakes and made sure not to repeat them.“
Optional & Essay: In the past, BPSC included an optional subject, but it has now been replaced with an essay paper. The optional paper is now merely qualifying and objective in nature. His optional subject was Hindi Literature. Her optional subject was Hindi Literature.
Reflecting on her preparation, she mentioned that while she could have cleared the exam earlier, her family responsibilities often prevented her from studying continuously, resulting in months-long gaps between her study sessions.
INTERVIEW
Her interview went well, although she was grilled thoroughly. The panel asked questions ranging from her background to current political issues. She was quizzed on her graduation subjects, particularly commerce, with questions about the fiscal deficit, budget preparation, and the national deficit.
She was also asked questions related to her optional subject, Hindi Literature, including reading some lines from the book Rashmirathi. One member asked her to explain the difference between Doha and Sortha, while another inquired about the language of the Ramcharitmanas and the Ramayana.
Ms. Manjari Jaruhar, one of the first five women police officers in India and the first from Bihar, was mentioned in the interview, with a question about her book Madam Sir. She was also asked about various Yojanas in Bihar, to which she responded by naming almost 12 initiatives, particularly focusing on Jeevika. She was grilled on the details of the Jeevika Yojana and its various aspects.
One of the board members asked her about the impact of social media, almost pushing her to describe it as a negative force. However, she firmly disagreed, sharing her positive experience. She replied, “Sir, I belong to a village, and the only medium that helped me the most is social media. Through it, I am here today. In my view, social media has many positive impacts. It depends on us how we choose to use it.”
SUGGESTIONS
Giving a message to all aspirants, she said, “To those who are already preparing, keep pushing forward with full dedication. Strive to cover 100% of your syllabus and study it with honesty. For those who wish to start preparing but are unsure where to begin or how to proceed, I would say that a person is the creator of their own destiny. Do not settle for your circumstances – learn to fight them.”
The Bihar Public Service Commission Combined Competitive Examination (BPSC CCE) is a state-level exam conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission for recruitment to various administrative posts in the government of Bihar. The 69th BPSC was the most recent edition of this prestigious exam.
