https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

IRS Officer Neetika Vilash’s ‘Peepli Live’ Inspiration

IRS Neetika Vilash's journey from fashion designer to IRS officer inspires with its narrative of passion, perseverance, and purpose-driven transformation.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Where tradition often dictates the path of young minds, one woman’s journey defied expectations and broke barriers. Despite her father’s desire for her to follow in his engineering footsteps, she chose to carve out her own destiny in the world of fashion and design. This is the story of IRS Neetika Vilash who started as a fashion designer and graphic artist, only to be driven by a powerful movie to serve her nation in a different capacity. 

In an insightful conversation with Indian Masterminds Ms. Vilash shared details about her journey from fashion designer to the corridors of power. 

Early Life and Education

Hailing from Lucknow, she completed her schooling at CMS. With a strong aptitude for mathematics and computers, she consistently achieved high marks, scoring in the 90th percentile. Her father, an engineer, naturally expected her to pursue a similar path. However, her adventurous spirit and desire to do something different led her to fashion design. “It was definitely a shock to him, as he always wanted me to pursue engineering. Back then, fashion design wasn’t a lucrative career. But I was admant,” Ms. Vilash shared. 

Passion for Fashion

Her journey in fashion began at Amity School of Fashion and Technology, where she not only excelled academically but also earned a gold medal and a scholarship for her meritorious performance. Her passion for design did not stop there; she went on to complete her master’s in communication design from NIFT Delhi and topped an examination at Pearl Academy of Fashion, one of India’s premier institutions.

Turning Point

While she was deeply immersed in the creative world of fashion, a movie changed the course of her life. “Peepli Live,” a film highlighting the issue of farmers’ suicides, struck a chord with her. “This movie made me realize how disconnected I was from the real world. I was unable to sleep for three nights,” she shared with Indian Masterminds. This epiphany was further reinforced when she read about an IAS officer who used design to solve real-world problems by developing raised hand pumps for flood-affected villages.

A New Direction

Motivated by this newfound purpose, she decided to attempt the UPSC exam. Balancing her work as a book designer at Penguin Books and her UPSC preparation, she sought guidance from a faculty member, Mr. Alok Jha, who recognized her potential. “He told me that I can clear UPSC easily and that all I have to do is leave my job and focus on preparation.” His encouragement gave her the confidence to leave her job and focus entirely on her preparation.

Journey to Success

The path was not easy. Her first attempt did not yield the desired results. With a practical timeline and a backup plan in mind, she continued her efforts. In her second attempt, she cleared the prelims, and by her third attempt, she had made it to the interview stage and secured a position in the Indian Revenue Service. “As soon as my father heard the news, he booked the next flight to Delhi, hugged me, cried 5 times, and said you made us proud,” IRS Neetika Vilash shared with a smile.

Balancing Roles

As a Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax in Pune, she has utilized her design skills to improve her office environment and streamline operations. Her ability to find solutions and her technological prowess have made significant impacts in her professional role. Balancing her demanding job with motherhood, she said, “My husband and I have divided our duties 50-50 and manage the work accordingly.”

Message to Aspirants

Her journey offers valuable insights for UPSC aspirants. She emphasizes the importance of passion, practicality, and self-belief. “Have a plan B,” she advises, acknowledging the low success rate of the exam. 

From fashion designer to IRS officer, her journey is a compelling narrative of following one’s heart, overcoming obstacles, and finding a purpose that transcends personal ambition. Her story inspires not only future civil servants but also anyone who dares to dream beyond the conventional paths laid out before them.


Indian Masterminds Stories
Related Stories
NEWS
IRFC
Hindu College Inaugurates Public Policy Lab in Collaboration with IRFC
Shantanu Roy BEML Limited
BEML CMD Shantanu Roy Honoured with Samarpan PSU Award for Exemplary Leadership
Swapneel Paul IAS
Tinsukia's District Commissioner, IAS Swapneel Paul, Bags Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024
MoRTH
GPS-Based Toll Collection: MoRTH Clarifies No Nationwide Rollout from May 1; Know All About the Innovative Toll System
NFL _ National Fertilizers Limited
NFL to Acquire 18% Stake in ₹10,601 Crore Urea Plant JV in Assam
HPCL Mittal Energy MoU
HMEL Signs MoU with IIT Kanpur to Boost Innovation in Sustainable Energy Technologies
Maharashtra govt-logo
2 IAS Officers Appointed to Key Roles in Maharashtra, Jayshree Bhoj Made Secy, Environment
India’s Natural Gas Demand
Govt Strengthens Domestic Gas Allocation Policy to Ensure Affordable, Clean Energy Access
Videos
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
Meghashree D R IAS
How Wayanad’s Women Turned a Disaster into a Dream Project
UPSC Stories
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
IRS officer Padmapani Bora's 16-year career transcends typical bureaucracy. Discover his surprising journey...
IAS T Rahul Kumar reddy
How This IAS Officer Overcame 4 Consecutive Mains Failures & 1 Interview Rejection
IAS Officer T. Rahul Kumar Reddy’s journey to success was marked by perseverance through six UPSC attempts....
Indrajeet Sirra IFS new
How This IFS Officer’s Journey Teaches Aspirants to Never Miss Any Opportunity in Their UPSC Dream
Indrajeet Sirra’s journey to becoming an IFS officer after five UPSC attempts teaches aspirants the importance...
Social Media
Tiger
IAS Officer Sanjay Kumar Shares Mesmerising Tigress Patrol Video from Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
In the video, the tigress is seen cooling off in her preferred waterhole before embarking on her evening...
comp-61_1744872235
Tigress Hunts Sambhar in Front of Tourists at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve – Video Goes Viral
The incident took place in the Chakradhara area of Tala Zone, one of the most popular safari zones in...
IAS Priyansha Garg
“Welfare and Farewell”: IAS Priyansha Garg Pens Heartfelt Note After Series of Goodbyes
“While sitting on the chair, your job is the welfare of others. You’ll take decisions for people you...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IRFC
Hindu College Inaugurates Public Policy Lab in Collaboration with IRFC
Shantanu Roy BEML Limited
BEML CMD Shantanu Roy Honoured with Samarpan PSU Award for Exemplary Leadership
Videos
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
Meghashree D R IAS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT