https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Reet Sundaram: A Tale of Tenacity, Triumph, and Transformation in Civil Services

Reet Sundaram's relentless seven-year journey from five years of continuous failures to clearing multiple prestigious exams, including UPSC and BPSC, stands as a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and strategic preparation.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Reet Sundaram’s story is one of resilience, determination, and an unwavering dream to serve her country. After five consecutive years of heartbreak in the fiercely competitive civil services examinations, Reet transformed her setbacks into stepping stones. With grit and a strategic approach, she not only cleared the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2021 but also aced several other tough competitive exams, including UPPCS and BPSC. She secured 21st rank in the reserve list and was selected for the Indian Post and Telecommunications Finance and Accounts Service. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and self-belief.

“For five years, I faced failure after failure,” Reet shared on a media platform, her voice steady with resolve. “But every time I fell, I got back up, determined to find out where I went wrong and how I could improve.”

A HUMBLE BEGINNING IN SAHARSA

Reet’s journey began in the small district of Saharsa, Bihar, where she was born into a family that valued education deeply. Her mother, a state services officer, and her father, a dedicated tutor, instilled in her a love for learning. Growing up in an environment where academic excellence was celebrated, Reet excelled in her studies and harboured dreams of making a difference through public administration.

After completing her formal education, she began working in a well-paying job at TCS. However, the allure of corporate success couldn’t overshadow her calling. “I wanted to be part of policy-making and contribute to India’s development at the highest level,” she says. In pursuit of this dream, she left her secure job and moved to Delhi to prepare for the civil services examination.

BATTLING SETBACKS

Reet’s initial attempts at the UPSC examination were met with disappointment. Each year, she fell short, grappling with the intense competition and vast syllabus. “I thought being a good student would make it easier, but I was unprepared for the unique challenges of this exam,” Reet admits. The failures were demoralizing, but they also pushed her to analyze her weaknesses and refine her approach.

She diversified her efforts, attempting exams like UPPCS, BPSC, and others. These experiences broadened her understanding of competitive exams and provided valuable insights into different formats and expectations. Gradually, Reet’s persistence began to pay off. She cleared the UPPCS in 2019 and followed it up with success in the 2020 edition. Her confidence grew with every triumph, setting the stage for her ultimate goal: cracking the UPSC.

THE WINNING STRATEGY

Reet attributes her eventual success to a combination of self-discipline, strategic planning, and effective time management. She meticulously prepared for the preliminary exams, focusing on mastering the core subjects of history, polity, and current affairs. She supplemented her preparation with practice papers and previous years’ question banks.”I realized the importance of consistency,” Reet explains.

“You don’t have to be perfect every day, but you need to show up, put in the effort, and trust the process.”For the mains, Reet chose anthropology as her optional subject, dedicating months to perfecting her understanding of the syllabus and developing her answer-writing skills. Regular discussions with peers and mentors helped her refine her perspective, while practice tests improved her speed and accuracy. By the time she faced the interview stage, Reet had not only built an impressive knowledge base but also developed the confidence to present her ideas with clarity.

GIVING BACK AND INSPIRING OTHERS

Reet’s success story is not just about personal achievement but also about inspiring others. She often shares her strategies and lessons learned with aspirants, emphasizing the importance of patience and resilience. “This journey taught me that success is not always linear,” she reflects. “Every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow.”

Today, as an IAS officer, Reet is living her dream of shaping policies and making a meaningful impact. Her journey from Saharsa to the corridors of power is a beacon of hope for countless aspirants across the country. It reminds them that with determination and the right mindset, no dream is too distant to achieve.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
Orissa High Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail of IAS Manish Agrawal in Stenographer Suicide Case
indian-forest-service IFS Officers
2 IFS Officers, Including Sajjad Hussain Mufti, Promoted in Ladakh and J&K
hudco-foundation-day
HUDCO Celebrates 55 Years, Charts Ambitious Growth Path to Fuel India's Infrastructure Vision
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd
GRSE CMD Cmde PR Hari Honoured with Management Excellence Award 2025
IRFC
IRFC Emerges as Lowest Bidder for Rs. 5,000 Crore Loan to NTPC
Vishakha Yadav IAS
IAS Vishakha Yadav Honoured with Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for ‘Project DIGIKAKSHA’
Himachal Pradesh High Court
Himachal Pradesh High Court Directs Formation of Police Establishment Board and Fixed Tenure for DGP
IPS logo resized
Punjab Government Suspends IPS Officer Surender Pal Singh Parmar for "Grave Misconduct"
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WAVES 2025 (Ashutosh Mohile)
A Davos-Like Media & Entertainment Summit in Mumbai
Aditya Vikram Agarwal
The Shouts of Joy Were Real: Aditya’s UPSC Rank 9 Was a Family Celebration
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-25 at 16.19
IFS or Nothing: Why Shreya Tyagi Gave Up ITS, IDAS And IRS for Her Real Dream | Exclusive
From a curious young girl in Bahrain to an Indian Foreign Service officer, Shreya’s pursuit of diplomacy...
Hemant Mishra UPSC CSE 2024
From Bihar to UP’s SDM: How Hemant Mishra Cleared UPPCS Twice, BPSC, and Secured AIR 13 in UPSC
Hemant Mishra, a resilient Bihar native, cleared UPPCS twice, BPSC, and secured AIR 13 in UPSC CSE while...
Sanskriti Trivedy
AIR 17 Sanskriti Trivedy’s Final Shot at UPSC Hits the Bullseye
Despite already securing Rank 352 and joining IDAS, SanskritiTrivedy didn’t give up on her dream. In...
Social Media
Exam Student Aspirant
'Bramhastra' For Aspirants Appearing for UPSC Prelims Exam 2025, ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Final Month Strategy
Officer Shaikh's practical and focused suggestions come as a timely morale booster for thousands of candidates...
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
Orissa High Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail of IAS Manish Agrawal in Stenographer Suicide Case
indian-forest-service IFS Officers
2 IFS Officers, Including Sajjad Hussain Mufti, Promoted in Ladakh and J&K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WAVES 2025 (Ashutosh Mohile)
Aditya Vikram Agarwal
Dr Lokesh M IAS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT