https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Army Quarter to Civil Service: Daughter of Indian Army Officer Gets Ready to Serve the Nation

Goa’s Someya Kumari cleared UPSC CSE 2022 with AIR 502 in her fourth attempt Inspired by the positive impact of the South Goa administration in the lives of local people, she decided to pursue a career in civil services Her army background helped her to quickly adapt to different situations, which proved beneficial in her UPSC journey
Indian Masterminds Stories

Someya Kumari’s army background proved to be an asset during her UPSC preparation as she could adapt quickly to the new routine of long hours of study. Hailing from Goa, the retired army officer’s daughter successfully cracked the highly competitive Civil Services Examination in her fourth attempt, securing a rank of 502.

To see her name in the successful candidates list of 2022 brought a sense of huge relief and joy not only to her, but also her parents, who were elated beyond measure.

PERSISTENCE PAID OFF

Someya’s journey towards her UPSC goal began during her first year of M.Tech, when she made the decision to prepare for the civil services exam. However, her first attempt in the same year ended with disappointment as she couldn’t clear the preliminary stage.

Undeterred by the setback, she made a second attempt during her second year of M.Tech, where she reached the interview round but narrowly missed making it to the final selection. Determined to succeed, she tried again, but her third attempt, too, came to a halt at the preliminary stage yet again. “Finally, in my fourth attempt, the hard work paid off as I managed to secure AIR 502, marking a significant achievement in my journey,” she shared with Indian Masterminds.

INSPIRATION

Someya’s inspiration to pursue a career in civil services stemmed from witnessing the impactful role played by the South Goa district administration in resolving long-standing issues during road construction near her house. “I witnessed first-hand how civil servants could positively impact people’s lives and this ignited my passion and motivated me to consider civil services as a viable career option,” she said.

STRATEGIC SELF-PREPARATION

With limited amount of time and resources at her disposal, Someya opted for self-preparation. She meticulously studied the books referred to by previous toppers and focused on understanding the syllabus. Additionally, Geography, a subject she had a keen interest on since her school days, became her optional subject of choice. This decision proved advantageous as it allowed her to cover substantial portions of the General Studies paper as well.

Someya’s background as the daughter of a retired Indian Army officer proved to be an asset in her preparation. Due to her father’s transfers, she had the opportunity to live in different states and interact with people from diverse backgrounds. This exposure helped her assimilate new environments quickly and adapt to different cultures, which proved beneficial in the journey to civil services.

INTERVIEW ROUND

For the interview round, Someya left no stone unturned in her preparation. She took numerous mock tests and sought guidance from various institutes, including NACS Bihar and Jharkhand, known for their comprehensive mock interviews and discussions. “The panellists questioned me on a wide range of topics, including my optional subject, the research paper I had worked on, my home state, and civil engineering,” she mentioned.

TIPS FOR ASPIRANTS

Although Someya couldn’t clear Prelims 2023, she shared valuable tips for aspirants. She emphasized the need for a different approach in tackling the current format of the Prelims, suggesting a focused study plan that limits sources and aligns closely with the syllabus.

She further encouraged aspirants to make maximum use of online resources and highlighted the importance of mental strength and resilience throughout the challenging preparation phase.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
SJVN
Leadership Continuity: Rajendra Prasad Goyal Given Additional Charge as Director (Finance) of SJVN Ltd- Know more about Him
government-of-haryana
Haryana Government Transfers 2 IPS, 13 HPS Officers in Major Police Reshuffle- Check Details
scam
‘Hello, This is IPS Officer Speaking…’: 9th-Pass Youth Tricks Cops in Three States with Fake Voice Scam
Screenshot 2025-07-18 214334
L&T Chairman Mr. S.N. Subrahmanyan’s FY25 Remuneration Jumps Nearly 50% to Rs. 76.25 Crore!
bureaucracy news
Appointments Update: IRS Kommisetty Murlidhar to Join Andhra Govt; Jay Nath Yadav Inducted into IAS
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB)
Indian Overseas Bank Plans Rs. 4,000 Crore Fundraising via QIP; Net Profit Soars 76% in Q1 FY26
Paresh Saxena IPS
IPS Officer Dr Paresh Saxena Protests Empanelment Denial, Returns President’s Distinguished Service Medal
Screenshot 2025-07-18 212145
Chhattisgarh: CM Vishnu Deo Sai Unveils ‘Anjor Vision @ 2047’ - A Bold Roadmap for a Developed Future!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
promila gupta
The Secret of The Secret – How To Make The Universe Conspire For You
AI 171 CRASH
AAIB Initial Probe In AI-171 Crash Questioned By Aviation Experts
Ravi Kapoor
Why Ex-IRS Officer Ravi Kapoor Walked Away from Power
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Bhavesh Royada
“People often don’t put in the effort required for exams of this level,” Bhavesh Royada
Bhavesh Royada left a stable engineering job to follow his passion for nature. Overcoming failures and...
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-14 at 15.58
The Economist Who Became an IFS Officer
How Abhimanyu Gahlaut balanced global economics and civil services dreams to crack UPSC with AIR 38
Disha Dwivedi UPSC
How Disha Dwivedi Cracked UPSC in Her Sixth Attempt with Unshakable Determination
Disha Dwivedi’s UPSC journey from five prelims failures to securing AIR 672 in 2024 showcases strategic...
Social Media
Screenshot 2025-07-18 203508
Majestic Tiger Rescue and Release in Sundarbans Captivates the Internet: IFS Susanta Nanda Shares Video On X
The video captures the tiger’s strength, agility, and instinct—a breathtaking sight as the big cat slices...
Standing Leopard
Leopard Stuns Internet by Standing on Two Legs Like a Meerkat
A rare video of a leopard standing on two legs in Kruger Park stuns viewers and goes viral across social...
G S Roshni
Kerala’s Fearless Forest Officer G.S. Roshni Rescues 16-Foot King Cobra with Bare Hands, Garners Praise & Critique
Beat Forest Officer G.S. Roshni’s first-ever king cobra rescue goes viral, earning her the title of ‘Green...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
SJVN
Leadership Continuity: Rajendra Prasad Goyal Given Additional Charge as Director (Finance) of SJVN Ltd- Know more about Him
government-of-haryana
Haryana Government Transfers 2 IPS, 13 HPS Officers in Major Police Reshuffle- Check Details
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
promila gupta
AI 171 CRASH
Ravi Kapoor
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT