Simran Bhardwaj from Rewari, Haryana, was selected as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army but did not join because her eyes were set on civil services. Staying true to her dream, she cleared UPSC CSE 2021 with AIR 172 and is on her way to becoming a civil servant. Indian Masterminds presents the UPSC success story of this daughter of an army officer.
ARMY BACKGROUND
22-year-old Simran Bhardwaj is the daughter of Colonel Manoj Bhardwaj, who is posted at Mhow’s Military College of Telecommunication Engineering. She secured the 172nd rank in the UPSC CSE 2021 results. Officers of the MCTE and other Army establishments have congratulated Colonel Manoj Bhardwaj on his daughter’s achievement.
Simran was also selected as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army but did not join.Before appearing for the UPSC Civil Services 2021, she had cleared the CDS exam to gain some exposure to a UPSC exam.She qualified and secured AIR 6 in the UPSC CDS 2021 results. However, despite becoming one of the toppers in CDS, she chose not to join the defence services and instead prepare for UPSC CSE to join her dream service: IPS.
Speaking to media soon after her UPSC success, she said that her dream was fuelled by her army background. “I felt that my ability to help people and ensure their welfare would be perhaps more direct and impactful through the civil services.”
Simran’s clearing of the CDS exam assumed special significance because women were allowed only recently to appear for the NDA exam. Simran talked about the importance for women to have an equal opportunity to serve in the defence forces. “Our forces are not just a representation of our society at large, but also the ideal for millions of people.”
WANTS TO JOIN IPS
Simran wishes to join the Indian Police Service. The reason? “My intention has always been to serve the people of my country better.” She also said IPS officer Ms. Ilma Afroz further inspired her to join the police service.
She now looks forward to joining the IPS and wants to especially work for women safety.
PURSUING HER UPSC DREAM
Simran did her graduation from Delhi University. However, for the last two years, she was preparing for UPSC by staying in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, where her father is posted currently. She didn’t take up any coaching and instead preferred to do self-study.
Clearing UPSC CSE was a dream since she was a 13-year-old. She had spent her growing -up years moving from place to place as her army officer father got transferred to different postings.
She finished her Class 12 from Army Public School, Jammu and then moved to Delhi to join Kamala Nehru College in Delhi University. During her time at KNC, Simran was also a part of the National Cadet Corps branch of the college where she played an extremely active role. While with NCC, she got used to working for those around her, especially her team. And she was more convinced than ever that public service was where she was meant to be.
When she started preparing for UPSC CSE, she started off as any other confused aspirant but remaining focussed on her goal helped her to settle down and get tuned to the exam preparation. She shared with media that books were her succour and she often immersed herself in them to unwind during this period. She also mentioned her mother’s support as being a major factor in UPSC her success. Incidentally, her mother always secretly hoped that her daughter would one day become a civil servant. And by becoming one, Simran ensured that she made her dream, as well as her mother’s dream, come true!
Basking in her big UPSC success now, Simran would like to say one thing to all aspirants: nothing compensates for hard work and consistency in this exam, they are the keys to success.
