This is a story of a young IPS officer from Delhi who badly wanted to get into Indian Administrative Service. So, she started preparing for UPSC CS examination again to get a better rank. With official responsibilities to discharge, it was not easy at all. But Pooja Gupta managed and aced the 2020 CS exam, scoring AIR 42 and earning a place for herself in IAS. A happy Pooja spoke to Indian Masterminds about her successful journey.

THE JOURNEY INTO IAS

Pooja Gupta is a resident of Delhi. Exceptionally bright in studies since childhood, Pooja studied dentistry after her 12^th. She did her BDS from ESI Dental College, Delhi. She cleared UPSC CS exam in her very first attempt in 2018 and became an IPS officer at the young age of 21. But Pooja wanted IAS, so she appeared for the exam again in 2019 and 2020. And this time in her third attempt, she confirmed a place in IAS with a high rank of 42.

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MOTHER INSPIRED, HUSBAND HELPED

Pooja’s mother Rekha Gupta is an Assistant Sub-Inspector with Delhi Police and father Rajkumar Gupta works in the private sector. Pooja was actually inspired by her mother’s uniform to get into civil service. In the first attempt itself, she got 147 rank and entered police service, just like her mother.

However, she wanted to join IAS, and so she decided to try again. In her second attempt, her husband helped a lot with the preparation. Husband Shakti Avasthy’s journey is also somewhat like hers. He was earlier in IRS and then joined IPS after cracking UPSC CS exam a second time. Hence,he was able to share his experiences with her. He discussed questions and answers with her, shared study materials, and groomed her for the interview round.

HER SOURCES

Initially, she looked up the internet for help. Toppers’ conversations on YouTube helped her to make a chart for preparation. She relied on NCERT books and newspapers also. Along with this, she regularly checked government websites and watched government channels like PIB and Rajya Sabha TV.

QUESTIONS IN THE INTERVIEW

Pooja revealed that she was mostly asked about policing, since she was already in IPS. She was also queried on Anthropology, her optional subject. There were a few questions on how to control pollution in Delhi, too, as it is her home city.

MOTIVATION SHOULD COME FROM WITHIN

Pooja Gupta’s message to young aspirants is: “External motivation will not take you far.So, motivation should come from inside you. Ask yourself why you are getting up early in the morning and studying!”