IAS officer Divya Mishra’s journey towards success in the UPSC CSE is an inspiring tale of determination, hard work, and resilience. Born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Divya had always dreamed of making a difference in society and found her calling in IAS.
Ms. Mishra did her primary schooling at Unnao’s Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. A B.Tech. in Textiles, she secured AIR-3 in GATE-2016. She worked for three years for a corporation and has a PhD in Strategic Management from IIM Lucknow.
URI HAPPENED
Ms. Mishra believes the 2016, September 18 Uri Attack that took several personnel’s lives at an army camp in an ambush changed her life forever. It stoked her desire to succeed.
She disclosed in an interview, “My brother was selected for the Indian Army. He is now a lieutenant. Nobody in my family had ever served in the military. Meanwhile, the Uri attack happened and it pushed me to rethink. I wanted a career in the civil service because just like my brother, I also wanted to serve our country.”
With sheer determination, she began her rigorous preparation for the examination.
THIRD-TIME LUCKY
The officer gave her first attempt at UPSC CSE in 2018 and relied on self-study and online resources for her preparation. Unfortunately, she missed the mark by just four points. However, she didn’t lose hope and started afresh.
With better preparation and guidance, in her second attempt, she secured Rank 312 and was selected for Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS).
But that was not what she had in mind when she decided to serve her nation, so she made another attempt as she knew her true calling lies in IAS.
SUCCESS AT LAST
She devised a meticulous study plan, set specific goals, and maintained a disciplined routine. Her unwavering focus and dedication became her guiding principles.
And as they say, the rest is history, Ms. Mishra’s hard work paid off and she achieve her dream, securing AIR-28 in UPSC CSE 2020 to become an IAS officer.
She reached the interview stage in all her three attempts. She prepared for the exam by building her knowledge with better statistics and better analysis of the topics.
“Solving as many question papers and mock tests helped me a lot in cracking the IAS Exam. Accurate knowledge of topics and clear facts are also extremely necessary to clear the prelims level,” she shared in an interview.
Ms. Mishra believes that having a more organised approach to her planning and engaging in multiple practice exercises were key factors to her success.
FUTURE PLANS
She is currently posted as the Block Development Officer in Hariyawan village in the Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh. As an IAS, Ms. Mishra wishes to serve in various capacities, tackling critical issues such as education reform, rural development, and women empowerment.
Her commitment to public service and her innovative approach to problem-solving have earned her accolades and the respect of her colleagues and subordinates.
Her success story serves as a reminder that with dedication, perseverance, and a strong sense of purpose, anyone can achieve their dreams.
