She Failed UPSC Thrice and Feared English, But This 24-YO From Rajasthan Still Became an IAS Officer

At just 24, Neha Byadwal achieved what many only dream of, she cracked India’s prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination and became an IAS officer. Her journey, however, is not ordinary.

Born in Rajasthan and raised in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Neha grew up speaking Rajasthani. Hindi posed its challenges, and English was utterly daunting. These early struggles eventually led to her failing Class 5, a setback that might have discouraged many. 

But for her, it became a turning point. 

While others urged her to switch to the Hindi-medium stream, assuming it would be an easier route, she chose instead to face her challenges head-on, refusing to compromise on her goals.

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From Classes 6 to 10, she committed herself to her studies, working hard every single day. Her efforts bore fruit; she topped her college and cleared the SSC examination. 

But she did not take up a stable job. Her dream was to become an IAS officer, following in the footsteps of her father, a senior Income Tax Officer.

The road to UPSC success was anything but smooth. She failed the preliminary stage twice, and though she reached the mains in her third attempt, she was unsuccessful again. 

Determined to learn from her setbacks, she decided to cut off all distractions. She gave up her mobile phone and stayed off social media entirely for three years, dedicating up to 17 to 18 hours a day to focused self-study.

Her discipline paid off. In 2023, on her fourth attempt, she secured an All India Rank of 569, scoring 960 marks overall. Today, at 25, she serves as an IAS officer posted in Gujarat.

Neha credits much of her success to her family. Her father would tutor her in subjects like maths and history despite long workdays, while her brother and aunt helped her prepare for the final interview with mock sessions.

Reflecting on her journey, she says it taught her the value of hard work, perseverance, zeal, a never-say-die attitude, and how to manage time wisely. Her journey is a reminder that neither language nor past failures can define your future; only determination can.