IAS Story: The girl whom people used to laugh at, became IAS at the age of 22, cracked UPSC in the first attempt

Success Story, IAS Story: Sawai Madhopur is a district of Rajasthan. A girl from Adalwada, a village far away from the district headquarters, dreamed of a big dream after leaving the boundaries of the village. Later, at the age of just 22, the girl became the first female IAS officer of her village. The name of this officer is Sulochana Meena. Sulochana created history by securing 415th All India rank and 6th rank in ST category in the 2021 UPSC exam in her first attempt.

Sulochana was born in Adalwada, a small village in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. The village is so backward that earlier educating girls beyond 10th-12th standard was considered a big decision. Her parents wanted their daughter to become a doctor, but Sulochana had heard since childhood that IAS means the boss of the district. That’s what stuck in her heart. At home, her parents used to run the family through farming and small jobs. Sulochana is the eldest. She also has brothers and sisters. No one had ever become an IAS in the village, so when she said that she would become an IAS, people used to laugh, but Sulochana was determined that she would answer those laughing with her results.

IAS Sulochana Meena: Journey from school to Delhi University

Sulochana’s schooling was done in the schools of the village and nearby areas. When she got good marks, her family gathered courage and sent her to Delhi. Did graduation in Botany in Delhi University campus. It was here that she joined NSS i.e. National Service Scheme for the first time. By setting up camps in every village and helping people, their spirit of service deepened. It was here that he decided that instead of doing medicine, he had to do administrative service only so that he could help people on a larger level. While living in Delhi, she saw how many boys and girls were preparing for UPSC and decided in her mind that she too would do it.

UPSC Success Story: Cracked UPSC in first attempt: IAS at just 21 years of age

As soon as her graduation was completed, Sulochana started preparing for UPSC. Did not take expensive coaching. She used to survive on the money she got from home. The preparation was very simple. She studied for 8-9 hours every day, first thing in the morning was to analyze the newspaper for 5-6 hours. Current affairs became his strongest subject. Cleared the basics from NCERT books and then read standard books. I prepared by watching free classes on YouTube, analysis videos of toppers and free answer writing sessions. A lot of emphasis was given on mock tests and test series. Sulochana says that have patience. Maintain consistency. No need for expensive coaching. Just right direction and hard work is required. The result was that in the year 2021, she passed the Civil Services Examination in the first attempt. In this examination, AIR 415, secured 6th rank in ST category. After training, she got Jharkhand cadre directly and became SDO in Palamu. At the time of her posting, Sulochana was the youngest IAS in the entire district and the first woman IAS in her village.

Impact on village: Competition to send daughters to coaching

When the news of Sulochana’s success reached the village, it was like a flash of lightning. Those houses where girls were not sent to the city in the name of coaching, now started sending their daughters to Delhi-Jaipur for coaching. Today many girls are preparing for UPSC in Adalwada village. People say that if our Sulochana can do it then why not our daughter? Parents now have new hope. Sulochana says that my parents saw a new dream through me. Today the attitude of the entire village has changed.