The highest-placed woman in India’s Union of Public Service Commission 2020 examination says hard work and self-confidence were the key ingredients for achieving success.
Jagrati Awasthi (pictured), who finished second overall in the examination, echoed first-placed Shubham Kumar when she said she wanted to work for the development of rural areas when she joined the country’s bureaucracy.
An elated Ms Awasthi said that since childhood she had a dream of becoming a District Collector working in social areas.
Even after getting a job in her chosen field of engineering, she continued to pursue her dream of becoming a Public Servant, however her first attempt at the examination in 2018 was unsuccessful.
“When I was not selected for Civil Services in the first attempt, I decided to leave my job and focus on my preparations for the next attempt,” Ms Awasthi said.
“Then the Coronavirus pandemic struck, but it gave me some more time for preparations in lockdown,” she said.
“I finally got success in my second attempt.”
Ms Awasthi said her message for those who might come after her were to “work hard, have confidence in yourself and this will help you achieve success”.
Third-placed Ankita Jain also achieved success at her second attempt.
Ms Jain’s father, Mukesh Jain is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer currently serving as the Madhya Pradesh Transport Commissioner.
New Delhi, 29 September 2021
