Meet woman, who was UPSC topper and youngest IAS officer, has courted controversy amid Puja Khedkar row

In light of the controversy surrounding probationary IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, new discussions have arisen about the UPSC's civil services selection procedure. The anomalies in the selection process have raised eyebrows, given that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is responsible for recruiting candidates for prestigious roles such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS, which are critical to the nation's development.

Smita Sabharwal, a member-secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission, commented on the demands of these roles, particularly highlighting the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in fulfilling these duties.

"With all due respect to the Differently Abled, does an airline hire a pilot with a disability? Or would you trust a surgeon with a disability? The nature of the AIS (IAS/IPS/IFoS) requires fieldwork, long taxing hours, and listening firsthand to people's grievances, which necessitates physical fitness. Why does this premier service need this quota in the first place?" Sabharwal posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Who is Smita Sabharwal?

Smita Sabharwal, the daughter of a retired Army colonel, hails from Darjeeling, West Bengal. Despite failing her first attempt at the IAS preliminary exam, she succeeded on her second attempt in 2000, achieving an impressive rank of 4 and becoming one of the youngest IAS officers at the age of 23.

Sabharwal's educational journey includes studying at St Ann's and graduating from St. Francis in Hyderabad with a degree in commerce. She excelled academically, topping her Class 12. On social media, she has garnered significant recognition, with over 335,000 followers on Twitter.

Recently, Sabharwal drew inspiration from the movie "12th Fail" starring Vikrant Massey, reflecting on how passing the 12th grade can be a memorable and enriching experience. She shared her own marksheet and reminisced about her journey through 12th grade, emphasizing how it helped boost her self-confidence and improve academically.

Reviewing her marksheet, it is clear that Sabharwal has always been a high-achieving student, consistently delivering excellent marks. In her post, she reflects on her 12th-grade experience, which played a pivotal role in shaping her academic and professional success.