Meet woman, who cracked UPSC exam in first attempt after tragedy took away her ‘doctor dream’, she is now...

Life never takes the planned course. Some, for many reasons, consider diversions and failures insurmountable prisons, while others embrace them, finding purpose on the journey. The story of Rishita Gupta can be classified under the latter. She could never realize her dream of a doctor, but in the process, she carved out something. She became an IAS officer.

Rishita grew up in a family that always encouraged her ambitions. With her parents' encouraging hand, she excelled in academics. Her future lay in medicine. She took up the science stream during her high school days, dreaming of donning that coveted white coat.

A tragedy hit during the Class 12 Board exams. She lost her father after a long illness. The loss turned Rishita's world upside down, and she could not write her Class 12 exams properly. She did not get through the marks needed for her admission into a B.D.S. or other medical colleges. She was devastated. The dream of her childhood seemed to elude her.

Rather than letting loss take over her, Rishita decided to chart another path. She joined a bachelor course in English Literature and decided to pick her life up again. In 2015, she laid the groundwork for taking an even bigger leap: the UPSC Civil Services Examination, one of the most difficult tests in the country.

With laser-like concentration, Rishita organized a proper study plan. She made use of NCERT books, coaching classes, online materials, and endless mock tests to prepare. She kept short notes with her at all times, grasping every moment to revise. Her confidence and diligence became her true gems.

Rishita's dedication bore fruit. She cleared the UPSC in 2018 with an impressive All-India Rank (AIR) of 18, finishing the written exams with 879 marks and the interview with 180 marks. 

Her journey, however, is not just one of success; it is a lesson in resilience. Rishita feels that success can never be chased but has to be pursued wholly with passion. In response to aspirants who intend to take the UPSC exam, she encourages discipline, broad reading on current affairs from newspapers and magazines, and selection of some optional that is really approached for joy—hers was Public Administration.

Rishita’s journey inspires countless others to rise against them and fight for their destinies. Sometimes detours take us to places far beyond what we could ever imagine.