Meet woman, who cracked UPSC exam while her mother was battling cancer, now posted as...

Becoming an IAS officer is described as almost impossible. UPSC examinations are tough as nails in India. The road to it was touching for Pallavi Verma, the embodiment of tireless work, and determination.

Pallavi hails from Indore. She comes from a humble background, and no girl from her family has ever seen the four walls of a university. After completing her graduation in biotechnology, Pallavi took up a job as a software tester in Chennai and bowed out in 2013 to completely devote herself to clearing the Civil Services Exam.

The string of failures spanning over seven years belonged to just one girl who confronted each of them. She was unsuccessful in the prelims three times; had one missed main exam;failed three interviews. By her seventh attempt in 2020, it would be fair to say she was well acquainted with disappointment. This time, however, things took a turn.

She had to go through something more stressful towards the end of her preparation—caring for her mother, who was undergoing chemotherapy due to the battle with cancer. What an emotional ordeal for any child! She was toeing the line between preparations and the caregiving role, fighting to remain focused internally, even with that emotional upheaval.

At times, it wore her so low in spirit that she became almost close to quitting. Relatives compounded her difficulties with hurtful queries about her stoicism. But with the continuous support from both of her parents, she managed to pull through.

Her mistakes in 2013- plunging into the exam preparation without knowing the exam itself- taught her the indispensable value of strategy. From the time of her seventh attempt in 2020, her preparation was altogether different; she knew her weak points, approached every task with a set timetable, and spent hours in the library. The real effort bore fruit as she clinched rank 340 in the Civil Services Exam. 

Pallavi's story tells more than a simple tale of success; it stands as a reminder that greatness seldom proceeds smoothly. Her journey reflects the spirit of resilience, the power of flexible failure, and the singular belief in the pursuit of one’s dreams. Today, she stands tall as an IAS officer-a ray of hope for innumerable aspirants, whose faith in leveling even the steepest mountains stands vindicated through hard work and determination.