Meet woman, who left job in London and then cracked UPSC exam, now posted as...

Every year, thousands of aspirants belonging to various sections come together with their hope and struggle to crack the difficult examination for civil services held by the Union Public Service Commission, UPSC. The stories are varied, unique, and inspirational; we hear from one of the candidates whose remarkable journey from leaving an elite international career is about Hari Chandana Dasari to becoming an IAS officer.

Born into a family with a strong civil service background, Hari Chandana hails from Telangana and Hyderabad. She completed her schooling and 12th grade at St. Ann's, Hyderabad, before pursuing her graduation at St. Ann's College. Later, she acquired her postgraduate degree from the University of Hyderabad. Her father was an IAS officer, and her mother managed the home.

After some years of schooling, Hari took up a master's degree at the London School of Economics specializing in Environmental Economics with an M.Sc. Post-graduation, she served at the World Bank and joined BP Shell in London. In this great career, which was doing fantastically well, the ideals from her father still inspired her to take a different path.

Hari was really inspired by seeing her father doing so much work for society just by being an IAS officer. She desired to do worthwhile work for society; hence, the decision to go back to India and prepare herself for the UPSC examination was taken in a bold and daring manner. She cleared this tough three-tiered examination on her second attempt in 2010—Preliminary, Mains, and Interview.

The UPSC exam, also known as the IAS Exam, is considered one of the toughest competitive exams in India. It recruits candidates for some of the most esteemed positions in India, which include IAS, IPS, and IFS. The Preliminary stage includes two papers-General Studies I and CSAT (General Studies Paper-II)-where marks from the General Studies paper determine eligibility for the Mains. It also has a negative marking system associated with incorrect answers, making accuracy important.

Hari Chandana Dasari’s inspiring journey exemplifies determination, sacrifice, and the pursuit of purpose, serving as a beacon of hope for countless aspirants striving to make a difference in society.