IAS Ishwarya Ramanathan’s journey to success was shaped by the encouragement of her mother, who always dreamed of seeing her daughter become a collector. She was also compelled by her financial position at home.
A huge number of candidates appear for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination every year. Out of which, only a few get selected in the final round. Their success story becomes an inspiration for many, who are aspiring to clear the exam. Recently, IAS officer Ishwarya Ramanathan has gained widespread attention for her inspiring success story, clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination twice by the age of 24. Hailing from Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, Ishwarya cracked the exam in 2019 with AIR 47, becoming one of the youngest IAS officers in India. Her journey to success was shaped by the encouragement of her mother, who always dreamed of seeing her daughter become a collector. She was also compelled by her financial position at home to aspire for big things as her father R. Ramanathan is a cashew farmer.
Ishwarya Ramanathan’s Journey:
- Early Life: Ishwarya was deeply impacted by witnessing natural disasters in her hometown, such as the 2004 tsunami, where she was inspired by the work of collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi.
- Education: She completed her engineering degree from Anna University, Chennai, in 2017, and began preparing for the UPSC exams while still in college.
- First Attempt: In her first UPSC attempt, she secured AIR 630 and was offered a position in the Railway Accounts Service, which she opted not to pursue.
- Second Attempt: Determined to achieve her IAS dream, she reappeared in the UPSC exam in 2019, where she secured AIR 47 and succeeded in becoming an IAS officer.
- Current Role: She is currently serving as the Sub-Collector (SDM) in Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu.
In a media interaction, Ishwarya shared that becoming an IAS was her childhood dream. Her mother had inspired her for this. Ishwarya’s mother got married at a very young age. When Ishwarya was in college, her mother got a government job. She wanted her daughter to become a collector. This way, she always inspired Ishwarya to become an IAS and supported her.
Ishwarya is also active on social media, with over 100,000 followers on Instagram, including noted IAS officers Tina Dabi and Ria Dabi, who also follow her. Her story continues to motivate aspiring UPSC candidates across the country.