Coming from a small village, Surabhi Gautam lacked access to coaching centers. Relying solely on self-study and her school resources, she excelled, scoring over 90% in both her 10th and 12th board exams.
Some UPSC success stories inspire and surprises us, as they they achieve success despite all the odds that come their way. One such story is that of IAS officer Surabhi Gautam, a remarkable achiever from the modest village of Amdara in Satna district, Madhya Pradesh. Surabhi Gautam’s father is a lawyer in Maihar’s court, and her mother, Dr. Sushila Gautam, teaches at a local high school. She completed her early education at the village’s government school, a Hindi-medium institution. Despite limited resources, Surabhi excelled academically.
Her journey was far from smooth. During her 12th grade, Surabhi was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, requiring her to travel with her parents every 15 days to Jabalpur—150 kilometers away—for treatment. However, her health struggles didn’t deter her. After graduating from high school, she aced the State Engineering Entrance Examination and went on to study Electronics and Communication Engineering in Bhopal.
IAS Surabhi Gautam’s academic excellence
Coming from a small village, Surabhi Gautam lacked access to coaching centers common in larger towns and cities. Relying solely on self-study and her school resources, she excelled, scoring over 90% in both her 10th and 12th board exams with perfect scores in Math and Science, earning her a place on the state’s top merit list.
After high school, Surabhi took the State Engineering Entrance Exam and performed exceptionally well, securing admission to Bhopal Engineering College. She pursued a BTech in Electronics and Communications, where she topped her university’s engineering exam and was awarded a gold medal for her outstanding performance.
Her transition to college, however, was challenging. As a Hindi-medium student, Surabhi struggled with English fluency, which made her the target of ridicule on her first day. Unable to introduce herself in English, she was laughed at by her peers. Determined to improve, she set a goal to learn 10 new English words each day, steadily working to enhance her communication skills.
IAS Officer with AIR 50
After completing her engineering degree, Surabhi Gautam began her career with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Despite the stability and high salary, she chose to leave this job to fully dedicate herself to her true passion: becoming a civil servant.
During this period, Surabhi took several other competitive exams. She successfully cleared and was shortlisted for prestigious exams, including ISRO, BARC, GATE, MPPSC, SAIL, FCI, SSC, and SI in Delhi Police.
In 2013, Surabhi Gautam achieved the remarkable feat of securing All India Rank 1 in the prestigious UPSC Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam. This outstanding accomplishment further fueled her to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE).
Her hard work ultimately paid off in 2016 when she secured her place in the Indian Administrative Service with an outstanding rank of 50. Surabhi Gautam’s journey is a powerful example of self-belief and relentless pursuit, showing that any obstacle can be overcome through perseverance and dedication.