Chandrajyoti Singh has become a source of motivation and a national icon for her groundbreaking success in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE), widely acknowledged as one of India’s most challenging assessments. Hailing from a military family with a tradition of disciplined service to the nation, Singh has charted an extraordinary path to her recent appointment as an officer in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
The UPSC is known for its rigorous selection process aimed at recruiting the brightest and most proactive leaders in the country. Thousands of aspirants pour their dreams into the UPSC’s grueling examination process every year. The preparation can stretch out over several years, and yet only a tiny fraction succeed, with an even smaller number achieving this formidable feat on their inaugural attempt.
Daughter of retired army officer Col. Dalbara Singh and Lieutenant Colonel Meen Singh, Chandrajyoti was embedded in an environment ripe with the ethos of persevering and commitment from her early childhood.
The zeal for surpassing benchmarks was manifest in Singh’s excellence in academics. Attaining a perfect 10 CGPA in the class 10 board examinations from APJ School, Jalandhar, Singh’s scholastic commitment further shone through when she secured an impressive 95.4% in her class 12 exams from Bhawan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh. Her educational journey reached a new height when she graduated with honours in history from the prestigious St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, earning a notable 7.75 CGPA in 2018.
Singh embarked on her UPSC preparation journey in earnest after a year-long sabbatical following her graduation. The year 2018 marked the beginning of a dedicated chapter wherein Singh adopted a rigorous strategy fine-tuned for one of the world’s toughest examinations. Her consistent and focused endeavor bore fruit with her achieving an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 28.
At just 22 years of age, Singh assumed the esteemed mantle of an IAS officer, adding a sparkling chapter to the lore of her family’s service to India. Her monumental achievement, accomplished on her very first trial of the UPSC CSE, has been a beacon of inspiration for thousands of UPSC aspirants nationwide. Singh’s success is emblematic of the combination of hard work and intelligent preparation that paves the way to conquering the UPSC battlefield.
The UPSC examination, with its multi-tier system, which includes a preliminary examination, a main examination, and a personality test or interview, examines a candidate’s comprehensive abilities. Each stage functions as a sieve ensuring only the crème de la crème advance further in the selection process.
Traversing through vast syllabi that span a multitude of subjects and writing a series of exams that test both depth and breadth of knowledge, candidates like Singh demonstrate remarkable tenacity. Furthermore, the personal interview tests the candidates’ mental calibre and their ability to remain composed under pressure, attributes that are essential in the roles they aspire to hold.
Singh’s journey is not merely a personal victory but a compelling story for all those who dare to aim high despite daunting odds. It serves as a testament to the fact that dedication and strategic planning are formidable tools in achieving one’s goals. Her success has shown a light for aspiring bureaucrats, suggesting that even the tallest peaks are attainable with the right mix of determination and discipline.
In today’s society, where young Indian UPSC aspirants seek role models who resonate with their struggles, Chandrajyoti Singh stands tall. Her narrative is of that lucid dream seen by many but made into reality by a determined few. As her story circulates, Singh is not just an individual who conquered the Civil Services Examination; she is an embodiment of the dreams of those aspirants who will follow the path she illuminated by her extraordinary example.
