From IIT Guwahati to Civil Services glory: AIR-16 holder Monika Srivastava’s inspiring UPSC journey

In a remarkable story of determination and relentless pursuit of excellence, Monika Srivastava from Aurangabad has emerged as an inspiration for thousands of civil service aspirants across the country. Her journey reflects how perseverance, education, and hard work can turn dreams into reality.

Monika’s academic journey began with excellence. She completed her Computer Science and Engineering degree from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati in 2016. After graduating, she stepped into the corporate world and worked as a software engineer in Chennai, gaining professional experience in the technology sector.

Software Engineer To UPSC

However, Monika had a larger dream—to serve the nation through the civil services. Determined to achieve this goal, she began preparing for the highly competitive Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination. Her journey was not without challenges, but she remained focused and consistent.

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Her efforts first bore fruit when she secured All India Rank 455 in the 2023 UPSC Civil Services Examination, through which she was appointed to the Indian Railway Traffic Service. In the same year, she also cleared the Bihar Public Service Commission Combined Competitive Examination, securing an impressive 6th rank in the 66th BPSC, and was appointed as an Assistant Commissioner of State Tax.

No Dream Is Too Big

Yet, Monika continued striving for greater heights. Her perseverance finally paid off when she secured an outstanding All India Rank 16 in UPSC CSE 2025, placing her among the top achievers in one of the toughest examinations in the country.

Monika Srivastava’s journey is a powerful reminder that with dedication and courage, no dream is too big. From IIT classrooms to government service, and from corporate offices to the top ranks of UPSC, her story stands as a shining example of what determination and hard work can achieve.