TV
Every year, lakhs of young aspirants set their sights on cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination to become IAS or IPS officers. Among these countless dreams, the journey of IAS S Aswathy stands out as a story of grit, perseverance, and unshakable determination.
Coming from a humble background, Aswathy grew up in a family that struggled to make ends meet. Her father earned a living as a construction labourer, and financial challenges were a part of her everyday life. But from the time she was in class eight, Aswathy had set her heart on one goal — to become an IAS officer.
A bright student, she pursued Electrical Engineering at Government Barton Hill Engineering College and later secured a job with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). While her corporate job brought financial stability, the childhood dream of serving the nation never faded. Gathering courage, she decided to leave her well-paying job and dedicate herself completely to UPSC preparation.
Her journey wasn’t easy. Aswathy appeared for the exam three times, in 2017, 2018, and 2019, but couldn’t clear the preliminary stage. Instead of giving up, she analyzed her mistakes, refined her preparation strategy, and focused on strengthening her writing skills.
In 2020, on her fourth attempt, her perseverance paid off when she secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 481. Reflecting on her journey, she shared with ANI, “I concentrated on answering writing and improving my content so that I could present my ideas better in the papers. After three failed attempts, this success feels truly rewarding.”
Aswathy’s journey is proof that with patience, resilience, and consistent effort, even the toughest challenges can be overcome. She didn’t just dream of success; she worked tirelessly, learned from her setbacks, and turned her vision into reality.
