IAS Preeti Beniwal was paralysed for 1 year after train accident, underwent 14 surgeries; cracked UPSC

Behind every success, there are many hidden struggles and the UPSC journey of IAS Preeti Beniwal is not just an inspirational story, but an eye-opener for those who easily give up on their dreams after failed attempts. 

Her journey of sheer determination and hard work even after a near-death experience following a train accident is sure to give goosebumps.

Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Preeti Beniwal candidly shared her challenging life journey and said, “I had gone with my father to Ghaziabad for an exam. I slipped and came under the train wheels while deboarding it. I had to undergo 14 surgeries and was bedridden for over a year.”

However, her determination to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming an IAS officer kept her alive. She continued to prepare for UPSC even while being bedridden and her hard work finally paid off. She cleared with AIR 754 and is now considered as one of the finest IAS officers India has ever produced.

She did not take any coaching for her UPSC preparation and only used study materials from coaching institutes available on YouTube and Telegram.

Her message to the youth of India is: “Life is more important than any exam. Children often talk about committing suicide after failing an exam. I wonder how any exam can have so much power over someone’s life. I would just like to say that it’s just an exam. No one is less than anyone or more than anyone. Give your best, be cool, and don’t be afraid of anything.”

Preeti was born to Suresh Kumar, a JE and Babita an Anganwadi worker from Karnal district in Haryana. She completed her B.Tech and M.Tech in Electrical and Communication Engineering and worked in the Food Corporation of India (FCI) before her life-changing train accident.