Meet IAS Artika Shukla who left MBBS studies midway and cracked UPSC exam in her 1st attempt

In the competitive arena of civil services examinations, tales of tenacity and triumph are aplenty, and Artika Shukla's narrative is a shining example. Clinching an impressive All India Rank 4 in the 2015 civil services examination at the age of 25, she achieved this remarkable feat on her very first attempt.

As per a News 18 report, born on September 5, 1990, in Gandhinagar, Varanasi, Artika's early years were marked by a commitment to academic excellence. 

Her father, Dr. Brijesh Shukla, a former secretary of the Indian Medical Association, instilled a strong educational foundation in her during her schooling at St. John’s School in Varanasi.

Her academic prowess continued to shine as she pursued her MBBS degree from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, graduating in 2013. Subsequently, she embarked on a path to specialize in paediatrics at PGIMER, Chandigarh.

However, her trajectory shifted when her elder brother, Gaurav Shukla, secured the UPSC Civil Services exam in 2012, joining the IAS cadre. Motivated by her brother's success, Artika made a bold decision to interrupt her studies in 2014 and set her sights on the civil services examinations.

In a departure from the norms, Artika chose to forgo traditional coaching classes, relying instead on the unwavering support of her brother. She attributes her success to this unconventional but determined strategy.

During her IAS training, Artika's life took another unexpected turn as she found love in Jasmeet Singh, the third All India Rank holder in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2015. Following a period of courtship, the couple exchanged vows in 2017. Despite being initially assigned the Indian Administrative Service Union Territory cadre, Artika chose to align her professional path with Jasmeet's by joining the Rajasthan cadre.