Becoming an IAS or IPS officer is a dream for many young Indians, but clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the toughest challenges. Every year, lakhs of candidates prepare for years to achieve this goal. One such inspiring story is that of IPS officer Ankita Sharma, who faced repeated failures but never gave up.
Ankita Sharma comes from a small town in Durg district, Chhattisgarh. She studied in a government school and grew up with limited resources. From a young age, she learned the value of hard work and discipline. She scored 92 per cent in Class 10 and 90 per cent in Class 12.
Left MBA for Civil Services
After completing her graduation, Ankita enrolled in an MBA programme. However, she soon realised that her true goal was to serve the nation. She left her MBA course to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. She initially went to Delhi for preparation but later returned home to continue her studies.
Ankita’s journey was not easy. In her first UPSC attempt, she missed qualifying for the Mains exam by just 15 marks. In her second attempt, she could not clear the Preliminary exam. Instead of giving up, she analysed her mistakes, improved her strategy, and worked harder.
In 2018, Ankita cleared the UPSC exam in her third attempt, securing an All India Rank of 203. With this achievement, she became the first woman IPS officer from Chhattisgarh, a proud moment for the state.
Fearless Service as IPS Officer
After joining the Indian Police Service, Ankita Sharma led several successful operations in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh. Her brave actions and leadership earned her the nickname ‘Lady Singham’. Even Naxal groups are said to fear her name.
Ankita Sharma’s story is an example of courage, discipline, and determination. Her journey shows that failures are part of success and that perseverance can help achieve even the toughest dreams. Today, she continues to inspire thousands of UPSC aspirants across the country.
