The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination is one of the toughest exams in India. It truly challenges the knowledge and problem-solving abilities of an aspirant. Every year, millions of students take the Civil Services exams, but only a few are able to qualify and make their dreams come true. 

It is not just a test of an individual's intelligence and understanding of an individual but of also their resilience and determination to achieve. One such passionate aspirant, despite facing numerous failures and setbacks, did not stop and scored All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the UPSC CSE 2022. 

We are talking about Ishita Kishore, who initially failed to clear the prelims twice, but achieved an AIR 1 in her third attempt and became an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer. 

Ishita was born in Begumpet, Hyderabad. Her father was a Commander in the Indian Air Force, while her mother was a schoolteacher. She graduated from the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) of Delhi University with a degree in Economics with Honours.

Following her graduation, she completed an internship at Maharatna company GAIL Limited. Ishita later secured a lucrative position at the Multinational company Ernst and Young, where she worked for 2 years. 

However, she soon realised her true calling lay in civil services. This realization motivated her to quit her job, marking the beginning of her inspiring UPSC journey. 

Initially, the journey was difficult as she tried really hard, but was not even able to clear the prelims in the first two attempts. However, these setbacks did not deter her dedication. Instead, they made her even more devoted towards her goal. She started preparing relentlessly and gave 9 hours a day to her studies.

Her hard work and dedication paid off, as she cleared the exam on her third attempt. securing not just any rank but AIR 1. She achieved her dream of becoming an IAS officer and emerged as an inspiration for many young aspirants nationwide. 

Also Read: 12-year-old from Bangalore slums dreams of becoming an IAS Officer; WATCH inspiring video

Also Read: 5 Tips by an IFS officer for becoming a 'made-genius'