IAS Anju Sharma's inspiring journey from academic setbacks to UPSC success

IAS Anju Sharma's Success Story: Cracking the UPSC, one of the toughest exams in the country, and becoming an IAS is no easy feat. Lakhs of students appear for this exam every year, but only a few succeed in their first attempt. IAS Anju Sharma is one such individual whose success story proves that failure at any point in life doesn't define your destination, as long as you don't give up. Learn about IAS Anju Sharma's success story, how she became an IAS officer despite facing failures in 10th and 12th grades.

Didn't Give Up After Failing in 10th and 12th

Anju Sharma hails from Bharatpur, Rajasthan. She failed in 10th and 12th grades during her school days, but she didn't lose heart. Her story motivates millions of students who consider themselves weak after failing in exams.

Faced Obstacles in Studies, But Anju Sharma Didn't Lose Courage

Anju Sharma faced many difficulties in her studies during childhood. She failed in Chemistry in the 10th pre-board and received a supplementary in Economics in 12th. This was the time when she felt that her career might be over. But she composed herself and passed with distinction in further studies.

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Family support

In an interview, Anju Sharma said that once after dinner, she realized that a large part of the syllabus was still left. The fear grew so much that she started crying. At that very moment, her mother encouraged her and explained that there was no need to panic. That's when she learned that postponing studies until the last minute is a big mistake. This is the reason why she maintained discipline in her studies during college and won a gold medal in B.Sc. Later, she also pursued an MBA.

Considered UPSC Just Another Exam

After MBA, Anju started preparing for UPSC. She didn't consider it a monumental exam, but according to her, it was just another exam that could be cleared with proper planning and consistent hard work. She completed the entire syllabus ahead of time and remained calm and focused during the exam.

Became IAS at 22, First Posting in Rajkot

In 1991, Anju Sharma became an IAS at the age of 22. She cleared the UPSC in her first attempt, and her first posting was as Assistant Collector in Rajkot, Gujarat. After this, she worked as a Collector and Senior Officer in several districts of Gujarat. Today, she is working as Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Department in the Gujarat Government.

International Level Education and 28 Years of Administrative Experience

After becoming an IAS, Anju also pursued a Master's in International Development Policy from Duke University, USA. She has held responsibilities in various departments of the Central and State Governments, such as Labour, Skill Development, Technical Education, Environment, Revenue, Health, and Ministry of Commerce. Currently, she is the Additional Chief Secretary in the Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department, Gujarat Government, and is also associated with Kaushalya- The Skill University.