Nisa Unnirajan, a mother of two, achieved her IAS dream on her 7th attempt at 40. Overcoming age, setbacks, and physical challenges, her story is a testament to perseverance and family support.
IAS Nisa Unnirajan Success Story: The UPSC exam in India is considered one of the toughest to crack. Lakhs of candidates prepare for the exam each year, but only a select few achieve their IAS dream. Among these is Nisa Unnirajan from Kerala, who overcame age, setbacks, and physical challenges to become an IAS officer on her 7th attempt at age of 40. Here's her UPSC success journey.
A Journey Filled with Struggles
Nisa Unnirajan's journey was far from easy. With the challenges of growing older, raising two daughters, and living with a hearing impairment, she had every reason to give up, but she didn’t. At 35, she began preparing for the UPSC exams, and by 40, she achieved her goal.
Nisa Unnirajan's UPSC Rank
Nisa secured an All India Rank of 1000 in the 2024 UPSC exam. She failed six times but learned from each attempt and prepared herself anew. Her determination and perseverance helped her achieve her dream.
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Family Support
Nisa's family played a crucial role. Her husband Arun, an engineer, always supported her. Her daughters, Nandana (11) and Thanvi (7), never hindered her studies. Her parents, retired police officers, also supported her every step of the way.
Hearing Impairment: Not a Barrier to Becoming an IAS
Nisa has a hearing impairment, but she never let it become a weakness. She learned from every failure and constantly improved her strategy.
Shashi Tharoor Praised Nisa Unnirajan
As news of Nisa's success emerged, many prominent leaders and officers congratulated her. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor posted a newspaper clipping and wrote: “It’s never too late — an inspiring story! A 40 year old disabled mother from Thiruvananthapuram cracked the IAS while raising two kids. Congratulations Nisa Unnirajan!”
Motivation: The Key to UPSC Success
Nisa drew inspiration to pursue the UPSC exam from Kottayam’s Sub-Collector Ranjit, a successful officer who, like her, is hearing impaired. His story proved to her that no dream is out of reach with unwavering determination. To stay motivated and mentally strong, Nisa immersed herself in motivational books, success stories, and autobiographies, reinforcing her belief that she could overcome any obstacle.
