- By Sakshi Gupta
- Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:56 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
International Women's Day 2024: Some success tales are more engaging than others. These are the stories of those who persevere in the face of adversity and refuse to let doubt stand in the way of achieving their goals. On the occasion of International Women's Day, here is a story which is full of tenacity and unwavering determination. Read an extraordinary story of a woman named Anukriti Sharma, who left a good position at NASA to pursue her lifelong desire to join the Indian Police Service (IPS).
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the difficult Civil Services Examination (CSE) to select India's Group 'A' officers, including the esteemed IPS cadre. Anukriti Sharma, from the bustling Rajasthani city of Jaipur, entered the UPSC's 2020 batch of candidates. Her scholastic career began at Indo Bharat International School in Jaipur, and she eventually earned a BSMS degree from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Kolkata.
Anukriti's life took an unexpected turn in 2012, when she was accepted to Rice University's Ph.D. program in volcano research in Houston, Texas. While pursuing her PhD in the United States, she was given an exciting post at the NASA Institute, where she would be able to contribute to cutting-edge volcano research. The monthly remuneration for this position was greater than INR 2 lakh. Anukriti bravely chose to return to India despite the temptation of a wealthy profession in America, knowing that her true destiny was to serve society through the IPS.
Anukriti began preparing for the UPSC in 2014, driven by her desire to become an IPS officer. Her journey was marked by an unyielding spirit and steadfast determination. She did well on the preliminary exam in 2015 but struggled on the mains. She failed at the start of her second effort. But Anukriti refused to give up.
She made it to the interview stage on her third attempt but was not picked. Anukriti persevered despite challenges and returned for the evaluation in 2018. She finished 355th this time, obtaining a position with the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS is a reputable organization, yet it did not fulfil her dream. A part of Anukriti wished to wear the IPS uniform.