The 24-year-old UPSC qualifier claims that the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is her first choice and that she wants to represent her country with pride on international stages.
Noida: Wardah Khan, a resident of Noida, left her corporate job to focus on preparing for civil services. She achieved the 18th rank in the UPSC exam 2023, the results of which were announced by the UPSC on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old who cleared the UPSC exam wants to join the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) as her top choice. She aims to represent India on the global stage and make her country proud.
Like many aspirants, our first goal upon embarking on our trip is to see our name included among the results. However, making the top 20 was unthinkable; I never would have thought I could. Right now, I get a dreamy feeling. My entire family is happy and beaming with pride,” Ms. Khan said to PTI.
“I’ve chosen the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) as my top preference because I want to enhance India’s image on global platforms and in multilateral institutions. Additionally, I aim to support the Indian diaspora abroad,” she remarked.
Ms. Khan, a native of Vivek Vihar in Sector 82 of Noida, attended Delhi University’s Khalsa College to obtain her Bachelor of Commerce with Honors. She resides with her mother and is the sole kid of her parents. Her father passed away nine years ago.
Ms. Khan explained how her interest in geopolitics developed during her time in college, specifically in the areas of history and politics, and how this led her to join the UPSC.
During her college days, she was actively involved in debates and Mock United Nations (MUNs). Surprisingly, the thought of pursuing civil services as a career had not crossed her mind at that time.
It was during her time in her job that Ms. Khan discovered her aspiration to become a civil servant.
“After working for a corporate firm for eight months, I realized it didn’t fulfill me. I felt a strong desire to contribute to society and work for my country, aiming to make a positive impact on people’s lives,” she explained.
“After evaluating the syllabus and opportunities presented by a career in civil services, I found that they aligned perfectly with my interests. That’s when I made the decision to pursue it and left my job after eight months,” she stated.
“I prepared at home but also enrolled in online coaching at a private institution for a full year,” she shared.
On tips for UPSC aspirants, the AIR 18-holder said there are a few postulates that every candidate should keep in mind.
“First and foremost, it’s crucial to have a strong foundation in the basics, such as NCERT textbooks and ‘Polity’ by Laxmikant. These are the fundamental books you need to master,” she emphasized.
“You should also have well-organized syllabus notes for both the mains and your optional subjects ready before the exam cycle begins. These are essential aspects to keep in mind,” Khan added.
A total of 1,016 candidates, comprising 664 men and 352 women, have successfully cleared the examination and have been recommended by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for appointment to various services.
Aditya Srivastava, a trainee Indian Police Service officer, secured the top position in the civil services examination 2023, according to the results announced by the Union Public Service Commission on Tuesday.
Ruhani, P K Sidharth Ramkumar, Donuru Ananya Reddy, and Animesh Pradhan have placed second, third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.
