UPSC Success Story: From Reel To Real, This Miss India Finalist Cracked UPSC Without Coaching In First Attempt With AIR...

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is considered one of the most challenging recruitment exams in the country, requiring unwavering dedication, hard work, and perseverance from aspirants striving to become civil servants. Succeeding in the UPSC CSE is no easy feat, as only the most exceptional academic minds manage to conquer this rigorous examination.

A remarkable example of this is IFS Aishwarya Sheoran, a former Miss India finalist who left behind a thriving modeling career to pursue her dream of joining the civil services.

Hailing from Rajasthan, Aishwarya Sheoran is the daughter of Colonel Ajay Kumar, an Indian Army officer and Commanding Officer of the 9th Telangana NCC Battalion. A bright student from an early age, she excelled academically, securing an impressive 97.5% in her Class 12 board exams at Sanskriti School in Delhi.

After completing her schooling, Aishwarya Sheoran pursued a Bachelor's degree at Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University. It was during her college years that she discovered her passion for modeling. She soon ventured into the field, participating in prestigious beauty pageants, and achieved her first major milestone in 2014 when she was crowned Miss Clean and Clear Fresh Face.

In 2015, Aishwarya Sheoran earned the title of Miss Delhi, but the highlight of her modeling career came the following year when she became a finalist in Miss India 2016. The competition was ultimately won by Roshmitha Harimurthy, who later went on to represent India at the Miss Universe pageant in Manila, Philippines.

Becoming a finalist in the Miss India pageant is a significant achievement in the modeling industry and often paves the way for a successful career in show business. However, Aishwarya Sheoran had different aspirations—she was determined to become a civil servant and contribute to the nation, driven by the strong sense of duty and military values instilled in her by her father.

In 2018, Aishwarya Sheoran secured admission to IIM Indore but decided not to enroll, choosing instead to dedicate nearly a year to rigorous UPSC CSE preparation. For 10 months, she relied entirely on self-study without attending coaching classes. Her dedication and perseverance paid off when she cleared the UPSC CSE on her first attempt, securing an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 93.

After successfully clearing the UPSC exam, Aishwarya Sheoran made another significant decision—she chose the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) over the IAS or IPS cadres. Currently, she serves as a senior officer in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), playing a key role in shaping the nation's foreign relations.