Lost parents at 5, no coaching, 4 failures: How IPS Anshika Jain fulfilled her grandmother's last wish and cracked UPSC

IPS Anshika Jain

At an age when most children are learning to read, five-year-old Anshika Jain was learning about loss. The sudden death of both her parents could have defined her life, but her grandmother stepped in with a different plan, one built on love, books and an unwavering belief in her potential.

Raised in Delhi by her grandmother, a teacher and her uncle, Anshika found her world reshaped by their support. Her grandmother became her anchor, playing the role of both mother and father. It was from her that Anshika inherited a powerful dream: to become a civil servant. This wasn't just a career choice, it was a promise to the woman who had given her everything.

After completing her B.Com at Ramjas College, Delhi University, and pursuing an M.Com, Anshika faced a crossroads. A lucrative job offer from a leading MNC arrived, a safe and comfortable path. But she turned it down. The dream she and her grandmother shared was bigger than a paycheck.

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Her preparation for the UPSC exam was a solitary journey of self-study. Then, in 2019, tragedy struck again with the loss of her grandmother. The pillar of her strength was gone. For many, this would have been a breaking point. For Anshika, it became a moment to reaffirm her resolve. She channeled her grief into fuel, her grandmother's memory her new motivation.

The path was not easy. She faced the disappointment of failing the exam not once, but four times. Each attempt could have been a reason to quit, but Anshika’s determination was unyielding. On her fifth attempt, her perseverance was finally rewarded with an impressive All India Rank of 306 in the UPSC CSE 2022.

She chose the Indian Police Service, a reflection to her own strength and a living tribute to her grandmother's vision. Today, IPS Anshika Jain stands as a celebrated officer, her life a powerful lesson in resilience. Her story proves that our beginnings do not dictate our endings, and that with a heart full of purpose, even the deepest losses can be transformed into a legacy of triumph.