Teenage bride, once rescued by her mother, later achieves top rank in UPSC exam, and now she...
Madhya Pradesh Resident Defies Social Norms, Achieves UPSC Success After Escaping Early Marriage
Vaishali ShastriUpdated: May 31, 2025, 6:35 PM IST
In villages across India, young girls are often married before their 15th birthday. Anjali Sondhiya, a resident of a remote village in Madhya Pradesh, was one such girl. After the death of her father, family members coerced her to marry at 15, but her determined mother intervened, allowing Anjali to continue her education. Her mother's decision and unwavering support set Anjali on a path to change her destiny.
After completing her high school studies in 2016, Anjali began preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams. Despite failing in her initial three attempts in 2021, 2022, and 2023, she did not lose hope. With limited resources, she relied on NCERT books, standard study materials, and personal notes to further her studies.
Anjali's perseverance paid off in 2024 when she cleared the Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam with an impressive All India Rank of 9. Her strategy to excel in one of the toughest exams was understanding the syllabus thoroughly, solving previous years' question papers, and practicing numerous mock tests.
Anjali's exceptional dedication, hard work, courage, and passion led her to accomplish a life of respect and independence. While Kanika Anabh topped the UPSC IFS exam in 2024, Anjali's story is a shining example of persistence and determination that combats oppressive societal norms in India.
Anjali's UPSC success story is marked by perseverance and determination. Started preparing for UPSC immediately after passing her Class 12 exams in 2016. Initially, she planned on taking her first attempt in 2020 but postponed it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her first three attempts in 2021, 2022, and 2023 saw no success as she could not clear the prelims. However, undeterred, she continued her studies and finally cracked the IFS exam in 2024, securing an impressive rank of 9.
Anjali's journey epitomizes the power of persistence and determination, as she bravely overcame numerous hurdles to achieve her ambition of becoming an IFS officer.
Keywords:* Anjali Sondhiya* UPSC* UPSC Exam* UPSC IFS* UPSC IFS topper Kanika Anabh* UPSC Success Story* woman cracks UPSC exam* woman UPSC topper
- Anjali Sondhiya, despite growing up in a remote village in Madhya Pradesh where early marriages are common, managed to escape this social norm and pursue her dream of becoming a civil servant, thanks in part to her mother's support.
- Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Anjali Sondhiya postponed her first UPSC attempt, which she initially planned to take in 2020, and instead began her preparation in earnest following her Class 12 exams in 2016.
- Anjali Sondhiya's dedication and perseverance were evident in her continued attempts at the UPSC exam, as she tried again in 2021, 2022, and 2023, ultimately clearing the Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam with an impressive All India Rank of 9 in 2024.
- In an inspiring display of family health, parenting, women's health, and overall health-and-wellness, Anjali Sondhiya fought against all odds to become an IFS officer, setting an example for young girls in India and around the world who face similar challenges in pursuing their dreams.
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