Navigating IAS Ritika Jindal’s journey: Academic Excellence, IAS Preparation, and Triumph Over Hardships

November 7, 2023

4 Minutes

Introduction

Ritika Jindal's journey from a small town to becoming the youngest IAS officer in the 2019 batch is truly inspiring. She was born and raised in Moga, Punjab, a town often known as the "NRI capital of Punjab." Despite the common belief in her town that boys would receive an education and opportunities to work abroad, while girls would be educated and married off, preferably to an NRI for the chance to go abroad, Ritika's father had a far-sighted perspective.

Ritika faced numerous challenges during her IAS preparation but never lost sight of her dream to succeed. Her story is a beacon of hope for those who dare to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals. Let's delve into Ritika Jindal's remarkable journey.

Early Life and Aspirations

Ritika grew up in Moga, where her family faced several hardships. Her father worked as a product manager at Nestle but had chronic health issues that required frequent visits to DMC Ludhiana. This situation left her family struggling. Despite these challenges, Ritika held onto her dream of becoming a District Collector (DC) through IAS preparation, after someone in her childhood told her that only a DC had the power to bring change and development to an underprivileged area.

Academic Excellence

Ritika's journey towards success began early. She achieved the top position in the 12th-grade CBSE exams for Northern India in the commerce stream with an outstanding 98.6% score. Her academic excellence even earned her recognition from the Prime Minister of India. These achievements reflected her unwavering dedication.

Educational Pursuits before IAS Preparation

While taking her 12th grade exams, Ritika's family faced another hurdle when her father's health deteriorated, leading to his admission to DMC Ludhiana. During this challenging time, Ritika took on the responsibility of caring for her younger brother, all while battling a high fever of 104 degrees. Remarkably, she not only shouldered these responsibilities but also managed to secure the top position in Northern India.

While many believe that focusing on IAS preparation during college means neglecting academics, Ritika had a different perspective. She considered her college education essential. As a result, she graduated with distinction in B. Com, scoring an impressive 95%, and secured the third position in Sri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University, renowned as the best commerce college in Asia. It was during her first year at college that she met her mentor, Mr. NK Yadav, who would play a pivotal role in her journey.

Although Ritika managed to find a mentor for her preparation, it can sometimes be hard for aspirants to find a good mentorship program. Drishti IAS has included personal mentorship and one-on-one guidance in each of their UPSC courses. Click here to check out our detailed blog on Drishti IAS fees, courses and combo packages.

Challenges Faced while preparing for UPSC

Ritika's path was fraught with challenges. Her first attempt at UPSC coincided with her father's diagnosis of oral cancer. Despite the personal turmoil, her family encouraged her to continue pursuing her dream. In her initial attempt, she cleared the preliminary and mains exams but narrowly missed the final selection.

Throughout her academic journey, Ritika had consistently excelled as a district, state, and national topper in academics as well as in various competitions, including Maths Olympiads, Science Olympiads, NSTSE, and NTSE. Her dedication to academic excellence set the foundation for her future success.

In her second attempt, her father was diagnosed with lung cancer. This time, Ritika emerged victorious in the UPSC exam. Her father described her achievement as an "immunotherapy injection" during their difficult times.

Beginning of Her IAS Preparation Journey

Ritika secured the Himachal Pradesh cadre and was appointed as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. During her training at LBSNAA, the National Academy of Administration, her father and mother tragically passed away due to cancer. Despite facing such immense personal loss, Ritika's determination remained unshaken.

Ritika's Strategy for IAS Preparation

Ritika believes that cracking the UPSC exam requires consistent and dedicated effort. She emphasizes that while you may study the same set of books for both the preliminary and mains exams, the approach should differ.

• The preliminary exam assesses factual knowledge and memory, whereas the mains test your logical and analytical abilities. You must demonstrate your capacity to reach well-balanced conclusions. Check out our detailed post on 
• Essays play an important role in expanding your knowledge pool and should be presented clearly and concisely.
• One common factor in every stage of the UPSC journey is knowledge. Ritika's advice is clear: learn how to learn by yourself.
• She advocates starting UPSC preparation as early as possible if you have the inspiration inside you from a young age.
• For college students, her approach involves laying a strong foundation in General Studies (GS), followed by optional subjects and extensive answer-writing practice, all complemented by test series.
• Choosing an optional subject for the UPSC exam can be a crucial decision. While many opt for subjects they consider easy or highly scorable, Ritika encourages aspirants to choose subjects they are genuinely passionate about, preferably from the ones that they have studied in college. Additionally, “

Conclusion

Ritika Jindal's journey from a small town in Punjab to becoming the youngest IAS officer of the 2019 Civil Services Exam batch is a testament to unwavering determination and the power of self-belief. Her story inspires countless aspirants to aim high and work tirelessly to achieve their dreams. In the challenging world where millions of students prepare for UPSC exams, Ritika's message of hard work, dedication, and resilience rings true, reminding us all that with the right mindset, we can overcome any obstacle and reach for the stars.