Meet Neha Byadwal, one of India’s youngest female IAS officers: Didn’t Touch Mobile Phone for 3 Years While Preparing for UPSC

India’s youngest female IAS officer, Neha Byadwal, after failing in the UPSC Civil Services Eamination (CSE) in her first attempt, took a decision that changed her life. She distanced herself from social media for three years and almost stopped using mobile phones. This dedication and determination made her pass the UPSC exam in the fourth attempt in 2021.

Early life and education

Neha Byadwal was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, but was raised in Chhattisgarh. She started her early education from Jaipur and later studied at Kidzee High School in Bhopal. Her father, Shravan Kumar, is a senior income tax officer, whose service to the country inspired Neha to dream of becoming an IAS.

Due to frequent transfers, Neha completed her schooling at DPS Korba and then DPS Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. Later, she obtained a bachelor’s degree from DB Girls College, Raipur and was also a university topper.

UPSC journey and challenges

Neha started preparing for UPSC after graduation, but her journey was not easy. After failing in the first three attempts, she realized that mobile phones and social media were hampering her studies. After this realization, she kept distance from them for three years and became fully dedicated towards her goal.

During this time, Neha also distanced herself from her friends and relatives and focused all her attention on studies. In this difficult time, she also cleared the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exam several times, but never deviated from her goal of becoming an IAS.

Became IAS at the age of 24

Despite many failures and giving up social life, Neha Byadwal secured 569th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her fourth attempt in 2021. She was only 24 years old at that time. She scored a total of 960 marks, including 151 marks in the interview.

Success Story on Social Media

After clearing the UPSC exam, Neha Byadwal became an inspiration on social media. She has more than 28,000 followers on Instagram, where she gives preparation tips to UPSC aspirants.

Neha’s story teaches us that if we work hard with full honesty and dedication towards our goal and avoid distractions, success is certain. It is also very important to use social media and mobile properly, especially when we are moving towards a big goal.