She Stories
From Failing Class 5 to Becoming an IAS Officer at 24: Neha Byadwal’s Inspiring UPSC Journey
By Ananya Varma
Success does not always follow a straight path. The journey of IAS officer Neha Byadwal is one such example, marked by academic setbacks, repeated UPSC failures and ultimately success at a young age.
Byadwal reportedly failed Class 5 during her school years and later faced disappointment in the country's highly competitive Civil Services Examination. After three unsuccessful attempts, she cleared the UPSC examination on her fourth attempt at the age of 24, securing All India Rank 569 in the 2021 examination.
Who is Neha Byadwal?
Neha Byadwal was born on July 3, 1999, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and spent part of her childhood in Chhattisgarh.
After completing Class 12, she pursued graduation from DB Girls College in Raipur. During her college years, she reportedly emerged as a university topper.
Her academic journey was significantly different from the outcome suggested by her early school experience.
From failing Class 5 to academic success
One of the most striking aspects of Byadwal's story is her early academic setback.
She reportedly failed Class 5, but the setback did not determine the direction of her future. Her subsequent academic performance improved considerably, eventually leading her to perform strongly at university.
Her story is a reminder that an early failure does not necessarily define a student's long-term academic potential.
Three unsuccessful UPSC attempts
After deciding to pursue the Civil Services Examination, Byadwal faced another major challenge.
She appeared for the UPSC examination multiple times but was unsuccessful in her first three attempts.
Instead of abandoning her goal, she continued preparing and returned for another attempt.
The fourth attempt proved decisive.
Cracking UPSC at 24
In the 2021 Civil Services Examination, Byadwal finally achieved her goal.
She secured All India Rank 569 with a total score of 960 marks, according to reports about her journey. She was 24 years old when she cleared the examination.
Her success came after several years of preparation and three earlier setbacks.
A journey defined by persistence
What makes Byadwal's story notable is the contrast between her early academic failure and her eventual achievement.
Failing a school examination can often affect a student's confidence, while repeated competitive-exam failures can make the goal seem increasingly difficult.
Byadwal's journey shows that setbacks can be part of a longer process rather than the final outcome.
Her path—from an early school failure to becoming a university topper and eventually clearing UPSC—illustrates the importance of continuing to work towards a goal despite repeated disappointments.
The lesson from Neha Byadwal's story
Competitive examinations such as UPSC demand long-term preparation and consistency. Success may not always come in the first attempt.
Neha Byadwal's journey demonstrates that an unsuccessful attempt does not necessarily mean the end of a career goal.
Her story continues to resonate with aspirants who are facing academic setbacks or repeated failures while preparing for competitive examinations.
For many students, her journey offers a simple message: one failure does not have to define your future.