Hyderabad: The 23-year-old Aishwarya Sheoran, a former Miss India finalist topped the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) results were announced on August 4. This ‘beauty with brains’ hailing from Rajasthan has secured an all-India rank of 93.
In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, Sheoran said that she always wanted to be a civil servant and modelling was a hobby. It was her dream to become an IAS officer which has now come true after she has qualified UPSC Civil Services Exam 2019.
She narrated her journey in a special interaction with ETV Bharat.
Q: How was your childhood as you belong to an army background?
A: As I belong to the family of army personal, I had the opportunity to travel. During my studies, I had changed at least ten to 12 schools. One learns new things every time when one goes to a new place and meets new people. I thought I should try for civil services for diversity in the family and the ultimate idea is to serve the nation. In the army, there are opportunities for women to grow, but it is still very limited. In civil services, there is no limit to what a woman can achieve.
Q: To whom you are so close, mother or father?
A: Being a member of an army family, I could not get to be with my father much. We used to see him once in a while. Most of my time was spent with my mother and brother. Mother motivated me and I imbibe the culture from both mother and father.
Q: How was your journey from modelling to the Indian Administrative Services (IAS)?
A: Regarding my journey from modelling to IAS, Aishwarya said that she was interested in both the careers. When she got the opportunity to take part in the Miss India contest, she did this as an extracurricular activity. "My mother named me Aishwarya after Aishwarya Rai because she wanted me to become Miss India, and I was eventually chosen in the top 21 finalists for Miss India."
Q: How you were preparing for the examination?
A: I had to switch off my phone, social media, everything, to focus on the exam and the result is here. But it's not that I suddenly generated interest in studies. I was always studious. I did not take up any coaching classes to clear the exam. The Internet proved to be the biggest boon in my preparation. From books, old interviews to current affairs and newspapers, everything is easily available on the Internet. I started my basic preparations from there only. I chose only one book for a topic and revised it repeatedly. The strategy holds the key in UPSC preparation
Q: Women from Shekhawati left their jobs and started enhancing their villages model. How do you visualise this change?
A: Girls are always keen to serve society but people never realize this. If such a change is coming then it is the beginning of a big change because every big change comes first as a small change. I want to focus on women’s empowerment. It would be a great achievement if women become economically self-dependent.
Q: Is there a need to increase job opportunities in villages?
A: If the villages become self-reliant people need not leave their village and go for work in other cities. There would not have been the exodus of people from cities to their native villages as happened during the coronavirus crisis. One should see the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to become self-reliant.
Q: How did you manage without coaching?
A: I prepared on my own and it is necessary to strike a balance in one’s studies. One needs to study according to one’s ability. Studying the whole day might cause problems. One should follow the method of study to one’s liking. It is not necessary to join a coaching class. One can get ranks by following studies in a planned manner.
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