Daijiworld Media Network – Kerala (MS)

Kerala, Jan 15: Renu Raj made a significant career shift, leaving her medical profession to pursue the UPSC exams with a commitment to serving the public. Impressively, she successfully cleared the exams on her first attempt.

Renu gained public attention for her strong stance against illegal constructions and land encroachments in the popular tourist destination of Munnar, Kerala.

She earned her MBBS degree from the Government Medical College, Kottayam, following her secondary education at St. Teresa. In 2013, while practicing as a surgeon, she decided to venture into the UPSC examinations and achieved an outstanding All India Rank (AIR) 2 in her inaugural attempt.

Explaining her transition, Renu Raj expressed her desire to impact a larger number of people compared to the limited scope in the medical field. She believes that the decisions made by IAS officers have a profound effect on society, contributing to its overall betterment, whereas the impact in the medical field is confined to the recovery of individual patients.

Presently, Renu Raj serves as the district collector (DC) of Alappuzha in Kerala. Notably, her husband, Sriram Venkataraman, is also a UPSC topper. Renu Raj has also created inspirational videos aimed at boosting the morale of aspiring IAS candidates.