Daijiworld Media Network - Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh, Sep 18: For Ifra Shams Ansari, securing All India Rank 24 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 was not the result of an easy or flawless journey. It came after failure, self-doubt, emotional struggles and three determined attempts. Her story is a powerful reminder that setbacks do not have to define the final outcome.
Hailing from Rotaha village in Bhadohi district of Uttar Pradesh, Ifra grew up in a family that valued education and hard work. Her father, Shams Alam Ansari, is associated with the carpet export business, while her mother, Yasmeen Ansari, is a homemaker. Ifra is the second eldest among three daughters and one son.
She completed her schooling in Bhadohi before studying at La Martiniere Girls’ College in Lucknow. She went on to pursue Economics at Lady Shri Ram College for Women in Delhi and later completed her master’s degree in Sociology from the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi.
Interestingly, UPSC was not always her immediate ambition. It was during her college years, through fieldwork, NSS activities and exposure to grassroots realities, which she began to understand the impact that effective administration could have on society.
“Till I reached my Master’s level, I was not even fully aware that UPSC was what I truly wanted to pursue,” she recalled.
Once she decided to pursue civil services, the road ahead proved challenging. In her first attempt in 2023, she could not clear the Preliminary Examination. She returned stronger in her second attempt, clearing Prelims and Mains and reaching the interview stage, but missed the final selection.
The disappointment was difficult to overcome. For Ifra, the biggest challenge was not merely the vast UPSC syllabus but the battle against self-doubt.
“There were moments when I thought, maybe I cannot do this, maybe this is not for me,” she said.
However, she refused to allow failure to become the end of her dream. In her third attempt, she cleared all three stages and secured AIR 24.
Ifra credits the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA), Jamia Millia Islamia, and the supportive environment there for playing an important role in her preparation. She also considers her elder sister one of her strongest pillars of support.
Her preparation strategy was based on consistency rather than extreme isolation. She did not completely cut herself off from social media or friends. Instead, she focused on understanding the UPSC pattern, revising extensively and making effective use of previous years’ question papers.
“I turned previous year question papers into my own notes,” she said.
Her optional subject was Sociology, which complemented her academic background and interest in society and grassroots issues.
Her roots in Bhadohi also influenced her decision to join the civil services. Growing up around the carpet industry, she witnessed the struggles of weavers and the impact that administrative intervention could have on their livelihoods. The experience strengthened her desire to work at the grassroots level and create meaningful change.
Following her success, Ifra has urged aspirants not to blindly imitate others. She believes every candidate must understand their own strengths and develop a preparation strategy that suits them.
“Belief in yourself is not optional in this journey,” she says.
From failing to clear Prelims to missing final selection after reaching the interview stage, and finally rising to AIR 24, Ifra Shams Ansari’s journey shows that success often belongs to those who are willing to begin again.
Her story is not simply about securing a rank. It is about overcoming the voice of self-doubt, staying resilient through difficult phases and continuing to believe in a dream even when it seems distant.