Meet IAS officer Pushpalata Yadav, from the small village of Khushbura in Rewari district, Haryana. Yadav completed her early education in her village and earned a BSc degree in 2016. She also pursued
post-graduation and an MBA.
Yadav got married in 2011 and moved to Manesar, Gurugram. Before marriage, she worked in the private sector for two years and held the position of Assistant Manager at the State Bank of Hyderabad. After marriage, she juggled her job and family responsibilities, dreaming of becoming an IAS officer.
Preparing for UPSC while raising a child
Pushpalata Yadav began preparing for the UPSC civil services exam about four years after her marriage when her son was two years old, and she was solely responsible for him. This period was challenging as she had to balance exam preparation and family care. She would wake up at 4 am daily to study for hours and then devote time to her family. Again, after sending her child to school, she would resume her studies.
During this time, Yadav’s husband was very supportive, taking care of their son while she studied. Her in-laws also continuously encouraged and supported her. With their support and her determination, she persevered.
Yadav did not succeed in her first two attempts but did not give up. In her third attempt in 2017, she achieved an all-India rank of 80. Ultimately, her hard work paid off, and she became an IAS officer.
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Meanwhile, the UPSC Civil Services Mains exam 2025 is underway. UPSC Mains exams consist of nine theory descriptive/theory papers. Out of these, two papers are for English and Regional language. These two papers are mandatory for the contestant to attend. The total mark for both papers is 300. Papers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for GS. Each paper is of 250 marks. One essay test and 2 papers for the optional subject the candidate has chosen. It also consists of 250 marks. After qualifying the civil service main exam, candidates will be called for interview.
