Meet Surabhi Gautam, Girl Who Overcame English Barrier And Went On To Crack TCS, ISRO, BARC And Other Prestigious Exams
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of India's most prestigious competitive exams, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. It recruits candidates for top government posts like IAS, IPS, IFS, and others. The exam consists of three stages—Prelims, Mains, and Interview—and requires thorough preparation, analytical thinking, and a deep understanding of current affairs and general studies. https://zeenews.india.com/photos/education/meet-surabhi-gautam-girl-who-overcame-english-barrier-and-went-on-to-crack-tcs-isro-barc-and-other-prestigious-exams-2936687 Updated:Jul 25, 2025, 01:51 PM IST Inspiring story of IAS officer Surabhi Gautam
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English today is seen not just as a language but as a mark of status and a vital skill. Many people struggle with fluency, which can lead to communication barriers. One such example is IAS officer Surabhi Gautam, who once faced humiliation in class due to her weak English. Hailing from a village in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, Surabhi was academically brilliant from an early age. Appeared in 10th and 12th exams without coaching
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Surabhi comes from a small village where coaching centres are hard to find. Without any coaching or tuition, she appeared for her 10th and 12th board exams and scored over 90 percent in both, relying only on self-study and school support. Her father worked as a lawyer in the civil court, and her mother was a teacher. Communication Skills
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The first day of college was tough for Surabhi Gautam, despite being a university topper. Coming from a Hindi-medium background, she struggled with English and was mocked in class for her lack of fluency. On her very first day, she faced ridicule for not being able to introduce herself in English. Determined to improve, she made a habit of learning 10 new English words daily to strengthen her communication skills. Could'nt understand English
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One day, a teacher asked Surabhi a physics question in English. She couldn't fully understand the question and ended up giving an incorrect answer. The teacher then doubted whether she had genuinely passed Class 12. This incident shook her confidence deeply and made her consider leaving college and going back home. Topped the university
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Determined to strengthen her English skills, she borrowed engineering books in English from the library. She wrote down difficult words on slips of paper and pasted them all around her room. Gradually, her immersion was so deep that she even began dreaming in English. She appeared for her semester exams in English and topped the university in her very first semester. Journey at TCS
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After earning her engineering degree, Surabhi Gautam began her professional journey at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), founded by the late industrialist Ratan Tata. Although the job offered stability and a good salary, she chose to leave it behind to pursue her true passion — a career in civil services. Competitive exams
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Surabhi Gautam went on to achieve top ranks in eight prestigious competitive exams, including those conducted by ISRO, BARC, IES, and UPSC. After completing her engineering, she briefly worked at BARC. In 2013, she topped the Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam, and in 2016, she fulfilled her dream by becoming an IAS officer, securing the 50th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
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India.com
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Meet man, worked as coolie, used railway station Wi-Fi to study, became IAS officer after clearing UPSC exam, his AIR was...
IAS Sreenath K once worked as a coolie at a railway station. (File) IAS Sreenath K Success Story: The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), arguably the toughest recruitment test in India, requires extensive preparation and dedicated coaching for aspirants who wish to crack the formidable exam. However, there are some who lack resources to purchase books for self-study, forcing them to rely on innovative methods to prepare for the UPSC exam. One such heartwarming example is that of IAS Sreenath K, an IAS officer from Kerala, who once worked as a coolie (porter) at a railway station, and used the free Wi-Fi service at the station to study for UPSC on his mobile phone. Who is IAS Sreenath K? Born in a poverty-ridden family in Munnar, Kerala, Sreenath K worked as a porter at the Ernakulam railway station, earning a modest Rs 400-500 daily, which was barely enough support his family. But despite his adverse financial situation, Sreenath persevered and did not give up on his dreams of becoming an IAS officer. However, the path towards success was arduous and filled with challenges as he did not even have enough money to buy the recommended study material for UPSC examination. Yet, the enterprising man devised a way to turn his dire situation into opportunity. How Sreenath K prepared for UPSC exam? In several interviews post his UPSC success, IAS Sreenath K revealed how he used free Wi-Fi available at the railway station to prepare for UPSC exams on his mobile. Sreenath would toil hard during the day to earn a livelihood, and study for almost the entire night with the help of YouTube videos, mock tests and free online study material. Sreenath K's hard work and perseverance ultimately paid off when he cracked the UPSC CSE in 2018, scoring an impressive 82% in the written part of the CSE, according to reports. While his exact All-India Rank (AIR) is not known, logic dictates that Sreenath K achieved a good rank as he was accorded the prestigious IAS cadre. The heartwarming success story of IAS Sreenath K serves as an inspiration to millions of young aspirants who lack resources to fund their preparation for tough competitive examinations such as the UPSC CSE.
