Despite Losing Hearing In Class 11, Saumya Sharma Cleared UPSC In First Attempt
IAS Saumya Sharma secured All India Rank 9 in the UPSC exam on her first attempt at the age of 23. She is a 2018 batch IAS officer from the Maharashtra cadre.
This is the story of Saumya Sharma, who achieved the ninth rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017 with just four months of preparation. At the age of 23, she passed the examination and secured the post of IAS. She hails from Delhi. When Saumya Sharma was in the class 11, her hearing ability began to deteriorate, leading her to rely on hearing aids.
Sharma faced a significant challenge during her schooling when she was 16 years old and gradually lost her hearing ability. Despite this difficult period, she did not give up. Both her parents are medical professionals, and she completed her schooling in Delhi.
She pursued a law degree from National Law University, Delhi. Additionally, she advocated for reservations for hearing-impaired students in the Delhi High Court, showing her concern for other disadvantaged sections of society. At that time, the quota was only for the orthopedically and visually handicapped. The then Chief Justice G Rohini extended the reservation without any litigation after taking cognizance of her letter.
Cracked UPSC with just four months of preparation
After completing her law degree, Saumya began preparing for the UPSC. With only four months before the exam, she studied for about six hours every day, relying on self-study without any coaching. Saumya shared her study schedule with the media, revealing that she studied for 5-6 hours daily and placed great importance on daily current affairs.
She cleared the UPSC prelims exam on her first attempt. During the mains exam, she fell ill with a high fever but still appeared for the exam and passed. Notably, she did not take a reservation in the Divyang (PWD) category but appeared in the general category.
She advised candidates not to take CSAT lightly and to practice CSAT papers. She read the newspaper daily and chose law as her optional subject, which she had also studied during her graduation. She is a 2018 batch IAS officer from the Maharashtra cadre.
Saumya Sharma secured All India Rank 9 in the UPSC exam on her first attempt at the age of 23. This was a remarkable achievement, especially as she overcame physical challenges without using reservations.
Saumya Sharma is married to IPS officer Archit Chandak, who is currently serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Nagpur. Like Sharma, he is also from the Maharashtra cadre and has completed B.Tech from IIT Delhi.
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August 08, 2025, 16:49 IST
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Despite Losing Hearing In Class 11, Saumya Sharma Cleared UPSC In First Attempt
Last Updated: IAS Saumya Sharma secured All India Rank 9 in the UPSC exam on her first attempt at the age of 23. She is a 2018 batch IAS officer from the Maharashtra cadre. This is the story of Saumya Sharma, who achieved the ninth rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017 with just four months of preparation. At the age of 23, she passed the examination and secured the post of IAS. She hails from Delhi. When Saumya Sharma was in the class 11, her hearing ability began to deteriorate, leading her to rely on hearing aids. Sharma faced a significant challenge during her schooling when she was 16 years old and gradually lost her hearing ability. Despite this difficult period, she did not give up. Both her parents are medical professionals, and she completed her schooling in Delhi. She pursued a law degree from National Law University, Delhi. Additionally, she advocated for reservations for hearing-impaired students in the Delhi High Court, showing her concern for other disadvantaged sections of society. At that time, the quota was only for the orthopedically and visually handicapped. The then Chief Justice G Rohini extended the reservation without any litigation after taking cognizance of her letter. Cracked UPSC with just four months of preparation After completing her law degree, Saumya began preparing for the UPSC. With only four months before the exam, she studied for about six hours every day, relying on self-study without any coaching. Saumya shared her study schedule with the media, revealing that she studied for 5-6 hours daily and placed great importance on daily current affairs. She cleared the UPSC prelims exam on her first attempt. During the mains exam, she fell ill with a high fever but still appeared for the exam and passed. Notably, she did not take a reservation in the Divyang (PWD) category but appeared in the general category. She advised candidates not to take CSAT lightly and to practice CSAT papers. She read the newspaper daily and chose law as her optional subject, which she had also studied during her graduation. She is a 2018 batch IAS officer from the Maharashtra cadre. Saumya Sharma secured All India Rank 9 in the UPSC exam on her first attempt at the age of 23. This was a remarkable achievement, especially as she overcame physical challenges without using reservations. Saumya Sharma is married to IPS officer Archit Chandak, who is currently serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Nagpur. Like Sharma, he is also from the Maharashtra cadre and has completed from IIT Delhi. view comments First Published: August 08, 2025, 16:49 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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