UPSC rank holder Poorva Choudhary, who secured AIR 533 in UPSC Civil Services exam, lands in controversy due to...., father says...
Poorva Choudhary obtained 771 marks in the written examination and 165 marks in the personality test. Overall, she achieved a total of 936 marks. However, Poorva Choudhary has found herself at the center of an online controversy, with several social media users questioning her eligibility under the Other Backward Class (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) quota. In response to these allegations, her father has issued a statement addressing the concerns.
Refuting the allegations, Poorva Choudhary's father, Omprakash Saharan, a Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer currently serving as the Additional District Collector in Kotputli, stated that many people making such claims lacked a proper understanding of the applicable rules and regulations.
In an interview with India Today, Poorva Choudhary's father, Omprakash Saharan stated, 'In the case of direct RAS recruitment before the age of 40, the OBC NCL benefit does not apply. I became an RAS officer at 44. So, the claim that my daughter misused the certificate is completely untrue.'
Furthermore, Saharan explained that the same guideline applies to promotions or appointments to Class I positions—if such a promotion occurs before the age of 40, the child becomes ineligible for the OBC NCL quota. 'That's not my case,' he clarified dismissing the claims.
Highlighting the rapid spread of misinformation on social media, Saharan remarked,'People follow herd mentality. UPSC is a trending topic right now, and many use it to gain views and followers.'
The controversy was sparked after Poorva Choudhary's sister, Navya Saharan, shared a celebratory video on Instagram following the UPSC results. The reel, which included several pictures of Poorva—one of them taken outside the UPSC building—was captioned: '✨ Sibling goals? One cracked the most difficult exam in our country. The other's writing this caption!!!😌😚'
'The video features several pictures of Poorva Choudhary, including one taken in front of the UPSC building, possibly on the day of her personality test (interview). The video is set to the background music of 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram from the Bollywood movie Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The comment section is filled with congratulatory messages.'
However, the tone of the conversation changed after social media users spotted 'OBC' mentioned in the official results, sparking speculation about Poorva's eligibility—particularly in light of her father's current senior position.
According to government guidelines, children of Group A officers who are promoted after the age of 40 remain eligible for reservation benefits, as long as the family's annual income—excluding income from agriculture—does not exceed ₹8 lakh.
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Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on Chola empire and relationship between extreme rainfall, landslides, and flash floods (Week 115)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today's answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Discuss the strategies adopted by the Chola rulers to consolidate political control on land and assert dominance across maritime trade networks. Explain the factors that make the relationship between extreme rainfall, landslides, and flash floods in the Himalayan region complex. Introduction — The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction. — It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts. Body — It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content. — The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points. — Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. QUESTION 1: Discuss the strategies adopted by the Chola rulers to consolidate political control on land and assert dominance across maritime trade networks. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — The Chola empire is known to have reached its peak under Rajaraja I and his son and successor Rajendra Chola I. The doyen of South Indian history, Nilakanta Sastri, has written in his book The Cholas (1955) that under Rajaraja I and his successors, the Chola empire had reached the capacity of 'Byzantine royalty', 'with its numerous palaces, officials and ceremonials and its majestic display of the concentrated resources of an extensive empire'. — Rajaraja I was born to King Parantaka II in 947 CE. Records from copper plate inscriptions have revealed that upon his birth, he was named Arulmozhivarman. Upon accession to the throne in 985 CE, he adopted the regnal title 'Rajaraja' or king of kings. At the time he came to power, Rajaraja I had inherited a tiny kingdom centred around the Thanjavur-Tiruchirapalli region that was still recovering from the disasters of the Rashtrakuta invasions. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — The first military achievement of Rajaraja I's reign was the campaign in the Kerala region. Under his rule, the Chola Empire expanded all along the eastern coast, up to Kalinga in the north. The Cholas soon gained the upper hand over the Pandyas, who were another great dynasty in the Tamil region at the time and one of their biggest rivals. Consequently, the Cholas emerged as the primary power in the northern and eastern parts of the Tamil country. — The rule of Rajaraja I was the predominance of maritime trade. 'Rajaraja Chola understood that domination of lucrative trade routes was a sure way to distinguish himself and his court from the other fragmented polities of the Tamil country,' writes public historian Anirudh Kanisetti in his book, Lords of the Deccan: Southern India from the Chalukyas to the Cholas (2022). — Rajaraja I established himself as one of the most smart and sharp political leaders to emerge from South India. He conquered all Pandya territories before moving to Sri Lanka, where he plundered several Buddhist Viharas and rebuilt Shiva temples to establish the Cholas' empire. — Rajaraja I's personal abilities paved the way for the successes of his son and successor, Rajendra Chola, commonly known as Rajendra the Great. The Chola kingdom rose to its pinnacle and expanded its reach beyond the seas during his reign. — Rajendra Chola first seized royal power in 1012 CE as his father's co-regent, and he became king after Rajaraja I died in 1014 CE. Rajendra inherited his father's vast kingdom, which included all of present-day Chennai and Andhra Pradesh, as well as parts of Mysuru and Sri Lanka. He had profited from a well-established, powerful administration, a robust army, and a thriving trading system. — Rajendra became one of the few Indian monarchs to conquer land beyond the Indian subcontinent. In 1025 CE, he sent a naval expedition to Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, and the Srivijaya Empire, which is today's Indonesia. The expedition attempted to capture vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean region, which had previously been controlled by the Srivijaya Empire. Conclusion: — Chola emperors Rajaraja I and Rajendra Chola I will soon have statues erected in honour of their rich legacy. Recalling the glorious contribution of the 10th-century Chola empire in South India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said that the statues 'would serve as modern pillars of India's historical consciousness' and hailed the two rulers as 'synonymous with India's identity and pride'. (Source: Rajaraja I and Rajendra Chola: The 2 emperors who made the Cholas one of the greatest South Indian powers) Points to Ponder Read more about Chola Empire Read about contribution of Chola towards architecture Related Previous Year Questions Though the great Cholas are no more yet their name is still remembered with great pride because of their highest achievements in the domain of art and architecture. Comment. (2024) Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. (2013) QUESTION 2: Explain the factors that make the relationship between extreme rainfall, landslides, and flash floods in the Himalayan region complex. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Flash floods are usually triggered by extreme rainfall events that lead to landslides or mudslides with large amounts of debris ending up in streams or rivers. The debris flows down steep slopes with the surging water, its great force sweeping away buildings, vegetation, and roads in its path. — For instance, the Dharali incident indicates the rising risk of such disasters in these ecologically fragile regions, and the increasing uncertainty around their occurrence. This is making the task of installing early warning systems and taking mitigation measures even more difficult. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — A cloudburst has a specific definition in meteorology. The IMD categorises an extreme rainfall event as a cloudburst if a small area, roughly 10 km x 10 km in size, receives at least 100 mm of rain in about an hour. — During a cloudburst occurrence, extremely heavy rainfall raises the likelihood of a landslip. Cloudburst-like phenomena, even if they do not meet the exact definition of a cloudburst, are frequently responsible for flash floods in hill states. Many recent instances in Himachal Pradesh were caused by cloudburst-like events. — Heavy rains, landslides, and flash floods have no direct cause-and-effect link. — Not every cloudburst-like event causes a flash flood or calamity. Not all flash floods are caused by heavy rainfall. — A flash flood-like situation requires a number of factors to come together. In most situations, significant rainfall is followed by landslides or mudslides, which cause runoff into rivers. However, significant rainfall events do not always cause landslides, and even when they do, the debris does not necessarily end up in a river or stream. — Furthermore, the location where this occurs may not necessarily be on a steep enough slope to allow the collected material to descend forcefully. — But, again, landslides are not required to generate flash flooding. In certain circumstances, severe rainfall alone can accomplish this. Conclusion: — The Himalayas are comparatively young mountains. The rocks are not totally cemented, and there are many rather weak geological formations. The region is hence more vulnerable to landslides and flash floods than, instance, the older Aravali highlands. — The Himalayas are also earthquake prone. Continuous seismic activity increases the region's vulnerability to extreme rainfall events. Large-scale construction activities and heavy motor traffic are also major causes. — Certain mitigation measures can certainly be implemented. These might include avoiding construction activity near riverbanks, relocating villages and people away from rivers, and storing and disposing of huge rocks and construction waste in a way that prevents them from being carried into rivers. (Source: Dharali disaster: the complex, uncertain relationship between extreme rain, landslides & flash floods) Points to Ponder Read about cloudburst and flash floods How sustainable construction can be done in the Himalayan region? Related Previous Year Questions What is the phenomenon of 'Cloudbursts'? Explain. (2024) Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats. (2021) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 114) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 115) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 114) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 115) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 114) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 113) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
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