Meet Kerala's first woman UPSC topper, a trained playback singer, became IAS with AIR..., she is now...
IAS Haritha V Kumar Success Story: The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the toughest recruitment tests in India, with millions of aspirants taking the exam each year to fulfill their dream of joining civil services. While, the prestigious service has been traditionally male-dominated, women had begun their mark over the past few decades, with names like IAS Tina Dabi and her sister IAS Ria Dabi, achieving celebrity status due to their UPSC exploits.
One woman who broke the proverbial glass ceiling is IAS Haritha V Kumar, who scripted history in 2012 when she became the first the woman from Kerala to top the UPSC CSE, achieving an All-India Rank of 1. Who is IAS Haritha V Kumar?
Born on November 21, 1985 in Neyyattinkara, Kerala, Haritha V Kumar grew up in a middle-income home with her twin brothers– Sadrarsh and Satheerth– her father Vijaya Kumar, a contractor with Kerala Water Authority, and mother Chitra, a homemaker.
Growing up, Haritha attended the St Theresa's Convent, and later completed her schooling at a government-run school in her hometown. After her schooling, she moved to Thiruvananthapuram, where she earned a B.Tech degree in Electronics and Telecommunications at Barton Hill Engineering College, following which she received a job offer at HCL Technologies.
However, since her childhood, Haritha V Kumar was fixated with becoming an IAS officer, and thus turned down the job offer, instead choosing to pursue her UPSC dream. How Haritha V Kumar aced UPSC CSE?
After her graduation, Haritha V Kumar began rigorous preparations for UPSC, but the journey was far from a bed of roses, as she failed to her clear the UPSC mains in her first attempt in 2009. Unfazed by the failure, Haritha marched on and cleared the tough exam in her second attempt, securing an AIR of 179, which earned her the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) cadre.
Haritha's dream to become an IAS officer received another setback as her AIR slipped to 294 in her third UPSC attempt, leaving her to question her career choices. 'At that point, I had thought of quitting. It was my parents who pushed me to try once more,' she revealed in an interview.
Bolstered by her parents' support and encouragement, Haritha V Kumar attempted the UPSC CSE for the fourth time in 2012, and aced the exam with the coveted AIR 1, becoming the first woman from Kerala to achieve the remarkable feat. Haritha V Kumar hobbies
Beyond her UPSC success, Haritha V Kumar is also a trained playback singer, and made her singing debut in the 2022 Malayalam film Karuna, lending her voice to a Mohan Sithara composition in raga Shyam Kalyan. Haritha is trained in Carnatic music and classical dance, and was an active participant in various cultural activities, including stage shows, etc during her school and college days.
Currently, IAS Haritha V Kumar is posted as the Director of Women and Child Development, with additional charge as Principal Director of the LSGD.
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India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
Meet Kerala's first woman UPSC topper, a trained playback singer, became IAS with AIR..., she is now...
IAS Haritha V Kumar (File) IAS Haritha V Kumar Success Story: The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the toughest recruitment tests in India, with millions of aspirants taking the exam each year to fulfill their dream of joining civil services. While, the prestigious service has been traditionally male-dominated, women had begun their mark over the past few decades, with names like IAS Tina Dabi and her sister IAS Ria Dabi, achieving celebrity status due to their UPSC exploits. One woman who broke the proverbial glass ceiling is IAS Haritha V Kumar, who scripted history in 2012 when she became the first the woman from Kerala to top the UPSC CSE, achieving an All-India Rank of 1. Who is IAS Haritha V Kumar? Born on November 21, 1985 in Neyyattinkara, Kerala, Haritha V Kumar grew up in a middle-income home with her twin brothers– Sadrarsh and Satheerth– her father Vijaya Kumar, a contractor with Kerala Water Authority, and mother Chitra, a homemaker. Growing up, Haritha attended the St Theresa's Convent, and later completed her schooling at a government-run school in her hometown. After her schooling, she moved to Thiruvananthapuram, where she earned a degree in Electronics and Telecommunications at Barton Hill Engineering College, following which she received a job offer at HCL Technologies. However, since her childhood, Haritha V Kumar was fixated with becoming an IAS officer, and thus turned down the job offer, instead choosing to pursue her UPSC dream. How Haritha V Kumar aced UPSC CSE? After her graduation, Haritha V Kumar began rigorous preparations for UPSC, but the journey was far from a bed of roses, as she failed to her clear the UPSC mains in her first attempt in 2009. Unfazed by the failure, Haritha marched on and cleared the tough exam in her second attempt, securing an AIR of 179, which earned her the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) cadre. Haritha's dream to become an IAS officer received another setback as her AIR slipped to 294 in her third UPSC attempt, leaving her to question her career choices. 'At that point, I had thought of quitting. It was my parents who pushed me to try once more,' she revealed in an interview. Bolstered by her parents' support and encouragement, Haritha V Kumar attempted the UPSC CSE for the fourth time in 2012, and aced the exam with the coveted AIR 1, becoming the first woman from Kerala to achieve the remarkable feat. Haritha V Kumar hobbies Beyond her UPSC success, Haritha V Kumar is also a trained playback singer, and made her singing debut in the 2022 Malayalam film Karuna, lending her voice to a Mohan Sithara composition in raga Shyam Kalyan. Haritha is trained in Carnatic music and classical dance, and was an active participant in various cultural activities, including stage shows, etc during her school and college days. Currently, IAS Haritha V Kumar is posted as the Director of Women and Child Development, with additional charge as Principal Director of the LSGD.
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: What you must know about India's green hydrogen plants for the UPSC exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your UPSC Current Affairs knowledge nugget for today on India's Green hydrogen plants. Claiming that 'a big step has been taken today', Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday inaugurated the state's first green hydrogen plant in Gorakhpur, with the project aiming to produce 72,000 tonnes of green fuel in a year. In this context, let's learn about India's green hydrogen plants and the significance of hydrogen as a fuel. 1. 'This is the first such plant in Uttar Pradesh and only second in the country. A big step has been taken today as this plant would ensure blending of green hydrogen with CNG (compressed natural gas) and PNG (piped natural gas),' the Chief Minister said. 2. As a pilot project, the plant will mix 2% green hydrogen with natural gas (both CNG and PNG) for city gas distribution systems. Officials informed that the 2 MW renewable energy plant will generate hydrogen through electrolysis, reducing carbon emissions by around 500 tonnes. first commercial-scale green hydrogen plant in India's stainless steel sector was inaugurated virtually on March 4, 2024 at Jindal Stainless Ltd's (JSL) manufacturing unit in Haryana's Hisar, by Union Minister for Steel and Civil Aviation, Sh. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. 2. It is the world's first off-grid Green Hydrogen plant for the stainless steel industry and the world's first Green Hydrogen plant with rooftop & floating solar. 3. This project is also a state-of-the-art green hydrogen facility with a target to reduce carbon emissions considerably by around 2,700 Metric Tonnes per annum and 54,000 tons of CO2 emissions over next two decades. 1. Recently, India's 1st Make-in-India Green Hydrogen Plant in the port sector has been commissioned at Kandla by the Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla. With this, Kandla became the first Indian port to house a megawatt-scale indigenous green hydrogen facility. 2. Developed entirely by Indian engineers, the plant is the first module of a larger 10-megawatt green hydrogen project announced by the Prime minister in May 2025. 3. The plant has an annual production capacity of 140 metric tonnes of green hydrogen. The initiative follows DPA's earlier green success – the launch of India's first Make-in-India electric Green Tug. 1. Hydrogen, the most common element in nature, exists only in combination with other elements, and has to be extracted from naturally occurring compounds like water (which is a combination of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). It is a clean molecule, but the process of extracting it is energy intensive. 2. While hydrogen's potential as a clean fuel source has a history of nearly 150 years, it was only after the oil price shocks of the 1970s that the possibility of hydrogen replacing fossil fuels came to be considered seriously. 3. The sources and processes by which hydrogen is derived are categorised by colour tabs. Hydrogen produced from fossil fuels is called grey hydrogen. Currently, most of the hydrogen produced for industrial consumption and applications is grey hydrogen. 4. Hydrogen generated from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage options is called blue hydrogen. 5. Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced from water electrolysis—splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen—by using renewable energy-powered electrolysers. It is considered a virtually emission-free pathway for hydrogen production. 6. There are particular benefits to green hydrogen: (i) It is a clean burning molecule that can be used to decarbonize a variety of industries, such as transportation, chemicals, and iron and steel. (ii) Hydrogen can be produced by channeling renewable energy that the grid is unable to store or use. 1. To boost India's green hydrogen exports and encourage energy-intensive sectors to adopt the emerging fuel, the Centre has introduced a certification scheme under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and notified rules for claiming emission offsets under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). 2. Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on April 29 launched a scheme to measure, monitor, report, verify on-site, and certify green hydrogen based on a standard introduced by the Ministry in 2023. 3. On April 27, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), nodal agency for the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme, also announced an offset mechanism for hard-to-abate sectors using green hydrogen under CCTS, to allow them to earn and trade credits. 4. Notably, in 2023, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) introduced a green hydrogen standard, capping emissions at 2 kg of CO2 per kg of hydrogen produced. The certification scheme, based on the standard, applies only to green hydrogen production from electrolysis or conversion of biomass. The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2023, recognising the role of Green Hydrogen in India's ambitions of energy independence by 2047 and Net Zero by 2070. Supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), NGHM views Green Hydrogen as a sunrise sector for India. It has the objective of making India a global hub for the production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. The 2030 target for green hydrogen production capacity under the NGHM is 5 million tonnes per annum, contributing to reduction in dependence on import of fossil fuels. Achievement of the mission targets is expected to reduce India's fossil fuel imports by a cumulative Rs 1 lakh crore by 2030. With reference to the green hydrogen, consider the following statements: 1. Hydrogen generated using electrolysers powered by renewable power sources is called green hydrogen. 2. India's 1st Make-in-India Green Hydrogen Plant in the port sector has been commissioned at Kandla. 3. Green hydrogen can decarbonise iron and steel sector. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (Sources: Yogi Adityanath inaugurates UP's first green hydrogen project, Indian stainless steel sector's first green hydrogen plant, Knowledge Nugget: India's quest for the first hydrogen-powered train, India notifies certification scheme) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
KWA struggles to find bidders for Muttathara STP upgrade
T'puram: The ambitious plan to introduce a three-layer (tertiary) treatment facility at Muttathara sewage treatment plant (STP) in the state capital is set to be delayed as sewerage department of Kerala Water Authority (KWA) struggles to find qualified partners. Despite repeated tender calls, no bids were received, prompting authorities to extend the bidding deadline by a week. However, KWA's initial tender, issued earlier this year for constructing a 15 million litres per day (MLD) tertiary treatment plant valued at Rs 10.94 crore, expired in Feb without any successful participation. A corrigendum followed, extending the deadline to mid-March 2025. No qualified companies have come forward yet, prompting another extension, sources said. Companies with expertise in three-layer treatment are fewer, and so KWA is likely to proceed with the project on DBOT (design, build, operate and transfer) basis, sources said. "KWA called the tender multiple times earlier this year. However, no qualified companies participated. Hence, the final deadline is about to expire next week. Mostly, KWA will go for DBOT. Only then will it be possible to identify a suitable partner," said KWA sources. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Compliance Easy With These Identity Governance Tools AskLayers Learn More Undo Corporation secretary Jahamgeer S told TOI that notwithstanding earlier delays, authorities expect to initiate construction before the current governing council's tenure ends. "Though we planned to start the construction of this project earlier this year, it didn't happen," he said. The tertiary treatment facility, a first of its kind in Kerala, aims to upgrade the plant's capabilities and enable treated wastewater reuse for construction, industrial activities, housekeeping and environmental applications. The original plan was to begin construction in the first quarter of 2025 and complete it by Oct-Nov this year. According to the corporation, the facility was expected to raise the treatment capacity from 60 MLD to 107MLD, with nearly 15MLD earmarked for reuse, supported by an overhead tank (estimated at Rs 3 crore) and a total project cost of Rs 15 crore. Meanwhile, Muttathara STP is simultaneously advancing in another innovative direction. A pilot project featuring omniprocessor technology, designed to convert sludge into potable water, electricity and ash, is underway and funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The corporation, KWA and Ankur Scientific Pvt Ltd signed a tripartite agreement for its implementation, with the plant expected to be operational soon. Meanwhile, the broader sewerage infrastructure is also gaining attention. The city corporation recently approved a Rs 124.35 crore project for sewerage expansion, including a 42.7-km pipeline network covering Muttathara and other coastal zones, intended to benefit over 7,300 households. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
