21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
She was a Miss India finalist, cracked UPSC without coaching; but why didn't she choose to become an IAS officer?
Aishwarya Sheoran
was once a name lighting up the pageant world. A Miss India 2016 finalist, crowned Miss Clean & Clear Fresh Face in 2014, and a model with enviable poise, she seemed destined for the glamorous corridors of fashion. But beneath the heels and spotlight lay a vision far removed from the runway—a dream to serve the nation in a way few from her world dared to dream.
In a stunning turn of events, she cracked the highly competitive
UPSC Civil Services
Examination with an All India Rank (AIR) of 93—
in her very first attempt
, and
without any coaching
. But what raised even more eyebrows was her choice: she didn't opt to become an IAS officer, the most sought-after post. Instead, she chose the
Indian Foreign Service
(IFS). But why?
From Runway to Rasthrapati Bhavan: Who Is Aishwarya Sheoran?
Born in 1997 in Rajasthan's Churu district, Aishwarya Sheoran's life always balanced discipline and distinction. With a 97.5% score in her Class 12 boards at Delhi's elite Sanskriti School and a seat at the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce, she proved early that she was more than just a pretty face. While her mother named her after Aishwarya Rai with the hopes of seeing her daughter in showbiz, her father, Colonel Ajay Kumar, Commanding Officer of the 9th Telangana NCC Battalion, instilled in her the ideals of service and discipline.
Her foray into modelling wasn't accidental. During college, she explored fashion and quickly rose through the ranks, securing a spot among the top contenders in Femina Miss India 2016. But the spotlight, she realized, could only offer so much. As her peers admired her glamour, Aishwarya was quietly preparing for something far more challenging and impactful.
Why IFS, Not IAS?
With her AIR 93 in UPSC, Aishwarya had the opportunity to opt for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS)—considered the crown jewel of India's bureaucracy. But her choice of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) was deeply personal and strategic.
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Inspired by her father's selfless service in uniform, she envisioned herself as India's face on the global stage. The IFS gave her the platform to combine diplomacy with national duty. Today, she serves as a senior officer in the
Ministry of External Affairs
, actively shaping India's international presence.
No Coaching, Only Determination
Where UPSC aspirants often spend lakhs on coaching and years preparing, Aishwarya's journey is rare. She took a year off, studied independently, and cleared one of the world's toughest exams—without a mentor, without mock tests, and without a fallback.
Her method was simple yet disciplined: focused reading, daily targets, and self-assessment. She credits her modelling days for teaching her time management, confidence, and resilience—traits that played a decisive role in her UPSC journey.
From walking fashion ramps to walking the corridors of power, Aishwarya's journey shows that the will to serve can outshine the will to be seen. And as for the question of
IAS vs IFS
? She answered that with dignity, ambition, and a globe-trotting career built not on fame, but on purpose.
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