Meet woman, a 40-year-old mother of two, cracked UPSC CSE to become IAS with AIR..., she is now...

India.com

2 days ago

IAS NIsa Unniranjan (File)
IAS Nisa Unniranjan Success Story: The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the toughest recruitment tests in the country and each year there are dozens of inspirational stories of successful aspirants who scratched and clawed their way to crack the formidable exam and realised dream of becoming an IAS officer.
However, the heartwarming success story of IAS Nisa Unnirajan is truly unique as she cleared the UPSC CSE at the age of 40, while taking care of her two young daughters, as well as managing her job and her home. Let us find out more about her inspiring journey. Who is IAS Nisa Unnirajan?
A resident of Kerala, Nisa Unnirajan decided to take a crack at the UPSC examination at 35, which is rare as most unsuccessful aspirants bid adieu to UPSC dreams after the age of 30. But Nisa's path was far towards success anything but rosy as she had manage her household responsibilities, job, and take care of her two daughters Nandana (11), and Thanvi (7).
However, the brave woman did not lose hope, and diligently managed all aspects of her daily life. She would prepare her children for school in the morning, take care of the house, work her day job, and later engross herself in preparation for UPSC at night.
Nisa's husband, Arun, a software engineer by profession, and her in-laws, stood behind her like a rock and encouraged her to pursue her dreams. 'My husband and in-laws supported me at every step. This would not have been possible without them,' she says. How Nisa Unnirajan cracked UPSC?
Apart from her daily responsibilities, Nisa Unniranjan suffered from a debilitating health condition, a serious hearing issue, which she turned into her strength. In an interview, Nisa revealed that she was inspired by Kottayam's sub-collector Ranjit, who overcame a similar condition to become an IAS officer.
Nisa Unniranjan attended coaching classes in Thiruvananthapuram, but it was her unique strategy that ultimately led to success. Detailing her UPSC preparation strategy, Nisa revealed that she used to read success stories about UPSC toppers and watch their motivational videos on YouTube.
Additionally, she divided syllabus topics into smaller parts to minutely study them in detail, and made notes which helped quickly revise any given topic she previously studied.
Ultimately, Nisa Unniranjan's perseverance and dedication paid off when she cracked the UPSC CSE 2024 in her seventh attempt with a respectable All India Rank (AIR) of 1000. She was 40 at the time.
Currently, IAS Nisa Unnirajan is posted as the Assistant Audit Officer at the Principal Accountant General's office in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.