
Meet India's youngest woman officer, cracked UPSC exam in first attempt at 21, but decided not to become IAS, IPS due to..., her AIR was...
At just 21 years old, Vidushi Singh made history by becoming the youngest woman in India to clear the UPSC exam with an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 13. But what truly surprised everyone was her decision to not pick the most popular services, instead following a path that stayed true to a personal family promise. Let's get to know more about Vidhushi and why she chose a path very different from other UPSC candidates. Where is Vidushi from?
Vidushi was born in Jaipur but belongs to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. She didn't grow up in a big city or go to coaching classes. Instead, she prepared for one of India's toughest exams on her own. Her education journey
She studied at the Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), one of the best colleges under the University of Delhi. She graduated with a degree in Economics, which also became her optional subject in the UPSC exam. According to her LinkedIn profile, she had a clear aim from the beginning and always took her studies seriously. Vidushi Singh: Youngest woman to crack UPSC with AIR 13, chose IFS over IAS
The UPSC Civil Services Exam is known as one of the toughest exams in India and every year, lakhs of students appear for it, but only a few reach the top and Vidushi Singh is one of those few. In 2022, Vidushi made history by becoming India's youngest woman to clear the UPSC exam. She scored an amazing All India Rank (AIR) 13. She accumulated a total of 1039 marks, with 855 in the written examination and 184 in the personality test, which is the interview round. Her optional subject was economics. What makes her story even more inspiring is that she did not join any coaching institute. She prepared for the exam completely on her own.
While many UPSC toppers dream of becoming IAS officers, Vidushi made a bold and different choice. She turned down the IAS and chose to become an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer instead. She didn't follow the crowd, instead she followed her own dreams and picked a career that matched her true interests and future plans. Vidushi Singh's success rooted in her grandparents' wish
Vidushi Singh's achievement was not just about clearing the UPSC exam, but it was about a promise she made to her grandparents. According to media reports, her grandparents always dreamed of seeing her become an IFS officer and representing India in foreign countries. And this became Vidushi's life's purpose.
She is currently working as Third Secretary (LT) for Embassy of India, Paris.
The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is one of the most respected services in the country. IFS officers are in charge of managing India's relations with other countries, working in embassies, consulates, and missions around the world. They represent India on the global stage and play a key role in building international ties.

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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-3 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 Highlight the health and environmental consequences of delaying or exempting anti‑pollution equipment in ageing coal power plants. How do these consequences compare with the economic burden of installing flue‑gas desulphurization (FGDs)? Discuss the significance of commissioning INS Nistar and the impending INS Nipun for India's deep-sea operational preparedness and maritime security posture in the Indian Ocean Region. 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. 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Introduction: — The Environment Ministry has exempted the majority of India's coal-fired thermal plants from installing equipment to remove sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions, which are a major contributor to air pollution. Those remaining plants in Delhi-NCR must meet a December 2027 deadline, while the others will be requested to fit the devices on an individual basis. Originally, these plants were required to install FGD devices by 2017. However, over the years, they have received various extensions to comply. — Flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) devices remove SO2 from flue gas, a thermal plant byproduct. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — When SO2 is discharged into the atmosphere, it normally reacts with ammonia (NH3) to form ammonium sulphate, which is responsible for about one-third of India's fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution, according to recent research by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. PM2.5 is harmful to human health since it can cause chronic illnesses such as asthma, heart attacks, bronchitis, and other respiratory issues. — Direct exposure to high levels of SO2 can cause irritation in the eyes, throat, and lungs. Long-term exposure can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and early mortality. — SO2 also has an impact on the environment by causing acid rain, which can harm ecosystems. — The power sector, particularly coal-fired thermal plants, is one of India's largest producers of SO2 emissions. According to CREA research, SO2 levels were greater in 2023 than in 2019, with a significant increase in places dominated by coal-based thermal plants. According to the study, this showed 'the influence of power plant emissions on air quality'. — In 2015, the Environment Ministry issued the first emission standards for reducing SO2 and other hazardous chemicals from coal-fired thermal facilities. 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Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security. (2022) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 110) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 111) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 110) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 111) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 110) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 111) 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.