Latest news with #RenuRaj
India Today
10-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
Dr Renu Raj left medicine and topped UPSC in 2014. Now she is helping tribal kids
Dr Renu Raj's journey is a story of hard work, determination, and the desire to help more people. She comes from Kottayam in Kerala. Her father worked as a bus conductor and her mother is a homemaker. Even with a simple background, Renu always dreamed studied medicine and became a doctor after completing her MBBS from Government Medical College in Kottayam. While working as a doctor, she felt that although she was helping patients, she wanted to do something that could make a difference in the lives of many more people. That's when she decided to try the UPSC Civil Services continuing her job as a doctor, she studied for about 6 to 8 hours every day. Her hard work paid off. In 2014, she cleared the UPSC exam in her first attempt, securing an impressive All India Rank of 2. Since becoming an IAS officer, Dr Renu Raj has worked in different parts of Kerala. She has taken up roles like Sub-Collector and District Collector. In her work, she has focused on improving healthcare, women's safety, and Renu Raj's story shows that with focus and dedication, it is possible to achieve your dreams and make a real difference in society.- Ends
News18
10-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Success Story: Bus Conductor's Daughter Leaves Job As Doctor, Cracks UPSC In First Attempt
After completing her schooling, Renu Raj earned her MBBS degree from Government Medical College in Kottayam. After this, she began working as a house surgeon in Kollam district. Dr. Renu Raj, a 2015 batch IAS officer, is an inspiration to millions of young people. Despite having completed 10 years in civil service, she remains a role model for UPSC aspirants. Dr Raj, who hails from a poor family, first earned an MBBS degree, worked as a doctor for a while, and then became an IAS officer by clearing the UPSC exam. She transformed her struggle into success through hard work. Although her family's financial situation was not very strong, her parents ensured she received a good education. Her father, Rajkumaran Nair, retired from his job as a bus conductor, while her mother, Lata, is a homemaker. A resident of Kottayam district in Kerala, Renu was a brilliant student from childhood. She aspired to serve as many people as possible by becoming a doctor, which motivated her to study medicine. Raj received her primary education from St. Teresa Higher Secondary School in Kottayam, Kerala. After completing her schooling, Raj earned her MBBS degree from the Government Medical College in Kottayam. Following this, she began working as a house surgeon at ASI Hospital in Kollam district. In 2013, while practicing medicine, she started preparing for the UPSC exam. While working in the hospital, Raj closely observed issues like poverty, lack of healthcare facilities, and social inequality. One day, she encountered a patient whose condition made her realise that societal problems could not be solved solely through treatment. She understood that joining the administrative service would enable her to bring about large-scale change. She prepared for the UPSC exam alongside her job, and her hard work paid off when she passed the exam in 2014. She cleared the prestigious exam on her very first attempt, securing an impressive All India Rank 2. As an IAS officer, Raj has held many important positions, always prioritising work for the poor and needy. Raj currently serves as the Director of the Scheduled Tribes Development Department of the Government of Kerala. She is also the Special Officer of the Tribal Resettlement and Development Mission. Previously, she has served as the collector of Wayanad and Ernakulam districts. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
10-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Meet Renu Raj: Daughter Of Bus Conductor Who Struck Gold Twice With Hard-Work, Became A Doctor And Then Cracked UPSC To Become IAS
photoDetails english 2929548 Updated:Jul 10, 2025, 10:52 AM IST Determination 1 / 7 Success favors those who persevere and refuse to give up. Wealth or privilege isn't a requirement to achieve your dreams. What truly matters is having the courage, patience, determination, and consistent effort to stay focused and work toward your goals. Renu's family situation 2 / 7 Renu Raj was raised in a humble household where her father, M.K. Rajkumar Nair, worked as a government bus conductor and her mother managed the home. Despite their modest background, Renu remained committed to her dreams and was determined from an early age to accomplish something meaningful in life. Educational background 3 / 7 Renu Raj pursued her medical education at a government medical college in Kottayam and went on to work as a surgeon. However, she felt unfulfilled and sought a deeper way to serve society. Driven by purpose and determination, she set her sights on the Civil Services Examination and began her preparation. Renu's dedication 4 / 7 While preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, Renu Raj dedicated 6 to 8 hours each day to her studies, all while continuing her work as a doctor. Her hard work paid off in her very first attempt in 2015, when she not only cleared the exam but secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 2. Kerala cadre 5 / 7 According to media reports, Renu Raj was assigned to the Kerala cadre. In an interview, she explained that while she could help hundreds of people as a doctor, becoming an IAS officer gave her the opportunity to positively impact thousands of lives. Sub-Divisional Magistrate 6 / 7 Since joining the service, she has held key administrative roles, including Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and District Magistrate (DM) in various districts of Kerala. In 2022, she tied the knot with fellow IAS officer Sriram Venkataraman. Director of the Scheduled Tribes Development Department in Kerala 7 / 7 Renu Raj's journey in the civil services has been defined by strong decision-making and a deep commitment to ethical governance. She earned praise for her decisive actions against illegal constructions and land encroachments in Munnar, showcasing her resolve to enforce the law and protect the environment. As the District Collector of Wayanad, she tackled local challenges with a problem-solving mindset. Currently serving as the Director of the Scheduled Tribes Development Department in Kerala, she remains dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities and ensuring inclusive development.
India.com
10-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Meet woman, daughter of bus conductor, left job as doctor, became UPSC topper in her first attempt, became IAS Officer with AIR..., she is...
Success comes to those who work for it and never give up. One does not need money or privilege to give flight to one's dreams. All it takes is courage, patience, hard work, and dedication to pursue one's goals. In this article, we will talk about the success story of Renu Raj, who cracked the UPSC CSE exam in her first attempt, became an IAS Officer with AIR…, she hails from… Who is IAS Renu Raj? Speaking about her family, Renu's father, M.K. Rajkumar Nair, served as a government bus conductor. Meanwhile, her mother was a homemaker. However, despite a modest upbringing, Renu never gave up her goals and passion. She has always aspired to achieve something significant in her life from a young age. From where did Renu complete her medical studies? Regarding her educational qualifications, Renu completed her medical studies at a government medical college in Kottayam. Soon, she began serving patients as a surgeon. Still, something was missing in her life. Despite being a doctor, Renu aimed to make a significant impact on society. With determination and a fixed aim, she started preparing for the Civil Services Examination. How did Renu prepare for the UPSC exam? Talking about her UPSC preparation, Renu studied for 6 to 8 hours daily. Alongside her medical practice, she sat for the UPSC CSE examination. In her first attempt, she qualified for the UPSC CSE examination 2015. Not only did she qualify for the examination, but she also obtained the All India Rank(AIR) 2 in the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2015. What was Renu Raj's UPSC rank? If media reports are to be believed, she was allotted the Kerala cadre. When asked in an interview why Renu left her job as a doctor, she stated that as a doctor, she could help a hundred patients. But as an IAS Officer, she can change the lives of thousands. After becoming an IAS officer, Renu has served as SDM and DM in several districts of Kerala. In 2022, she married fellow IAS officer Sriram Venkataraman. Every year, the Union Public Service Commission conducts the Civil Services Examination. It is considered to be one of the toughest exams conducted in India. Every year, over ten lakh students appear for this exam. The exam is held in three phases. They are a preliminary, mains, and an interview round/personality test.
