UPSC and IIT are renowned for their combined potency, often serving as a harbinger of success. IAS officer Simi Karan, an exemplary individual who epitomizes this success, triumphed in her first attempt at cracking the UPSC examination.
Hailing from Odisha, Simi received her schooling in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. Her father was employed at the Bhilai Steel Plant, while her mother pursued a career in teaching.
Subsequently, she pursued electrical engineering at IIT Bombay, concurrently teaching underprivileged children in slum areas during her college tenure. Witnessing their plight deeply impacted Simi, igniting within her a desire to alleviate the hardships faced by such communities, ultimately steering her toward civil services.
In preparation for the UPSC examination, Simi meticulously analyzed interviews of top candidates and dissected the syllabus into more manageable segments. Her perseverance paid off when she secured an All India Rank of 31 in the UPSC examination of 2019, thus becoming an IAS officer at the tender age of 22.
Regarding her approach to success in the UPSC examination, Simi emphasized her focus on short-term goals rather than the number of hours spent studying. While maintaining an average study duration of 8-10 hours daily, she underscored the importance of studying efficiently, utilising limited resources, and allocating time for recreational activities such as jogging and indulging in stand-up comedy to unwind.
