The Ahmedabad-born doctor and academic topper secures a place in India's elite civil services, inspiring countless others
NEW DELHI – In a historic achievement, Dr Ghazala Muhammad Hanif Ghanchi from Ahmedabad has become the first Muslim woman from Gujarat to crack the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. Her success marks a milestone not only for the Muslim community in Gujarat but also for aspiring candidates across the country who draw inspiration from her resilience and perseverance.
Dr Ghazala, currently undergoing training with the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) under the Ministry of Defence, secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 660 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024. This comes after securing an AIR of 825 in the previous attempt in 2023.
Speaking exclusively to Inquilab Urdu daily, Dr Ghazala traced her academic journey from modest beginnings to national success, noting that her determination was forged early in life.
“In 2011, I passed the 10th standard with 85% marks, and in 2013, I cleared the 12th with 89%. These results gave me the confidence to pursue medicine,” she said.
She went on to secure a seat through the Gujarat State Medical Entrance Examination and enrolled for MBBS at Saurashtra University, where she consistently topped her class. She earned a total of 17 gold medals over the course of her degree, with a remarkable feat in 2019—winning 9 out of 10 gold medals in her final year and becoming the university topper. She narrowly missed the tenth medal by just one mark in medicine.
After completing MBBS, Dr Ghazala faced a critical decision—whether to pursue postgraduate studies in medicine or prepare for the civil services.
“It was a confusing time,” she said. “But then, a seminar by the Baroda Muslim Doctors Association changed everything.”
At the seminar, she met Dr Zubair Goplani and Zafar Mahmoodwala, who guided and encouraged her to consider the UPSC. At the time, there was no UPSC coaching centre by Zakat Foundation in Gujarat, but thanks to the efforts of Dr Goplani, the first centre was established in Baroda, and Dr Ghazala was among the first to be selected.
She moved to Delhi in 2019 to formally begin UPSC preparations. However, the journey was far from smooth.
“I failed to clear even the prelims in 2021 and 2022,” she recalled. “Despite being a doctor, I was not financially supporting my parents, and that was mentally tough.”
In the face of repeated setbacks, Dr Ghazala shifted her focus to the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) examinations. Her time in Delhi had sharpened her skills, and she successfully cleared all three stages of the GPSC on her first attempt.
She was initially appointed as a Class-II State Tax Officer, and later, through class improvement, was promoted to Class-I Assistant Commissioner in the State GST Department in Ahmedabad.
“Becoming a state service officer gave me the courage I needed. Once that happened, the UPSC didn’t seem impossible anymore,” she said.
Encouraged by her GPSC success, Dr Ghazala once again attempted the UPSC in 2022 and made it to the interview stage, but missed the final selection by a narrow margin. Not the one to give up easily, she worked on her weaknesses and finally succeeded in 2023, securing AIR 825 and earning a place in the Indian Defence Estates Service.
Even while undergoing training for this post, she remained determined to improve her rank. In 2024, she once again appeared for the examination and improved her position to AIR 660.
“Alhamdulillah, I passed again and improved my rank. I’m still aiming for further improvement,” she added with a smile.
Dr Ghazala comes from a humble background. Her father, Muhammad Hanif Ghanchi, is a pharmacist at a government hospital, and her mother, Naseeba Ghanchi, is a homemaker.
Their support, she says, has been her backbone.
“Without my parents’ sacrifices, I could not have achieved anything,” she said emotionally.
Dr Ghazala’s success holds special significance for Gujarat’s Muslim community, especially for young women aspiring to enter civil services.
Her journey highlights the importance of guidance, institutional support, and the resilience needed to overcome setbacks.
“It’s not about how many times you fail—it’s about how many times you rise after falling,” she said.
