The Madhya Pradesh girl is the second-highest-ranking Muslim candidate in the 2024 examination
BHOPAL – Farkhunda Qureshi from Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh has achieved an outstanding success by securing 67th rank in the Civil Services Examination 2024, fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming an IAS officer.
Talking to media personnel here recently, Farkhunda said her ambition began when she was in the eighth grade. “I had decided to appear in the UPSC exam when I saw our local collector, B Chandrashekhar, on TV. I was very impressed by his working style and the dignity of his post. That is when I decided that I wanted to become an IAS officer,” she recalled.
Farkhunda completed her 10th grade from St. Mary’s School under the CBSE board in 2014, securing a perfect CGPA of 10. She went on to top her school in the 12th grade science stream with an impressive 92% marks.
Despite her strong academic record, she chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology instead of opting for medical or engineering fields, keeping her UPSC goal in mind. She completed her graduation in 2019 with 72% marks.
After graduation, Farkhunda moved to Old Rajendra Nagar in Delhi, a well-known hub for UPSC aspirants. She joined Dr Khan’s Study Group to begin her formal preparation. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown, she returned home after just six months and continued her studies online.
“I relied on newspapers, online study materials, test series, and my own notes. I maintained a routine of 8 to 10 hours of study daily,” she said.
In her third attempt in 2023, Farkhunda reached the interview stage but narrowly missed making it to the final list. “That was a very difficult time. I was deeply disappointed, but my family supported me with great courage,” she shared.
Learning from her previous setbacks, she refined her preparation and appeared again for the 2024 exam. “I identified the reasons for my earlier failure, worked hard on them, and Alhamdulillah, in my fourth attempt, I cleared the prelims, mains, and interview, securing the 67th rank,” she said proudly.
She is the second-highest-ranking Muslim candidate in the 2024 examination and is hopeful of joining the IAS cadre soon.
Farkhunda advised students preparing for the UPSC to not only follow their own study plans but also to study the materials and answer sheets of past toppers. “It is important to learn from the approach of those who have already succeeded. Regular practice and understanding the demands of both prelims and mains are crucial,” she said.
Farkhunda credits her success to her parents, who stood by her during every phase of her journey. Her father, Abdul Malik Qureshi, is a lawyer, while her mother, Nikhat Anjum, is a homemaker.
“Without my family’s constant encouragement, this achievement would not have been possible,” she said.
With her determination and inspiring journey, Farkhunda Qureshi has not only realised her dream but has also become a role model for countless other young aspirants from Madhya Pradesh and across India.
