IFS Apala Mishra, a doctor-turned-civil servant, transitioned from her medical practice to pursue the UPSC examination. Despite facing initial setbacks, failing to clear the prelims twice, she eventually secured the impressive All India Rank of 9.
Every year, countless aspirants participate in the UPSC Civil Services examination, with some succeeding and others facing disappointment. The UPSC CSE is conducted annually in three phases — prelims, mains, and interviews — overseen by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
While many aspire to become an IAS officer, the highest-ranking position achievable through the UPSC exam, there are also those aspiring to join the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). In this feature, we delve into the story of one such individual who achieved an impressive All India Rank of 9 but opted to pursue a career as an IFS officer. Let’s explore the journey of IFS Apala Mishra.
Apala Mishra, a member of the 2020 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), achieved an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 9 in her third attempt at the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Despite facing initial setbacks, failing to clear the prelims in her first two attempts, Apala persevered with determination and diligence, ultimately triumphing in the UPSC exam. Notably, she garnered a commendable score of 215 out of 275 marks in her UPSC interview, a notable achievement by any standard. Known for her rigorous study routine of 7-8 hours daily, Apala embarked on her UPSC preparation journey in 2018, finally achieving success in 2020.
Before preparing for UPSC, she was a doctor, a dentist. She completed her graduation in BDS from Army College. However, she left her practice to prepare for UPSC. She did her schooling till class 10 from Dehradun, after that, she completed her class 12 from Delhi.
Born in 1997, she belongs to Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Her father, Amitabh Mishra is a colonel (retd), while her brother, Abhishek Mishra is a major in the Army. Her mother Dr Alpana Mishra is a professor at Delhi University.
