One of the most inspiring stories in the realm of public service is that of Pranjal Patil, who defied immense challenges to become India’s first visually impaired IAS officer.The UPSC exams are notoriously grueling, demanding both extraordinary perseverance and effort. For some, like Pranjal Patil, the journey is not just about passing the exam but also overcoming profound personal obstacles.
Born in 1988 in Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra, Pranjal lost her sight at the age of seven. Undeterred by this setback, she completed her schooling at Kamala Mehta Dadar School for the Blind in Mumbai and went on to earn a degree in Political Science from St. Xavier’s College. Her remarkable achievement is a testament to her resilience and determination
Pranjal Patil’s academic journey continued with a postgraduate degree in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, followed by a PhD and M.Phil. She faced the UPSC exams twice, first in 2016, where she ranked 744, and again in 2017, where she secured an impressive All India Rank of 124.
Remarkably, Pranjal achieved this success without any coaching, relying instead on specialized software designed for the visually impaired
After passing the exam, she was initially appointed as Assistant Collector in Ernakulam, Kerala, in 2018. Although her visual impairment had previously barred her from joining the Indian Railway Accounts Service, she persevered and has since risen to her current role as Sub-Collector of Thiruvananthapuram, where she continues her service in Kerala.
Pics © IAS Pranjal Patil
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