Driven by her mother’s fortitude and self-reliance, Kavya YS clinches an impressive 7th rank in the UPSC IFS examination. Her achievement highlights the significant role of maternal guidance in shaping her path to success.
Achieving success in the UPSC CSE is akin to pursuing a constantly shifting target – it’s unpredictable and demanding. Kavya YS, hailing from Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, harbored a long-standing aspiration of becoming an IAS officer. However, lacking proper guidance initially deterred her from delving into preparation, leading her to spend four years in a tech job. Despite progressing to the interview stage in 2019 following her initial attempt in 2017, she faced the setback of not clearing the prelims once again. Exhausting her attempts left her on the brink of abandoning her dream altogether. Nevertheless, with unwavering support from her family and mentors, she summoned the courage to give it another try. This time, she redirected her focus to the UPSC Indian Forest Services exam, where her perseverance paid off, securing an impressive All India Rank of 7.
In an exclusive interview with Indian Masterminds, she expressed, “Clearing the IFS prelims instilled hope in me for entering the service. While approaching the Mains with assurance, I expected a respectable rank, but being among the top 10 surpassed my expectations. This accomplishment has strengthened my faith in the notion that ‘God’s plans always prevail’.”
My mother has always been my source of inspiration.
Ms. Kavya, originally from the village of V Yaradakere in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, received her initial education at the village school until the 7th grade. She then moved to a nearby city to finish her 10th grade. While her father works as a farmer, her mother runs a small grocery shop in the village. Despite having completed her education only up to the 5th grade, her mother has always been financially independent and empowered to make her own decisions.
Ms. Kavya, accompanied by her parents and sister, reflects on her journey. She expresses, “No one taught her this, but she’s always been decisive. My father consistently supported her, transforming our home environment. It was my mother who instilled in me the importance of independence before marriage. Our entire family, not just my mother, encouraged us and other girls to aspire to lofty goals. Their unwavering support has been my strength throughout the past six to seven years.”
After completing her 11th and 12th at the residential Taralabalu Mata School in Sirigere, Chitradurga, Kavya moved to Bengaluru to pursue a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication. Although she always harbored aspirations for the Civil Services, she studied sporadically due to a lack of guidance. After graduation, she worked for four years before a coaching center opened near her residence in 2017, offering guidance specifically for prelims. Taking advantage of this opportunity, she attended weekend classes and found valuable mentors. Despite her efforts, she did not clear the prelims in her first attempt. However, in the same year, she successfully passed the free coaching exam conducted by the Karnataka government and secured admission to Vajiram and Ravi in Delhi for further preparation.
