The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to select the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service (IFS), and Indian Forest Service (IFoS). The exam usually starts in June, and the results are announced in March of the following year. When the results are announced, toppers receive maximum coverage in the media. However, success is not achieved overnight. It takes dedication, hard work, and perseverance to reach one's goals. This article narrates the inspiring story of Haritha V Kumar, who secured AIR 1 in UPSC 2012 and provides an insight into her success mantra and strategies to follow.

Early Life and Education

Haritha V Kumar was born and brought up in Neyyattinkara, a small town in Kerala, and belongs to a middle-class family. She completed her high school education from St. Theresa Convent and then attended Boys Higher Secondary School, an English-medium government school. Later, she moved to Thiruvananthapuram to pursue a degree in Electronics and Telecommunication fromElectronics

Haritha's father, Vijaya Kumar, is a contractor for the Kerala Water Authority, while her mother, Chitra, is a homemaker. Her twin brothers are named Sadrarsh and Satheerth. Her father encouraged her to pursue her dream of joining the civil services from a young age, while her mother inspired her to aim high. To support Haritha's education, her family moved to Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram.

Haritha's Childhood Dream

Haritha's father planted the seed of civil service in her young mind when she was in class 1. When her teacher, Sister Jasmine, asked her what she wanted to do in her life, she replied that she wished to become a collector, although she did not know what it meant at that time.

The Journey Begins

Haritha began her UPSC CSE journey in 2012, but her first attempt was unsuccessful. After her second attempt, she ranked 179 and was eligible for IPS and IRS. She opted for IRS. In her third attempt, she ranked 294. Finally, she took a year's leave from the IRS training period and gave her fourth and final attempt. Her hard work paid off, and she secured AIR 1 in UPSC CSE 2012, becoming the first Keralite woman to achieve the feat.

Success Mantra

Haritha believes that success is never a product of one night, but rather the result of hard work and perseverance. She stresses the importance of staying focused on one's goal despite the distractions that life presents. For Haritha, UPSC is not about mugging up books and notes, but a journey of self-transformation.

UPSC CSE 2012 Batch IAS Haritha V Kumar Wiki Details

Haritha secured AIR 1 in UPSC CSE 2012 with 51.8% at the age of 27. She opted for Economics and Malayalam Literature as her optional subjects. She chose economics because her classmates were research scholars and graduate students of Economics who guided and helped her. She was accustomed to Malayalam from her childhood owing to her schooling in the Malayalam medium, and it is also her mother tongue. In the mains examination, she scored 1013 out of 2000, and in the interview, she scored 180 out of 300, with a total score of 1193 out of 2300 (51.87%). Currently, she serves as the CEO of Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO). KITCO is a premier engineering consultancy organization in India that provides technical and management consultancy services in various domains like aerospace, infrastructure, energy, environment, and water resources. As the CEO of KITCO, Haritha Kumar is responsible for the overall management and operations of the organization, overseeing its various projects and initiatives. She is known for her proactive approach and leadership skills, and has been instrumental in implementing several innovative and sustainable solutions to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of KITCO's operations.

Haritha's success story is a testament to the fact that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, one can achieve their goals. Her journey from a small town in Kerala to becoming the first woman Keralite to top the UPSC CSE examination is an inspiration to many aspiring civil servants.

In conclusion, Haritha V Kumar's story is a perfect example of how one can achieve their dreams through hard work and dedication. Her success mantra of staying focused on the goal and never giving up is something that every aspiring civil servant should imbibe. Her journey is a source of inspiration for many and proves that with the right mindset, anything is achievable.