Many Indians aspire to crack the UPSC exam and become IAS officers. However, Dr. Tanu Jain, a member of the 2015 IAS batch, took an unconventional route despite achieving this prestigious position.
Tanu Jain, originally from the Sadar area of Delhi, completed her schooling at Cambridge School before earning a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from Subharti Medical College. While pursuing her dentistry degree, she also prepared for the UPSC exam and eventually succeeded in becoming an IAS officer. Her journey was not without hurdles; although she cleared the prelims in just two months on her first attempt, she did not pass the mains. On her third attempt in 2014, she secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 648.
Following her success, Dr. Tanu Jain committed herself to various social initiatives, motivational speaking, and writing. She has garnered a substantial following of over 840k on Instagram, where she is admired for her contributions and insights.
Despite a successful seven-and-a-half-year career in the civil services, Tanu Jain made the courageous decision to leave her position and focus on teaching full-time. Explaining her decision, she said, "My job in civil services was fulfilling, but after working diligently for seven and a half years, I recognized the challenges in UPSC preparation. Having personally faced the struggles of exam preparation, I understand the difficulties aspirants encounter. Life offers opportunities for growth, and with my husband also in civil service, I felt empowered to take the risk and start a new chapter in my life."
