Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination is a dream that lakhs of aspirants spend years chasing. Dr. Ritika Purpose he got it not once, but twice. In his first successful attempt, he secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 186 and secured a place in the Indian Police Service (IPS). For many, that would mark the end of the journey. For Ritika, however, it was an isolated experience. His dream was always to become an IAS officer.What makes his story famous is not the change in his rank – from AIR 186 to AIR 33 in one year – but the conviction with which he chose. An accomplished MBBS doctor, Ritika believed that while treating patients is one of the noblest professions, many health problems can be solved through good leadership and policy making. That belief prompted him to give up his promising career as a doctor and prepare for one of the toughest exams in India.
He didn’t give up medicine—he wanted to improve the system
Born and brought up in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Ritika completed her pre-MBBS from Dr Sushila Tiwari Medical College, Haldwani. As a medical student, he experienced health care up close.It reinforced his belief that doctors save lives every day, but policies determine how health care reaches people effectively. From access to hospitals and medicine to health programs, nutrition, hygiene and medical equipment, many decisions that make up health care are taken politically.This realization encouraged him to focus more on medicine. Instead of treating one patient at a time, he wanted to contribute to decisions that would improve health care in all communities. Indian Administrative Service, felt that it would provide such an opportunity.
From IPS to IAS: Refusing to settle for anything less than one’s dreams
Ritika’s UPSC journey was built on hard work and continuous learning. He made it to the Personality Test section in one of his previous attempts before clearing the Civil Services Examination 2022 with AIR 186, securing a seat in IPS.Although he fulfilled the wishes of thousands of people, he decided to take the test again. It was not because they were not satisfied with IPS. Instead, he remained committed to his original goal of joining the IAS.He returned to clear planning, continued with Anthropology as his elective and planned his course. The effort paid off in the Civil Services Examination 2023 when he scored AIR 33.Its performance shows consistency in each part of the test:• Mains: 804 marks• Personality test: 212 marks• Total: 1016 maxThe results earned him a place in the Indian Administrative Service, and he was assigned to the Gujarat division.
Success, he says, is more than a test
Today, Dr. Ritika Aima is serving in Gujarat, where she is currently posted as Supernumerary Assistant Collector in Tapi district. Along with her administrative duties, she also shared insights from her UPSC journey on Instagram, discussing preparation techniques, interview experience, handling pressure and staying mentally strong in multiple attempts.However, one message stands out above all others. Ritika believes that no exam results should define a person’s worth or success in life.He wrote that what he has done well with exams should not be the only way to do things. According to him, true success comes from having the courage to face life’s challenges every day with hope, courage and honesty, regardless of the consequences.Interestingly, despite clearing UPSC twice, he also encourages candidates to have a Plan B. In his opinion, having an alternative reduces unnecessary stress and allows candidates to prepare with confidence and clarity.The story of Dr. Ritika Aima is more than UPSC rank promotion or career change. It is the story of someone who was very clear about what he wanted to create. He chose to leave medicine not because he lost faith in the profession, but because he believed that he could contribute to health care in different ways – through leadership, policy making and government administration. Sometimes, success isn’t about accepting the first opportunity that comes your way. It’s about being committed to the purpose that inspired the journey in the first place.Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and statements shared by the subject, including posts on social media where relevant. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only.