Lucknow: In an inspiring tale of perseverance and humble beginnings, 23-year-old Astha Jain from Kandhla town in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district has secured All India Rank 9 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, earning her a coveted spot in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Daughter of Ajay Kumar Jain, who runs a modest grocery (kirana) store in the town’s Kala Thana area, and homemaker mother Mamta Jain, Astha hails from a middle-class family with three siblings — sisters Anchal and Khushi and brother Sarthak. Despite limited resources, her determination shone through from her school days.
An outstanding student, Astha scored 496 out of 500 marks (securing 4th rank in the Uttar Pradesh Board) in her intermediate exams in 2019 from Scottish International School, Shamli. She later pursued a BA from Delhi University’s Miranda House.
Her UPSC journey reflects relentless grit: In her first attempt, she secured AIR 131 (selected for IPS); in the second, AIR 186 (again IPS). She is currently undergoing IPS training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad, but she refused to settle and cracked the exam on her third attempt with self-study and brief coaching in Delhi, achieving her lifelong dream of IAS.
The family erupted in joy upon hearing the news, with sweets distributed and relatives flocking to congratulate them. Father Ajay Kumar Jain, emotional with tears, said the consistent success in three consecutive attempts was a big thing. Mother Mamta Jain recalled, “Aastha’s dream from the beginning was to become an IAS officer. Right after passing intermediate, she told us she would become one.”
Astha credited her parents for her success in phone conversations. Her story has sparked pride across Shamli, proving that dreams can triumph over modest origins.