Malavika G Nair from Chengannur, Kerala, has secured the 45th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024. What makes her achievement extraordinary is that she appeared for the mains examination just 17 days after giving birth to her son, Adisesh, on September 3, 2024!
Malavika G Nair, a 2020 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, was serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax in Kochi when she decided to make her sixth and final attempt at the UPSC exam, aiming for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). She had previously secured the 118th rank in 2019 and the 172nd rank in 2022, reported TOI.
Her journey was far from easy as she was preparing for one of the country’s toughest exams while pregnant. After delivering her baby, she had a mere 17 days before the Mains examination. During this period, her parents and sister accompanied her to the exam centre in Thiruvananthapuram, bringing her newborn for feeding during breaks.
Malavika’s husband, Dr. M. Nandagopan, an IPS officer who is currently undergoing training at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad. He is proud of how far she has come and is looking forward to the heights she’s willing to go.
Reflecting on her journey, Malavika said, “It was a highly strenuous attempt. I was pregnant while writing the prelims exam last year. There were challenges on the health front. My son was born on September 3, and I wrote the Mains exam on September 20. I was able to write the exam only because of the support given to me by my family,” quoted Hindustan Times.
Malavika’s story is not just inspiring. It goes on to show that with grit and perseverence, one can overcome the most daunting challenges!