Some victories are seen with the eyes, but Jaseela’s is one that truly fills the heart. Defying all odds and turning her personal challenge into an inspiration for differently-abled UPSC aspirants, visually impaired 30-year-old Jaseela Jannath P from Vadakara, Calicut, has secured the 397th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
This marks Jaseela’s fourth attempt at the exam. Her optional subject, Sociology, reflects her deep passion for social issues, honed through her M.A. in Social Work with a Women-Centred Practice specialisation from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Prior to focusing on her UPSC preparation, Jaseela worked as a Project Associate at Prajaahita Foundation in Kozhikode from July 2021 to March 2022, contributing to community development initiatives.
Jaseela credits much of her success to the one-year UPSC preparation journey covering Prelims, Mains, and interview guidance at Xylem IAS, where she joined the civil services batch in March 2025. Speaking about her learning approach, Jaseela relied on audio-based learning methods, voice-to-text tools, and peer-led discussions to navigate and master the vast syllabus.
“Blindness tested me, but it never defined me. With the right support, including personalised mentorship, innovative tech-aided learning modules, and a supportive community, I was able to crack it,” she said. Looking ahead, Jaseela aspires to serve and empower people facing challenges similar to her own.
Apart from her academic pursuits, she has also established herself as an eloquent public speaker and secured A grades in Mimicry, Vanchippattu (boat song), Folk Song, and Malayalam Recitation at school youth festivals.
Jaseela is the daughter of the late Kunhabdulla P and homemaker Sainaba.
Including Jaseela, a total of 29 students from Xylem IAS have secured ranks in the examination.
source: http://www.businessnewsthisweek.com / Business News This Week / Home> Education / by Neel Achary / March 06th, 2026
Ishita Sharma (right) and Ifra Shams Ansari (right)
The daughters of Uttar Pradesh achieved remarkable success in the UPSC 2025. Ifrah Shams Ansari of Bhadohi and Ishita Sharma of Gorakhpur brought honor to their state and families by securing high ranks. Their achievement has brought joy to their families.
Daughters from Bhadohi and Gorakhpur districts of Uttar Pradesh have brought glory to the state by passing the UPSC-2025 examination. Bhadohi’s daughter Ifra Shams Ansari achieved All India Rank (AIR) 24, while Gorakhpur’s daughter Ishita Sharma achieved AIR 26. Their success has brought joy to the entire district and family. Ifra Shams Ansari is set to become the district’s first IAS officer.
Ifra Shams Ansari, a resident of Rotahan village in the Chauri Bazaar area of Bhadohi city, has created history by securing an All India Rank of 24 in the prestigious Union Public Service Commission (UPSC-2025) examination. Her father, Shams Ansari, said he could not be happier during this holy month of Ramadan. He said the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is one of the most prestigious and influential civil services in the country, and his daughter’s selection is a matter of pride for the entire family.
Ifra completed her primary education from Lucknow.
Her father, Shams Ansari, is in the carpet business. He said Ifra completed her primary education at La Martiniere Girls’ College in Lucknow. She then earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College for Women in Delhi. She furthered her education by earning a Masters (M.A.) in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics.
Took coaching from RCA
To prepare for the Civil Services Examination, she took coaching from the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) of Jamia Millia Islamia, after which she successfully cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Her father, Shams Ansari, said that his daughter was inspired to take the exam by her classmate, Shruti Sharma, who had passed the UPSC Civil Services Examination two years earlier and is currently an IAS officer.
Learn where Ifra got her inspiration from.
Shruti Sharma’s success gave Ifra the confidence and inspiration that she too could reach this level. After discussions with her family, she began preparing for the Civil Services Examination. She secured a rank in her first attempt, but due to her relatively low rank, she re-took the exam and secured 24th rank in her second attempt. Shams Ansari further stated that his family always provides full support to children.
Gorakhpur’s daughter created history
Ifrah is the second of their children and is no less important to the family than a son. They said that their daughter has brought them the greatest joy during this holy month of Ramadan. The family wishes that she continues to serve the nation and society with excellence, and that Allah grants her continued success. Ishita Sharma, a resident of Raptinagar, Gorakhpur, is no less. She secured the 26th rank in the UPSC 2025 results in her fourth attempt.
Completed studies from Delhi University
After completing her B.Com and M.Com from Delhi University, Ishita chose commerce as her optional subject. She began preparing for the Civil Services exam while living at home. She made it to the interview stage on her third attempt, but was unsuccessful. However, Ishita secured the 26th rank in the UPSC exam on her fourth attempt. Ishita’s father, DK Sharma, is a bank manager, and her mother, Archana Sharma, is a homemaker.
Passed NET-JRF in the first attempt
Ishita passed the NET-JRF in her first attempt. It was only after that that she began preparing for the civil services. Ishita attributes her success to dedication, hard work, and commitment. She emphasized that choosing an optional subject for the civil services should be thoughtful. She gave full credit for her success to her elder brother. She stated that she would work to improve education while holding this position.
source: http://www.tv9hindi.com / TV9 Bharatvarsh / Home> Hindi News> State> Uttar Pradesh / by Rohit Gupta (Bhadohi) / Pradeep Tiwari (Gorakhpur) / translated from Hindi to English / March 07th, 2026
