Meet Shweta Agarwal, daughter of a grocery shopkeeper who cracked UPSC three times

UPSC Success Story: Millions of Indians aspire to pass the prestigious UPSC exam and become IAS officers, but only a small number of candidates succeed in their dream each year after passing what is widely considered to be one of the hardest exams in the world. Everyone is inspired by the success tales of IAS officers, and Shweta Agarwal is one such officer whose remarkable path to pass the UPSC exam is one example. 

The daughter of a grocery seller, Shweta Agarwal, placed 19th in the 2016 UPSC Civil Services Examination. After attending St. Joseph's Convent Bandel School, Shweta Agarwal graduated with a degree in economics from St. Xavier's College in Kolkata. Her dad was a grocery store owner.

Shweta Agarwal passed the UPSC exam three times. She received IRS service after placing 497th on her first try, although her goal was to become an IAS officer. She achieved 141sr rank on her third try, but she was not selected for the IAS post. Shweta Agarwal, however, persisted and eventually attained the rank of 19 in order to become an IAS officer in 2016.

At the time of Shweta Agarwal's birth, her family was unhappy since they had hoped for a boy. However, they later made the decision to provide their daughter the best education possible, and Shweta Agarwal honored them by rising to the rank of IAS officer. She describes how her parents made every effort to provide her the greatest education possible even though they were struggling with poverty. Sweta is incredibly grateful to her parents for instilling in her the value of constantly serving society.