Meet IAS officer Renu Raj who left her medical career, cracked UPSC in first attempt with AIR…, father is a bus conductor, she is now…
Wyatt Mason 
Renu Raj was a practicing surgeon before she transitined as an able IAS officer.
Indian Administrative Services (IAS) is one of the most sought after jobs tat countless Indian are drawn too. One just does not get it but has to earn it. Heaps of inspirational, rags to riches stories amount behind these bureaucratic desks. IAS officer Renu Raj’s narrative is among these stories where ambition drove passion. Not once, but she cracked two important and tough examinations held in India.
Before becoming an IAS officer, Renu Raj was a doctor. She was a practising surgeon who completed her MBBS from Government Medical College, Kottayam.
Doctor Turned IAS Officer
Dr Renu Raj hails from Changanassery, Kottayamand was born into a humble family. Hrr father used to be a bus conductor with KSRTC and her mother was a homemaker. Raj was also inclined towards society welfare. She wanted to contribute to the society and help people. This ambition made her chose medical as her career. However, fate had other plans for her.
Ina n old interview she said why she chose to try another career trajectory altogether. “I thought that being a doctor, she could have helped 50 or 100 patients, but as a civil service officer, her one decision would benefit thousands of people will get. After that, I decided to give the UPSC exam.”
To secure a position as an IAS officer, one needs to clear Union Public Services Commission (UPSC). This is one of the hardest competitive exam. Candidates are allowed 5-6 attempts, subjected to categories, to appear and qualify. Being able to crack UPSC in the first attempt is considered a remarkable feat. Diligent student Raj as she was, appeared and cleared UPSC in her first attempt. She secured and impressive All India Rank (AIR) 2!
Her tenure in civil services has been marked by proactive decision-making and commitment to ethical governance. She gained widespread recognition for her efforts in curbing unauthorized construction and land encroachments in Munnar, reflecting her dedication to upholding the law and preserving the environment.
