Every year, thousands of aspirants prepare for the demanding journey of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, hoping to see their names among the country’s top ranks. In 2025, one of those names that stood out was Rajeshwari Suve M, who secured All India Rank 2.Her journey, however, was not a quick sprint to the top. It was a steady climb built on patience, repeated attempts, and a clear sense of purpose. Hailing from Vadipatti in Madurai district, Rajeshwari’s story reflects the determination that defines many UPSC aspirants across the country.
Growing up in a family that valued education
Rajeshwari grew up in a household where education and discipline were part of everyday life. Her father runs a small business, while her mother works as an Associate Professor in a government institution. Conversations about academics, learning, and public issues were common at home.Living in Tamil Nadu, she spent her early years focusing on school and building a strong academic foundation. Like many students, she followed a familiar path—studying hard, completing her schooling under the Tamil Nadu State Board, and preparing for higher education.But somewhere along the way, the idea of serving in the civil services began to take shape. The opportunity to work directly with people and contribute to governance gradually became a serious goal.
An engineering graduate with a problem-solving mindset
After finishing school, Rajeshwari moved to Chennai to pursue Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Vel Tech Multi Tech Engineering College, which is affiliated with Anna University. She graduated in 2018.Engineering gave her more than just a degree. It trained her to think analytically, approach problems logically, and stay patient while working through complex challenges—skills that later proved valuable during her UPSC preparation.Like many engineering graduates in India, she eventually began preparing for the civil services examination, a path that demands both intellectual depth and emotional resilience.
The UPSC journey: Learning through attempts
Few candidates crack the UPSC Civil Services Exam at one go, Rajeshwari’s story too was a rollercoaster ride of attempts and finally going in the right direction. She was appearing in the Prelims Exam for the fifth time when she finally cleared the paper. Every time gave her a different lesson. There were times when she was disappointed, while she also changed the way she was preparing for the exam. Today, she can say that initially, the failures have helped her a lot to come to her current level. She was learning the art of writing better answers, getting the concepts more and more clear, and even learning to manage time in the exam.During this period, she also appeared for the Indian Forest Service Examination, further gaining experience with the rigorous selection process.Over time, her preparation became sharper and more focused. When the UPSC CSE 2025 results were finally announced, her persistence paid off in a remarkable way—AIR 2, one of the highest ranks in the country.
Choosing Sociology to understand society better
For her optional subject, Rajeshwari chose Sociology. The subject allowed her to explore questions about society, inequality, institutions, and governance.For someone preparing for public administration, this perspective can be particularly meaningful. Sociology helped her connect theoretical ideas with real social issues—something that is central to policymaking and administration.
Administrative experience before the big result
What is more intriguing is the fact that Rajeshwari was not a stranger to government jobs even before she secured the coveted top rank. She was already working as a Deputy Collector (Training) at the District Collector’s Office in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.This is because, at the district level, she would have gained first-hand experience working with government schemes, directly dealing with people, and learning the nitty-gritty of government policies. This is often a more enlightened view of government, which is always useful when preparing for the UPSC exams.
A story many aspirants can relate to
Rajeshwari Suve M’s story resonates quite a lot with the UPSC aspirants who number in thousands, and it is not a tale of sudden success but rather one of building on patience, being consistent, and having the courage to continue even when faced with failures. Her going from a small town of Madurai district to getting AIR 2 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination is her success which is also a sign of the same determination that characterizes the civil services journey. To the majority of students who are preparing today, her story conveys a simple yet very effective message: at times the route to success is long however it is through persistence that even the most difficult goals can be reached.
