9-hour job, tension of files… still Damanpreet became an IAS without coaching, said – ‘UPSC is tough but…’

Damanpreet Arora, posted as District Panchayat Raj Officer (DPRO) of Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, has brought laurels to the district by securing 103rd rank in the prestigious examination of Union Public Service Commission. As soon as the information about the selection was received, a wave of happiness ran in Vikas Bhawan of the district headquarters. Colleagues in the office congratulated Damanpreet by feeding her sweets. They shared the happiness by hugging. Damanpreet, a native of Chandigarh, has graduated in Civil Engineering from Punjab University. In December 2024, she got posted as DPRO in Bijnor.

Administrative experience and in-depth understanding of civil services brought her to this position. In the family, her mother is a housewife, while her father is an officer in the Punjab government. Younger brother works in a private company. Damanpreet says that she started preparing for UPSC in 2017 during college itself. Even after being selected in PCS in 2020, she did not give up her dreams. She continued studying along with the job. This was her third attempt in which she achieved significant success. Earlier, she had also cleared the Haryana Civil Services Examination, but she did not take charge there with the aim of getting selected in UPSC.

Damanpreet has given the credit of her success to her parents, brother and Bijnor administration. She told that the DM and CDO of the district supported her from time to time for studies. Whenever needed, they approved leave without any hesitation. The special thing about Damanpreet was that she did not join any coaching institute, but did all the preparation through self study. She told that she could not get up early in the morning, so she kept studying by planning her day time properly. Her dream is to join the Indian Administrative Service. This rank has brought her very close to that goal. This success of Damanpreet is an inspiration for those youth who dream of doing something big despite limited resources and busy schedules.

From the beginning I wanted to become an IAS: Damanpreet
Damanpreet said, ‘I wanted to become an IAS from the beginning. This time my dream has come true. The exam is very difficult, there is a lot of uncertainty, anything can happen in it but we should keep hope. We should never lose courage. DPRO is a challenging job. I used my time properly. It is very important for women to be empowered.