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After completing her dentistry studies, she felt unfulfilled in her career and decided to prepare for the UPSC.
Dr Neha Jain serves as an inspiration for UPSC aspirants.
The UPSC exam is considered one of the toughest exams in the world, with many candidates requiring years of preparation to succeed. Dr Neha Jain serves as an inspiration for UPSC aspirants, having prepared for the Civil Services Examination while working a full-time job. Before becoming an IAS officer, Dr Neha Jain was a dentist. She belongs to the 2018 batch of IAS officers and hails from Delhi. After completing her dentistry studies, she felt unfulfilled in her career and decided to prepare for the UPSC exam. Her journey to success was not easy, as she had to put in double the effort to balance her full-time job as a dentist consultant with her preparation for the UPSC exam. After achieving her goal of becoming an IAS officer, she shared tips for preparing for the UPSC exam while working a full-time job.
Dr Neha Jain is originally from Delhi. After completing her early education, she earned her BDS degree from the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences in Delhi. Her parents work in insurance companies, and her younger brother, Rishabh Jain, is a paediatrician. After becoming a dentist consultant, she still felt a sense of incompleteness in her life. She wanted to pursue something beyond dentistry and was drawn toward the UPSC examination. However, she didn’t want to take a significant career risk at that point in her life.
Therefore, she prepared for the UPSC exam without quitting her dental career. This decision wasn’t easy, as preparing for such a challenging exam while holding a full-time job required immense determination. However, she didn’t give up and eventually succeeded in becoming an IAS officer.
After becoming an IAS officer, Neha shared her UPSC preparation strategy. She advised aspirants that dedicating 4–5 hours of study each day can lead to success in the UPSC exam. She emphasised that candidates preparing alongside a full-time job should dedicate extra hours to study on weekends. Effective time management is crucial for balancing work and UPSC preparation. She also suggested utilising online forums to seek help when faced with challenges.
According to reports, Neha Jain did not succeed in her first attempt at the UPSC exam. However, in the 2017 UPSC exam, she secured the 14th rank and was appointed as an IAS officer. She was allotted the Uttar Pradesh cadre. Neha firmly believes that with the right strategy, it is possible to clear the UPSC exam while working a full-time job. However, she highlights the importance of determination and consistency in achieving this goal.