Lost Her Eyesight At 6, But Not Her Vision. Meet India’s First Visually Impaired Woman IAS Officer

Every year about thousands of aspirants join coaching centers across the nation to sit for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) with a hope to join the IAS, IPS and IFS ranks. No doubt it is one of the toughest examinations and even the best of the best at times fail to clear the exam.

While many students give up before trying or lose hope of clearing the exam, this story about a woman who became India’s first visually-challenged woman IAS officer will warm your heart and inspire you for sure.

Pranjal Patil, who is a native of Ulhasnagar in Maharashtra lost her eyesight when she was just six years old. But that didn’t stop her from moving forward in life.

She completed her graduation in political science and has a master’s degree in International relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Three years back in 2016, she cracked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination and secured 773rd rank. The very next year, in her second attempt, she improved her all India ranking to 124.

According to an ANI report, on October 14, she said, “Never be defeated, never give up’‘ while Patil took charge as the Sub Collector of Thiruvananthapuram.

During her training period, the 30-year-old was appointed as Ernakulam’s Assistant Collector. She is a staunch believer of the fact that one should keep trying no matter what and never give up because it is only our hard work that will help us to get that one breakthrough which we want.

A heart-warming reception was organized to welcome her as she took over from former collector B Gopalakrishnan.

While talking to the media, Patil said that all she needs is support and cooperation from her fellow members and people of Trivandrum” and she is immensely proud after taking this charge.

Dear Pranjal, you are truly an inspiration for all of us.