Defying All Odds Aparajita Rai became the first female IPS Officer from Sikkim

After losing her father, Aparajita Rai faced many troubles so she decided to become a public servant to ensure that public grievances are addressed. After working  hard for many years Aparajita created history by becoming Sikkim’s first female IPS officer.

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Aparajita Rai,28 was allocated IPS cadre after getting 358th rank in UPSC 2012 Examinations in India. She cleared UPSC in 2011 as well and became the first person belonging to Sikkim to have got such a high rank in these exams.

At present, Aparajita Rai is posted in Hoogly, West Bengal. She has won many awards which speak for her talent. Some of her big achievements include 1958 Batch IPS Officers’ Trophy for the best Lady Outdoor Probationer, Shri Umesh Chandra Trophy for Field Combat, The 55th Batch of Senior Course Officers Trophy for Best Turn Out and West Bengal Govt Trophy for Bengali.

Aparajita Rai was born in an educated family. Her father was a divisional forest officer. He died when she was just 8 year old. After his death, Aparajita’s mother who was a graduate school teacher had to shoulder all the responsibilities. It was during this time that Aparajita witnessed the insensitive and careless attitude of government officers towards common people. So she decided that she will become a part of this system and will address people’s problems.

“Anyone who comes to me should not face the same harassment or agony which people generally encounter in government offices,” Aparajita Rai

Aparajita had always been a brilliant student. She was a state topper and scored 95 percent in ISC exams, and received the Best Girl All Rounder Shrimati Ratna Pradhan Memorial Trophy in Tashi Namgyal Academy.

She later on completed her BA LLB and proved herself again by winning a gold medal from National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata in both Jurisprudence and Public Administration. She secured 768th rank out of 920 in her first attempt itself of CSE in 2010.

Aparajita Rai loves to learn new things and spends her free time in learning guitar and doing aerobics. Aparajita is an empathetic person, and has always felt the need to give back to society. She wants more people from Sikkim to become IPS officers.

“There is no awareness about Civil Services. Majority of us think that the best we can get is a government job. Many young guys from Sikkim don’t want to go out and compete. It is only when you sharpen your edges, you will be sharp,” Aparajita Rai

Had Aparajita Rai not been an IPS officer, she would have loved to fulfill her father’s dream of becoming a corporate lawyer. Women like Aparajita are an inspiration to all women and  motivate us to do our best for our country’s bright future. Hope Aparajita keeps shining bright and giving us hopes of a better country.