A civil servant can do more to serve society: UPSC 2nd rank holder

Dr Renu Raj (middle) with her parents.

Dr Renu Raj, who secured second rank in the UPSC Civil Services Exam, is a medical doctor with ESI. After graduating from Medical College in Kottayam in 2013, Raj, a native of Changanassery in Kerala, went to civil service coaching at government-run Kerala Civil Service Academy. Her husband H L Bhagath is also a doctor pursuing higher studies in Mangalore.

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“Civil service has been my childhood dream. But I started preparing for it only after my MBBS course. A doctor’s profession has lot of limitations. But a civil servant can do much more service to society and can deal with a wide range of issues,’’ said Raj, whose father had been a transport offer with state government undertaking.

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Raj, who had joined as a doctor with the ESI in Kollam six months back, said second rank in the civil services exam was unexpected.

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“I could not rate my performance in the interview. I had expected my name in the list of winners, but the second rank was a surprise.”

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Raj had her achievement in the first attempt. “I could emerge the winner only because of the support of my husband, our both families and well wishers. They all had supported, sacrificed a lot and prayed for my success. A major chunk of the credit should got to them.’’

Being a second rank holder, Raj said she hoped to get into Kerala cadre as an IAS officer.