From a Bidi-Making Mother and Conductor Father to IPS Officer: The Inspiring Journey of S. Inba

S. Inba, a 25-year-old from a humble family in Sengottai, Tamil Nadu, is currently undergoing SSP training in Coimbatore after successfully clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024. Despite facing two earlier failures, Inba’s perseverance and determination helped her achieve her dream of joining the Indian Police Service (IPS), bringing pride to her family and inspiring countless young women across the country.

Humble Beginnings
Inba was born into a modest family in Tenkasi district. Her mother works in a factory making bidis, while her father, Srinivasan, is a bus conductor. Financial constraints made life challenging, but Inba was determined to improve her family’s future through a government career. She credits much of her motivation to her elder brother, Balamurali, who supported her both financially and emotionally during her UPSC preparation. Balamurali, a diploma graduate, works in a gas company in Saudi Arabia.

From Computer Science to Civil Services
Inba completed her BE in Computer Science from Coimbatore Institute of Technology (CIT) in 2020. Her aspiration was to join the IAS, and she immediately began preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. For over two years, the public library in Sengottai became her second home, and she also took online classes to enhance her preparation.

Support Through Government Schemes
Although self-study and online classes were helpful, Inba initially failed the UPSC prelims twice. In her second attempt in 2023, she discovered the “Nan Mudhalvan Scheme” by the Tamil Nadu government, which supports girls from underprivileged families in competitive exam preparation. Through this scheme, she received financial assistance totaling ₹25,000, including a monthly stipend of ₹7,500, which helped her stay in Chennai and focus entirely on her studies.

Success on the Third Attempt
With renewed determination, Inba applied for the UPSC Civil Services 2024 exam. This time, she cleared prelims, mains, and interview, securing All India Rank 851. While this rank did not qualify her for the IAS cadre, she chose the IPS and is now training as a Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Coimbatore. Inba continues to pursue her dream of becoming an IAS officer and plans to attempt the exam again in the future.

S. Inba’s journey is a testament to resilience, hard work, and the power of support from family and government initiatives, serving as an inspiration for many young women aspiring to achieve greatness despite challenging circumstances.