Meet Ishwarya, Sushmitha, two sisters who cracked UPSC exam, one became IAS, second IPS, once lost their homes due to…, they are from…

IPS Sushmitha Ramanathan and her sister IAS Ishwarya Ramanathan, daughters of a humble farmer in Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu, overcame overwhelming odds to crack the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), and become IAS and IPS officers.

UPSC Success Story: There are hundreds if not thousands of UPSC success stories out there, each seemingly more interesting and inspiring than the other, however, there are a few which are truly heartwarming and inspirational tales of human determination, perseverance and the ability to overcome the worst of odds.

Once such inspiring story is the remarkable journey of IPS Sushmitha Ramanathan and her sister IAS Ishwarya Ramanathan, daughters of a humble farmer in Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu, who overcame overwhelming odds such as crippling poverty, lack of resources, and a devastating natural disaster, to crack the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), and join civil service ranks.

Who are IPS Sushmitha Ramanathan and IAS Ishwarya Ramanathan?

Born in a financially challenged farming family in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, Sushmitha Ramanathan and Ishwarya Ramanathan were brought up in poverty and struggled for resources during their childhood. Additionally, the sisters’ life was completely derailed when they lost everything, including their home in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

However, the brave women refused to give up and battled these seemingly insurmountable odds, ultimately emerging victorious by acing the UPSC CSE and becoming IAS and IPS officers.

IAS Ishwarya Ramanathan

Ishwarya Ramanathan, the younger sister, was the first to taste UPSC success, when she cracked the civil services exam in 2018, achieving an All-India Rank of 628, and being selected for Railway Accounts Service (RAS), However, Ishwarya was unsatisfied with her posting and took another shot at the UPSC CSE in 2019 to achieve a better rank, and succeeded in her endeavor, securing the 44th rank in her second attempt, and becoming an IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre at the age of just 22.

Ishwarya Ramanathan is currently posted as the Additional Collector (Development) in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district.

IPS Sushmita Ramanathan

While Ishwarya’s UPSC success was immediate, her older sister, Sushmita Ramanathan, had to toil harder, failing in her first five attempts. However, her hard work and determination ultimately paid off as she managed to clear the UPSC CSE in her sixth attempt in 2022, with a respectable All-India Rank (AIR) of 528, and becoming an IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre.

She is currently posted as the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in the southern state’s Kakinada district.