UPSC Final Results 2024: Odisha girl with rank 48 in civil services exam gets lucky in 3rd attempt
Ritika Rath, who hails from Bhubaneswar, completed her 11th and 12th education from Delhi and did her graduation in management from IIM Indore.
UPSC Final Results 2024: For Ritika Rath of Odisha, who secured 48th rank in the civil services exam, it was third time lucky.

“To get this rank is grateful. It was my third attempt. Last year could not get any rank but cracked this year,” said the 24-whose father is a retired Indian Forest Service officer. Rath, who hails from Bhubaneswar and completed her 11th and 12th education from Delhi and did her graduation in management from IIM Indore, said for last three years she was slogging.
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“I had got a job and started preparations for UPSC after quitting my job. My work experience gave me confidence and my optional subject was also my strength including my hobbies I had taken coaching during my second attempt.
This time I had prepared a schedule for studies by prioritising important things. This helped me to allocate time properly. I used to wake up at 5am and prepare for the UPSC. During the interview rounds, I was asked broad questions including work experience and optional subjects like Philosophy," she said.
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Unlike many girls of her age, Ritika was miles away from social media and instead kept in touch with her friends by meeting them.
She said her father Shishir Ratho, former principal chief conservator of forests of Odisha, was the source of inspiration. “I have seen my father work hard and that inspired me,” she said. “I want to become someone who is approachable to people. I will try to fulfil the goals of the government.”
ABOUT THE AUTHORDebabrata MohantyDebabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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