The Inspiring Journey of IRS Officer Kruthika: Overcoming Adversity

Kruthika's journey to becoming an IRS officer is a testament to resilience and determination. From facing her father's indifference to overcoming multiple failures in UPSC exams, she transformed her struggles into motivation. Scoring 99% in fourth grade changed her perspective, leading her to pursue civil services to honor her mother. Despite setbacks, her newfound confidence and understanding of the Pygmalion Effect propelled her to success, achieving a remarkable rank in UPSC. Read on to explore her inspiring story of triumph over adversity.

By Ambika Singh Oct 29, 2026, 11:20 IST

The Inspiring Journey of IRS Officer Kruthika

Life presents experiences that can deeply affect a person, sometimes breaking them down, yet these very experiences can also become the driving force for progress. Kruthika's story exemplifies this. From enduring her father's indifference in childhood to witnessing her mother face societal taunts, she encountered numerous challenges. However, instead of succumbing to despair, she transformed her struggles into motivation, determined to fulfill her dream of entering civil services.

Achieving 99% in Fourth Grade

Raised in Hassan, Karnataka, Kruthika faced failures multiple times throughout her life. It was after scoring 99 marks in mathematics in fourth grade that she first realized how good performance could change people's attitudes towards her. This experience ignited her motivation to advance. Nevertheless, during her UPSC preparations, she faced setbacks, failing four times before reassessing her approach.

Father's Indifference and Mother's Struggles

In an interview with a motivational platform, Kruthika shared that her father was unhappy with her birth as she was a girl. Throughout her childhood, she strived to earn his approval through good grades and medals, but received no acknowledgment. Eventually, her parents separated, leading Kruthika and her mother to endure social isolation and criticism from relatives.

A Shift in Perspective After Scoring 99 Marks

Following her parents' divorce, Kruthika noticed some classmates distancing themselves from her. However, after her impressive score in fourth grade, those same peers began to approach her. This incident left a profound impact on her, making her realize that excelling academically could help her carve out her own identity.

Choosing Civil Services to Honor Her Mother

Kruthika resolved to make her mother proud and demonstrate that a single mother could guide her daughter to great success. With this mindset, she embarked on her UPSC preparation journey. Her dedication was recognized by coaching institute directors and mock interview panel members, yet she still failed to secure a spot in the final selection list on four occasions.

Finding Inspiration in a Dark Room

As failures mounted, Kruthika began to feel defeated. One night, while waiting for results in a dark room, she found herself crying. It was then that she stumbled upon the Rosenthal Effect, also known as the Pygmalion Effect, on her laptop screen. This psychological concept suggests that expectations associated with a person can influence their performance. Understanding this idea, Kruthika began to work on her mindset.

Achieving Remarkable Success in Two Attempts

Following this revelation, Kruthika focused not only on her books and notes but also on building her confidence. Her hard work paid off as she secured the 194th rank in the UPSC 2018 examination. The following year, her rank improved to 100. Today, she proudly serves as an IRS officer.