IAS Love Story: How Hindi Medium UPSC Topper Met Her Life Partner At Maha Kumbh Mela

Last Updated:January 12, 2026, 09:32 IST

Kritika Mishra’s journey from Kanpur to the IAS unfolded in her second attempt, marked by grit and resolve. Along the way, her path entwined with fellow IAS officer Ankur Tripathi

IAS Kritika Mishra’s success brought her into the limelight, as did her love story with IAS Ankur Tripathi.

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is regarded as one of the most demanding competitive exams in the country. For candidates appearing in the Hindi medium, the challenges are often even greater. Kritika Mishra, a resident of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, rose above these obstacles to prove that language is never a limitation to capability.

Coming from a middle-class background, Kritika cleared the UPSC examination in her second attempt and emerged as the Hindi medium topper, securing an All India Rank of 66.

A Journey Built On Perseverance And Focus

The story of IAS Kritika Mishra is not merely about hard work, but about perseverance, clarity of purpose, and disciplined effort. As the daughter of a college lecturer, she grew up in an academically enriching environment. Yet, carving out a place for herself in an examination dominated by English-medium candidates was far from easy.

Her success can be credited to a well-planned strategy, unwavering self-belief, and consistent support from her family. Alongside her professional achievements, her personal life, particularly her love story with IAS Ankur Tripathi, has also drawn widespread attention.

Pride Of The Hindi Medium

IAS Kritika Mishra was born and raised in Kanpur, where she completed her early education. Her father, Diwakar Mishra, is a lecturer at Bishambar Nath Sanatan Dharma Inter College, Chunniganj, Kanpur, while her younger sister, Mudita Mishra, is pursuing a PhD in Hindi literature. Kritika completed her graduation in Hindi literature from Pandit Prithvi Nath College, Kanpur University.

When she decided to prepare for the civil services, many advised her to opt for the English medium. However, Kritika remained steadfast in her commitment to Hindi and chose not to abandon her linguistic roots.

Success In The Second Attempt

Kritika Mishra did not succeed in her first attempt at the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Rather than losing heart, she carefully analysed her mistakes and shortcomings. She placed special emphasis on improving her answer-writing skills for the UPSC Mains examination and selected Hindi literature as her optional subject.

Her refined strategy bore fruit when she secured 66th rank in the UPSC 2022 results, making her the Hindi medium topper that year.

A Love Story That Began At The Mahakumbh

IAS Kritika Mishra’s success brought her into the limelight, as did her love story with IAS Ankur Tripathi. The two first met during the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, UP.

Prior to that, they had also crossed paths during their foundation course at LBSNAA, Mussoorie. After clearing the 2022 examination, Ankur Tripathi, who hails from Amethi, was selected for the Indian Police Service (IPS), and both trained together during the foundation course.

Later, Ankur Tripathi went on to clear the UPSC 2024 examination, securing All India Rank 50, after which he became an IAS officer.

Special Advice For Hindi Medium Aspirants

IAS Kritika Mishra advises Hindi medium candidates to overcome the fear of inadequate study material. She stresses that instead of reading numerous books by different authors, aspirants should focus on selecting a few standard books and revising them thoroughly.

Developing strong expressive skills and practising answer writing regularly is equally important.

Most importantly, she urges candidates never to view themselves as inferior to English-medium aspirants. Success, she believes, comes only when this mental barrier is completely overcome.

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