Persistence pays: Sri Ramani secures Group-1 rank after four attempts

VISAKHAPATNAM: D Sudha Sri Ramani, who recently secured the post of assistant commissioner of state tax in the Group-1 results, has scripted an inspiring success story from a humble rural background in Nidadavolu, East Godavari district.

Her achievement comes after four unsuccessful attempts at the Civil Services examinations, a phase she overcame with remarkable resilience and determination. Although she did not succeed with Group-I in her first attempt in 2022, Ramani refused to give up. Instead, she refined her strategy, strengthened her conceptual foundation, and persisted through subsequent attempts. Her perseverance ultimately paid off when she secured selection as an assistant commissioner of state tax in the recent results.Sri Ramani dedicated seven to eight hours a day to focused study, prioritising consistency over comparison. With over one lakh candidates appearing for the prelims, she chose not to be distracted by competition, instead concentrating on giving her personal best. Over time, she familiarised herself with the syllabus, examination pattern, and study materials, steadily improving her preparation.Sri Ramani underwent one year of UPSC coaching in Hyderabad soon after her graduation, although most of her preparation in the subsequent years was carried out from her home in Nidadavolu.

She travelled to Hyderabad primarily to attend examinations, while relying on self-study, online resources, and structured study plans throughout these years. Initially, preparation was challenging, as no one in her family had prior experience in government or administrative services.Academically, she completed her schooling and intermediate (MPC – science stream) in Nidadavolu, before shifting her focus to the arts, driven by a growing interest in governance and public affairs.

She pursued a BA in history, public administration, and geography in Hyderabad, and later completed an MA in Political Science. Her academic decisions were closely aligned with her long-term ambition to enter public administration.

She also chose political science as her optional subject while preparing for the UPSC Civil Services, with commitment to the field.Her inspiration came from both her parents. Her father Narasimha Rao, a private tax assistant, and her mother Sudha, a homemaker, consistently encouraged her to pursue a career in administration. “My parents motivated me to prepare for administrative services, and I followed that path with my own interest. That is why I chose public administration in my BA and focused entirely on preparation without applying for other jobs,” said Sri Ramani.