Maharashtra’s Ulhasnagar native Pranjal Patil becomes a trailblazer in Indian civil services, inspiring millions.
New Delhi, 26 Oct 2024
In an extraordinary journey fueled by resilience and sheer determination, Pranjal Patil from Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra, has emerged as India’s first visually impaired woman to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Patil, who lost her sight at age six, defied significant obstacles to crack the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam not once but twice, eventually joining the esteemed services in 2017. Read Also: “Nude paintings aren’t obscene”, Bombay High Court orders to release seized artwork
Patil’s academic journey reflects her tenacity. After completing her schooling at Mumbai’s Kamla Mehta Dadar School for the Blind, she pursued a degree in Political Science from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Her thirst for knowledge led her to Delhi, where she completed postgraduate studies in International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), followed by an MPhil and a PhD.
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Demonstrating an exceptional commitment to her dream, Patil tackled the competitive UPSC exams without any formal coaching, relying instead on assistive technology. She first cracked the exams in 2016, securing the 744th rank, and returned the following year to earn a 124th rank. In 2019, she received her first appointment as Sub-Collector of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, marking a historic moment for India’s civil services.
Pranjal Patil’s groundbreaking achievement not only highlights her own unyielding spirit but also serves as an inspiration, signaling to millions that with perseverance, boundaries can indeed be broken.
Prateeksha Kumari is a journalist and strategic communications professional specialising in digital journalism, political reporting, and public affairs. Her work focuses on grassroots issues, governance, and civic developments, with an emphasis on clarity, accuracy, and narrative-driven reporting.
She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and has qualified the UGC-NET examination, reflecting her academic grounding in media studies and communication research. Her reporting spans politics, public policy, health, education, and socio-economic issues, and she is experienced in bilingual (Hindi and English) content creation tailored to diverse audiences.
Alongside her journalistic work, she brings experience in political communication and public relations, where she has contributed to campaign messaging, media outreach, and narrative building. She has worked on integrated communication strategies across print and digital platforms, combining editorial judgment with audience insight and data-led content approaches.