Hoshiarpur- IAS Oishi Mandal has set a new example of courage and determination by securing All India Rank 399 in UPSC 2024. During a special interview, Oishi Mandal shared her inspiring journey of struggle, failures and final victory. Today, she is the first IAS officer of her district Birbhum, West Bengal and is also serving as Assistant Commissioner in Hoshiarpur.
Oishi Mandal, who hails from Shantiniketan, started preparing for UPSC after her startup suffered a loss during the Covid period (2021) after completing her B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering. In the first three attempts, she could not even clear the prelims, but in the fourth attempt, she cleared all the stages and succeeded.
She said that being a first-generation officer, she did not get any kind of help or guidance. “Everything had to be done from scratch. After two failed attempts, I changed my optional subject, which was a big risk, but that was the reason for my success,”
Talking about social pressure, Oishi said that the expectations associated with a job and marriage are a big challenge for a girl. “My parents always encouraged me by protecting me from these things. There was a time when none of my relatives knew what I was doing. They joined me only after I got selected,” she said with a smile.
The journalist portrayed her story not just as success in an exam, but also as an inspiring journey that broke social norms.
Today, Oishi Mandal, who serves as Assistant Commissioner Hoshiarpur, has become a beacon of light for the youth across the country, especially students from small towns and with limited resources preparing for UPSC.