Meet Aparajita Rai, Sikkim's First Woman IPS Officer

Sikkim has witnessed a historic moment as Aparajita Rai emerges as a beacon of inspiration, claiming the distinction of being the state's inaugural female Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. The journey of this trailblazer sheds light on determination, resilience, and a deep-rooted commitment to public service.

Having triumphed over the coveted UPSC Civil Services examination not once, but twice in 2010 and 2011, Aparajita Rai's brilliance has marked her as a standout achiever. 

Aparajita Rai Becomes Sikkim's First Female IPS Officer

She stands proud as the very first Sikkimese to achieve such a high rank in the formidable civil services test.

Rai shared her earnest desire to raise awareness among the youth about the allure of civil services. Her aspiration resonates with a vision of mobilising more individuals to join the ranks of public service, catalysing positive change from within the system.

The accolades that Rai has gathered along her journey speak volumes. 

NDTV reports that her training period was graced with multiple awards, including the prestigious 1958 Batch IPS Officers' Trophy for the best Lady Outdoor Probationer, the Shri Umesh Chandra Trophy for Field Combat, the 55th Batch of Senior Course Officers Trophy for Best Turn Out, and the West Bengal Government Trophy for proficiency in Bengali.

Behind Rai's relentless pursuit of her goals lies a poignant backstory

Following the untimely demise of her father, a divisional forest officer in Sikkim, when she was just eight years old, Rai became acutely aware of the lack of empathy displayed by numerous government employees towards the public. This early encounter with the bureaucracy's insensitivity fueled her determination to mend the system from within.

Rai's scholastic journey mirrors her unwavering commitment. Excelling in academics, she clinched the top spot at the state level and secured an impressive 95 percent in the ISC exams. This achievement led her to be honoured with the esteemed Best Girl All-Rounder Shrimati Ratna Pradhan Memorial Trophy at Tashi Namgyal Academy.

Taking her pursuit further, Rai completed the National Admission Test (NAT) after her secondary education and proceeded to earn a BA LLB (Hons) degree from the West Bengal National University of Judicial Sciences in Kolkata in 2009. 

Her pursuit of civil services began in 2009 itself, although success was not immediate. With unparalleled resilience, Rai secured the 768th rank in the CSE 2010. 

Undeterred, she returned to the examination arena in 2011, achieving a remarkable leap with a ranking of 358th. Aparajita Rai's journey epitomises the triumph of dedication, breaking gender barriers, and channelling personal experiences into a powerful drive for societal change. 

As she takes on her role as Sikkim's first female IPS officer, her story stands as a beacon of hope, igniting aspirations in the hearts of countless youth across the nation to contribute to the greater good through civil services.

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