Anu Kumari Biography UPSC Topper (AIR 2 2017)
Anu Kumari (UPSC AIR 2), Education, Preparation Strategy & Success Journey
Anu Kumari’s journey to becoming IAS Topper AIR 2 in UPSC 2017 is one of the most inspiring stories for students and civil service aspirants across India. Her path was filled with hard work, dedication, and personal sacrifice, especially as a mother and a former corporate professional.
Despite facing challenges like leaving a high-paying job and staying away from her young child, Anu remained focused on her goal of serving the nation. Her success shows that with proper planning, disciplined study, and strong motivation, anything is possible.
This biography covers Anu Kumari’s education, personal life, UPSC preparation strategy, and all the lessons students can learn from her inspiring success story.
About Anu Kumari
Anu Kumari UPSC Topper 2017 is one of the most inspiring figures in recent UPSC history. She achieved All India Rank 2 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination 2017, which is one of the most competitive exams in India. Anu Kumari IAS officer proved that with hard work, discipline, and clear goals, anyone can turn their dreams into reality.
She is not only an IAS officer but also a symbol of women empowerment, as she balanced her roles as a mother, wife, and aspirant during one of the most difficult periods of her life. Her story is a guiding light for students, especially women, who dream of becoming civil servants.
Anu Kumari (IAS) Date of Birth
Anu Kumari was born on 18th November 1985, in Sonipat, Haryana. The Anu Kumari date of birth makes it clear that she was 31 years old when she cleared the UPSC exam in 2017. This age is significant because many candidates feel that preparing after 30 can be difficult. However, Anu’s success proves that age is just a number, and what matters most is focus, discipline, and consistent effort.
Anu Kumari Personal Life
Anu Kumari personal life is filled with strength and sacrifice. She is married to Varun Dahiya, a businessman, and they have a young son. When she decided to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, her son was only 2.5 years old. To focus on her studies, she made the tough decision to stay away from her child and husband for almost two years. She moved to her aunt’s home in Sonipat, where she found a peaceful and distraction-free study environment. Her mother and aunt (Maasi) took care of her son and supported her emotionally during this difficult time. Family support played a very important role in her success. This shows that sometimes, even big sacrifices are needed to achieve great dreams.
Anu Kumari Educational Background
Anu Kumari education began in Sonipat, Haryana, where she studied at Shiva Shiksha Sadan School. She was always a good student and had a strong interest in academics. After completing school, she pursued B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics from Hindu College, Delhi University. She used to travel daily from Sonipat to Delhi for her college, which shows her commitment to higher education.
After graduation, she decided to do an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Nagpur. This was her first time living away from home. Her MBA degree helped her gain strong analytical skills, problem-solving ability, and a solid understanding of economic and financial topics, which later helped in her UPSC GS Paper 3.
Anu’s educational journey shows that hard work, academic discipline, and time management are very important, and these skills helped her later during her UPSC preparation.
Also Check: Best UPSC Motivational Quotes that helped Anu Kumari to achieve her goals.
Anu Kumari Professional Background
Anu Kumari professional life before UPSC was quite successful. After completing her MBA, she started working in the corporate sector and spent nearly 9 years in financial services. She worked with top companies like ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, first in Mumbai and later in Gurugram after her marriage. At one point, her salary package was around ₹20 lakhs per year, which is considered a high-paying job in the private sector.
But despite this successful career, Anu felt a lack of satisfaction and purpose. She realized that she wanted to do something more meaningful and impactful for society. With encouragement from her uncle and brother, she decided to leave her job in June 2016 and prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. This decision shows her strong sense of purpose, her desire to serve the nation, and her belief in public service.
Anu Kumari UPSC Rank & Preparation Strategy
Anu Kumari UPSC Rank was All India Rank 2 in 2017, which she achieved in her second attempt. Her UPSC preparation strategy was a perfect example of planning, consistency, and smart study techniques.
Key Points of Her Preparation Strategy:
- Integrated Preparation: She studied for Prelims and Mains together, which saved time and built deep understanding of topics.
- Daily Routine: She studied 10 to 12 hours per day, waking up at 4 AM and sleeping around 10 PM.
- Time Management: She stopped using Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social media to stay focused.
- Current Affairs: She followed insightsonindia.com daily and revised the monthly compilations.
- Mock Tests & MCQs: She solved MCQs every day and joined the InsightsonIndia Test Series to practice under exam-like conditions.
- Mistake Analysis: She revised questions she got wrong in mock tests 3-4 times, to avoid repeating mistakes.
- Revision: She focused more on revision than on reading too many books, which helped improve retention.
- Sociology Optional Preparation: She joined the Nice IAS Test Series under Praveen Kishore Sir, and used notes from Upendra Sir, Mahapatra Sir, and selected books like Harlambos and Yogendra Singh.
Her preparation shows that limited sources, regular revision, proper guidance, and self-discipline are the real keys to success in UPSC.
Anu Kumari’s UPSC Attempts
Anu Kumari UPSC journey includes two attempts:
| Anu Kumari – UPSC Attempts | |||
| Year | Attempt No. | Outcome | Notes |
| 2016 | 1st | Failed in Prelims | Missed cut-off by 1 mark, only 2 months of study |
| 2017 | 2nd | Cleared with AIR 2 | Full preparation, focused approach |
Her journey teaches students that failing once does not mean failure forever. Instead, it is an opportunity to learn and come back stronger.
Anu Kumari Biography FAQs
Q1. What is the rank of Anu Kumari in the UPSC Civil Services Exam?
Anu Kumari secured AIR 2 (All India Rank 2) in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017. She achieved this top rank in her second attempt, proving that hard work, determination, and a strong strategy can help anyone reach the top in UPSC.
Q2. What was Anu Kumari’s first attempt in UPSC?
Anu Kumari gave her first UPSC attempt in 2016. With only two months of preparation, she missed the Prelims cut-off by just one mark. Despite this setback, she stayed motivated and used the experience to improve her strategy for her second attempt.
Q3. At what age did Anu Kumari become an IAS officer?
Anu Kumari became an IAS officer at the age of 31. Her story is a strong example that age is not a barrier if one is committed, especially for working professionals or mothers aiming to prepare for UPSC.
Q4. Who is the husband of Anu Kumari IAS?
Anu Kumari’s husband is Varun Dahiya, a businessman. He was a key part of her strong support system during her UPSC preparation, providing her with the emotional and moral support needed to focus on her studies.
Q5. Did Anu Kumari take any coaching for UPSC?
Anu Kumari mostly followed self-study for UPSC preparation, but she joined a Sociology test series at Nice IAS under Praveen Kishore Sir after clearing prelims. This helped her improve her answer writing and grasp complex topics in her optional subject.
Q6. What was Anu Kumari’s optional subject in UPSC?
Anu Kumari chose Sociology as her optional subject in the UPSC Mains. Although she had a science background, she selected Sociology because she found it interesting and manageable. She used standard notes and test series to strengthen her preparation.