Civil Services Examination: Against odds, Sreeja secures 57th rank

Thiruvananthapuram: For 24-year-old Sreeja JS, the road to success was far from easy. Despite financial hardships, her determination helped her carve out a different destiny. On Friday, when the results of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 were announced, the young woman from Naruvamoodu village in Thiruvananthapuram secured All India rank 57. Sreeja's achievement reflects both her determination to dream big and her aspiration to serve the country beyond its borders. She now hopes to join the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
She said her success was not hers alone but also belonged to her village, whose residents supported her during her preparation. Sreeja told TOI that joining the IFS had been her childhood dream. "When I faced financial difficulties during my preparation, people from my village came forward to support me. Travelling is something I had dreamt of since childhood. The foreign service gives me the opportunity not only to travel to different parts of the world but also to represent and serve the country in various regions. This is a rare opportunity. Right now, I am focused on completing my training sincerely and becoming the best officer I can be," Sreeja said. Her civil services journey began during her college days and was shaped by long hours of self-study and mock tests. On several occasions, she was disappointed by low scores in mock tests, but that never weakened her resolve. Her biggest source of motivation, she said, was her father M Jayakumar, a casual labourer. "The preparation was difficult. Sometimes you receive low marks in mock tests, and that can be discouraging. But my father always stood by me. Every day is a struggle for us, and that kept me going. The entire process also helped me grow as a person," Sreeja said. Sreeja completed her graduation and postgraduation in political science from Madras Christian College. This was her first attempt at the CSE. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's day wishes, messages and quotes !