What makes someone achieve the most difficult of things, is their unwavering will to conquer over all impossibilities. Rashmi Singh stands as an inspiration for all the aspirants working to achieve good results in the competitive exams. In her very first attempt, Rashmi secured third rank in the UPPSC-J exam. She shares that instead of focusing on devoting hours and hours on her studies, she made strategic subject and topic wise targets. 

Devising strategies

According to Rashmi, aspirants prepare for judicial exams for various states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. However, she remained focused on preparing for only one judicial examination at a time. She shares that all examinations require a different strategy and approach. The subjects in UPPSC-J are unique to the state of Uttar Pradesh. If an aspirant works with an approach to crack exam of a certain state rather than writing exams for four states, they will surely achieve success.

Rashmi points out that the format of the General Knowledge and General Studies sections in the UPPCS-J exam has a structure similar to that of the Civil Services exam. Moreover, she realized that she couldn't simultaneously prepare for judicial services exams in Uttar Pradesh and those in other states. Therefore, she made the decision to focus solely on preparing for the judicial services exams of Uttar Pradesh. 

Setting goals

Rashmi Singh shares that after studying for five years for BA LLB, she considered to become a lawyer like her fellows. The mindset which dictates that ‘complete your education, secure a job, make loads of money’, can influence anybody. However, Rashmi had her inclination towards pursuing a career in judiciary. Her determination and willingness to choose a different career path helped her stay motivated. 

Rashmi’s background

Rashmi completed her schooling in the year 2014 from Draupadi Devi Jaju Vidya Mandir. She pursued a BA LLB degree from Aligarh Muslim University. Before UPPSC-J, she had also cleared the All India Bar Council examination. She prepared for UPPSC by taking classes from an online platform. Her father, Narendra Kumar runs an electronics shop in the city, and her mother, Nemwati is a homemaker. 

Support from family

Rashmi Singh faced numerous struggles due to her family’s financial condition. Despite everything, her parents managed to make the ends meet without compromising with her education. Throughout the challenging 10-year journey, there were moments when she doubted her ability to succeed. However, her determination prevailed. Her father encouraged her and stressed that education is a powerful tool for people from middle-class backgrounds to achieve something.  

Interview questions

Rashmi Singh shares some of the questions that were asked from her during the interview rounds.

Ques- Imagine if you are appointed as a judge in a remote area which has no electricity. You are living in a house where water drips from the ceiling. What will you do in such a situation?
Ans- I am so determined towards my goal and have come a long way in the pursuit of my dreams, that these things seem trivial to me. They cannot hinder my growth. 

Ques- You must have heard of the phrase ‘I’ll see you in court’. What do you understand by it?
Ans- This frequent usage of this phrase tells that people have faith in the judiciary system. People are aware about their rights and the fact that their legal matters will be resolved in the courts. That is the reason that they use this phrase when they feel that their rights are being meddled with. 

How to prepare?

Rashmi understands that studying for long hours can cause burnout to anyone. During the peak time of exams, some students study up to 12 hours in a day. Rashmi believes that more than devoting countless hours to your study, it is essential to make sure that you hold a strong grasp over what you study. Learning is a life-long practice and should be treated that way. Study regularly with utmost dedication and concentration and remain prepared for whenever the vacancies are announced. 

Acknowledging efforts of others

Furthermore, Rashmi Singh shares that she could only achieve this feat with her family’s constant support. Her teachers were immensely helpful, and she gives special credit to Amit Khanna and Faizan and as well as her parents. Rashmi’s friend Gaurav Kumar Verma who is an IES topper from 2020, guided her in her preparation. He helped her develop proper strategies for clearing the exam.