MBBS grad Dr Ritika Aima cracks UPSC twice, moves from IPS to IAS

Dr Ritika Aima, an MBBS graduate who already held an IPS rank, improved her UPSC score enough to get an IAS assignment. She made the switch because she believes the IAS role lets her shape healthcare policy more broadly than a medical practice or a police posting would.

Aima's first attempt at the civil services exam earned her an Indian Police Service slot. She kept studying while serving, then posted a combined total of 1,016 marks in the UPSC round – 804 on the main exam and 212 on the personality test. That second result pushed her into the IAS cadre.

She now serves in Gujarat. Her own path goes from treating patients directly to trying to improve the system that shapes how care gets delivered. "The shift from clinical practice to public administration was strategic," she said. "Governance offers a wider reach for impact on healthcare."