From Haryana Village to IPS: Jaya Sharma's Journey via IIT Delhi and HPSC

Jaya Sharma's path from Barwa, a small village in Haryana, to the Indian Police Service reflects a steady combination of education, preparation and persistence. Born in 1997, she is now part of the 2024 batch of IPS officers.

Her academic record took shape away from her home village. She completed her schooling at Vidya Devi Jindal School in Hisar, earned a bachelor's degree from Delhi University and later a master's degree from IIT Delhi. During her studies, she also worked on a research project linked to the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Before joining the IPS, Sharma cleared the Haryana Public Service Commission examination with the 8th rank, which led to her appointment as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Haryana Police. She continued preparing for the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination while serving as an under-trainee DSP.

Her first attempt at the UPSC examination did not produce the result she wanted. She prepared again and, in her second attempt, secured an All India Rank of 248 in UPSC CSE 2023, which brought her an IPS allotment.

Her father, Pramod Sharma, worked as a DFSC in the Food and Civil Supplies Department, while her mother, Neetu Sharma, is a homemaker. Sharma's trajectory illustrates how an unsuccessful attempt can feed into a stronger second effort.