When Anju Yadav began preparing for the Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) examination, she reportedly did not even know its full form. She had studied in a government school, married at the age of 21, become a mother in her early twenties, and later faced the devastating loss of her husband. Yet, through determination and perseverance, she transformed her life and is today serving as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Rajasthan Police.Her story has resurfaced on social media once again, inspiring thousands of students and civil services aspirants who see in her journey a powerful reminder that setbacks do not have to define one’s future.
A childhood rooted in simplicity
Born in 1988 in Dhauleda village of Haryana, Anju Yadav grew up in a farming family. Her father, Lalaram Yadav, is a farmer, while her mother, Sushila Devi, is a homemaker. Unlike many aspirants who attend elite schools, Anju completed her education up to Class 12 in a government school before earning a bachelor’s degree through distance education.At the age of 21, she married and moved to Gandala village in Rajasthan (then part of Alwar district). A few years later, she became the mother of a son, Mukuldeep.
Life took an unexpected turn
After marriage, Anju wanted to build an identity beyond household responsibilities. According to several media reports, she did not receive the support she had hoped for from her in-laws and eventually returned to her parental home, where she raised her son with the support of her family.In interviews shared by Hindi media, Anju has spoken about the emotional and financial struggles she faced during this phase of life. She has said that there were times when she felt completely helpless, but she decided not to surrender to her circumstances.
From teacher to civil services aspirant
Before entering the police service, Anju had already secured multiple government jobs.She first became a teacher at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, in 2016 and taught there for nearly two years. She later qualified for teaching positions in Rajasthan and Delhi, eventually serving as a government school teacher in Delhi for several years.Despite having a stable government job, she continued dreaming of something bigger.
A tragedy became a turning point
In 2021, Anju’s husband, Nityanand, passed away after battling an illness.Instead of allowing grief to consume her, she channelled her energy into preparing for the Rajasthan Administrative Service examination. According to recent media reports, she has shared that when she began her preparation, she was unfamiliar even with the basics of the examination process, including the full form of RAS.She devoted herself to studying while balancing family responsibilities, proving that determination can outweigh experience.
Success in her very first attempt
Anju appeared for the Rajasthan Administrative Service Examination 2021 and cleared it in her very first attempt.The results, declared in 2023, secured her a position in the Rajasthan Police Service. Following the completion of training, she officially joined as a Deputy Superintendent of Police after the passing-out parade at the Rajasthan Police Academy in Jaipur in September 2025.Her journey—from a village student and government teacher to a police officer—has since become an inspiration for many women and competitive exam aspirants.
Why her story continues to inspire students
Every year, lakhs of candidates prepare for competitive examinations, often worrying that they have started too late or that their personal circumstances make success impossible.Anju Yadav’s journey challenges that belief.She did not come from a privileged background. She returned to academics after years of family responsibilities, faced personal tragedy, and still managed to clear one of Rajasthan’s toughest competitive examinations.For students preparing for UPSC, State PSCs, SSC, banking, or other government recruitment exams, her story is a reminder that consistency often matters more than a perfect beginning.Success, as her journey shows, is not always determined by where someone starts, but by whether they keep moving forward despite life’s setbacks.Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available interviews, social media posts, and media reports about Anju Yadav’s journey. Certain personal details and experiences have been presented as reported by those sources and are intended to highlight her inspirational story rather than serve as an official biography.
