Pooja Tiwari secured Rank 7 in UPPCS 2024 and was selected for the post of Deputy Collector.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, May 27, 2026: Securing Rank 7 in the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services Examination 2024, Pooja Tiwari achieved her dream of joining the administrative services as a Deputy Collector. On May 18, 2026, she received her appointment letter from the Government of Uttar Pradesh during a ceremony where appointment letters were distributed to 932 selected candidates across 21 departments. Her success story reflects dedication, perseverance, and commitment towards public service.
Originally from the Tanda tehsil of Ambedkar Nagar district, Pooja completed her schooling from Lucknow Public School’s LDA Colony branch. She pursued her graduation from National PG College, Lucknow, and completed her post-graduation from Jawaharlal Nehru University. She is currently pursuing a PhD from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University. Her father, Satya Prakash Tiwari, serves as a Sub-Inspector in Uttar Pradesh Police.
In an exclusive conversation with UI NEWZ, Pooja spoke about her preparation journey, challenges, motivation, and vision for public service.
Q. Congratulations on your success. How does this achievement feel at this stage of your journey?
Pooja: Thank you so much. Securing Rank 7 in the UPPCS examination and being selected as Deputy Collector feels deeply fulfilling and humbling. This journey was long and demanded years of discipline, patience, and self-belief. There were moments of self-doubt and exhaustion, but this achievement has made every struggle meaningful.
Q. Could you tell us a little about your academic background and what motivated you to pursue a career in public service?
Pooja: I completed my graduation from National PG College and later pursued my post-graduation from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University. The exposure I received at JNU truly shaped my thought process and strengthened my confidence. It also helped me develop a broader understanding of society, governance, and public issues.
My motivation toward civil services began when I was in Class 9. I came across news reports about the judgment related to the fake encounter case involving the father of Kinjal Singh. Reading about how she fought for justice for her father deeply moved and inspired me. That was perhaps the first time I seriously began considering civil services as a career path for myself.
Another important influence was my father, who serves as a Sub-Inspector in the Uttar Pradesh Police. Through his experiences and interactions with administrative officials, I developed a closer understanding of public service and governance from an early age.
My parents always encouraged me to aim for civil services, but they never imposed their expectations on me. Ultimately, my biggest motivation was the desire to make them proud and to achieve something meaningful through public service.
Q. Competitive examinations often require years of preparation and consistency. What were some of the major challenges you faced during this process?
Pooja: One of the biggest challenges was maintaining consistency over a long period of time. The preparation process can be mentally and emotionally demanding, especially when results are delayed or expectations are high. Managing self-doubt, maintaining focus, and balancing preparation with personal responsibilities were significant challenges.
However, I learned that perseverance and a calm mindset are equally important as academic preparation in this journey.
Q. What study strategies, routines, or habits helped you stay focused and disciplined during your preparation?
Pooja: I focused more on consistency than on long study hours. I maintained a structured routine with clear daily and weekly targets. Revision and answer-writing practice were important parts of my preparation. I also tried to keep my resources limited and revised them multiple times instead of constantly collecting new material.
I also focused on making short notes of everything I read because this made revision much easier and faster. Along with studies, taking short breaks, talking with my parents, siblings, and friends who believed in my abilities, and maintaining a balanced routine helped me stay focused and avoid burnout.
Q. In your opinion, what qualities are most important for aspirants preparing for competitive and public service examinations today?
Pooja: I believe patience, discipline, consistency, and self-confidence are extremely important. Competitive examinations test not only knowledge but also emotional resilience and decision-making ability.
Aspirants should focus on understanding concepts rather than memorization, remain consistent despite setbacks, and avoid unnecessary comparison with others. A positive mindset and sincere effort make a significant difference over time.
Q. What message would you like to share with students and young aspirants preparing for similar examinations?
Pooja: I would like to tell aspirants that success in competitive examinations is rarely an overnight achievement. There will be failures, doubts, and difficult phases, but consistency and belief in oneself are crucial.
Every individual has a different journey, so comparison only creates unnecessary pressure. Focus on gradual improvement, stay disciplined, and trust the process. Hard work combined with patience eventually yields results.
Please do not give up. Keep doing what you are doing, even with tears in your eyes and doubts surrounding you from all sides. Eventually, things will fall into place.
Q. As you begin this new phase of responsibility, what kind of contribution or impact would you like to make through your role?
Pooja: As a Deputy Collector, I would like to work with sincerity, sensitivity, and accountability. I hope to contribute toward efficient public service delivery, transparent administration, and better implementation of welfare schemes, especially for vulnerable sections of society.
I also wish to remain accessible to people and work toward creating a more responsive and citizen-centric administrative system.
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