Pooja Jha, a student from a Hindi-medium local government school in Delhi, qualified for one of the toughest competitive exams in the country. She secured an All India Rank of 82 in the Civil Services Exam in 2021, becoming Avanti Fellows’ first IAS officer!

Pooja learned the importance of hard work early on from her father, who provided for their family single-handedly. She taught herself English by reading novels and earned a seat at Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya in Dwarka, New Delhi.

Pooja was part of the Avanti Fellows program from 2012 to 2014, where she received free NEET coaching to help her pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Under this program, she was also provided a mentor, Dr. Tany Chandra. Pooja qualified for the dentistry course at Maulana Azad Medical College and graduated as the university topper, armed with several lucrative career opportunities. However, Pooja wanted to serve and provide opportunities for the underprivileged and underrepresented communities.

Pooja chose to dedicate her career to public service. Under the guidance of Dr. Chandra, she prepared for the Civil Services and aced it in her first attempt. Through her hard work and determination, she is now paving the way for other students like her to excel in their studies and build their own careers.