While most aspirants spend years chasing a single government job, a young woman from Chhattisgarh has rewritten the rulebook entirely. Charu Pandey, who hails from Tilda-Neora in Raipur, has cleared 19 competitive examinations conducted by both the central and state governments — and she has done it all by the age of just 23. The sheer number tells the story: rather than settling for one milestone, she kept knocking on door after door, and walked through each one.
Not One, But 19 Exams
The list of exams she has cracked is a long one — Bank PO, SSC, IBPC, SBI, Railways, Transport Officer and Police Sub Inspector are among the many government competitive tests she has cleared. What makes it remarkable is that she passed several of them on her very first attempt, and even topped a few. Repeating a feat like this is no easy task for anyone, which is exactly why her journey has become a source of inspiration for young people across the country.
Currently Posted at the CAG Office in Chennai
At present, Charu Pandey works as an Assistant Audit Officer at the CAG office in Chennai. This achievement came after relentless preparation and repeated attempts. Now her hard work is set to earn major recognition — on the occasion of Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu will honour her with a gold medal. The whole of Chhattisgarh is taking pride in her accomplishment.
The Preparation Was Anything But Easy
Speaking about receiving the medal from the President, Charu says her family is overjoyed and that the honour has lifted their standing. "I never thought I would sit for so many exams. I took all of them so that I would land a job in one or the other. I appeared for all the SSC exams, and the railway and bank exams too," she says. She also reveals that her parents had imagined she would join the teaching department and become a teacher.
Talking about the effort behind it, she admits she had to work extremely hard during her preparation. Back in school, she was only an average student. Her thinking about a career, however, was clear-cut — "There are ups and downs in business; I wanted a government job."
She Never Feared Failure
Did the fear of failing in an exam ever trouble her? Charu's answer was firm: "I never failed. Once I finished an exam and came back, I simply didn't think about it again." She shares that, alongside her studies, she is deeply fond of travelling and cooking. On the evenings she studied, she always made it a point to step out for a while. Looking ahead, she says she wants to complete her PhD, and if time permits, she also hopes to prepare for the UPSC.
A Message for the Youth
For the younger generation, Charu has a clear message: one should not slip into depression over failing a single exam — "It's not as if there is only one exam." Her passion for learning and unshakeable resolve stand as proof that when effort is channelled in the right direction, success is bound to follow.
