The civil services examination organized by the Union Public Service Commission remains widely recognized as one of the most demanding competitive hurdles in the country. With hundreds of thousands of aspirants vying for a few hundred coveted positions, the journey tests emotional endurance, intellectual depth, and resilience. When two individuals who weathered these grueling demands cross the finish line with exemplary ranks and eventually decide to walk the path of life together, their narrative transcends individual achievement. Such is the journey of Shreya Shree and Nikhil Mahajan, two distinguished officers from the 2021 examination cycle who turned rigorous preparation into success and later formalized their bond in marriage after meeting during foundation training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).
Shreya Shree: Educational Roots and Public Service Calling
Originally hailing from Bihar, Shreya Shree spent her formative years and completed her early schooling in Madhya Pradesh. Her academic aptitude paved the way to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, one of the nation's premier technical institutions, where she completed both her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The drive to dedicate her professional life to administrative service was deeply nurtured at home. Her father, Dinesh Choudhary, had served the nation in the Indian Air Force before moving on to work in the banking sector. Growing up around a disciplined military ethos instilled in Shreya an aspiration to contribute meaningfully to public administration.
Turning an Initial Setback into Second-Attempt Success
The transition from technical education to administrative exam preparation presented early obstacles. In her debut attempt at the civil services examination, Shreya was unable to clear even the preliminary stage. Rather than allowing the early elimination to derail her aspirations, she undertook a methodical review of her preparation gaps. Choosing a path distinct from many candidates, she decided against enrolling in commercial coaching centers, instead relying entirely on self-study.
By maintaining disciplined study hours, preparing organized personal notes, and focusing on continuous revision, Shreya demonstrated a remarkable turnaround in the 2021 examination. She secured an All India Rank of 71, compiling a cumulative score of 993 marks, which included an impressive 178 marks in the personality interview. This standout performance earned her induction into the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Nikhil Mahajan: Overcoming Five Failures to Clinch Rank 80
For Nikhil Mahajan, the trajectory to the civil services was defined by extraordinary patience and perseverance against compounding setbacks. After finishing his school education in Faridkot, Punjab, Nikhil gained admission to IIT Delhi, where he graduated with a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering. Acting upon guidance from his uncle, he turned his sights toward administrative governance. His personal background, however, had already tested his fortitude early in life following the demise of his mother during his childhood years.
Nikhil's persistence was pushed to the extreme across multiple examination cycles. He faced disappointment in five successive attempts, an ordeal that often leads candidates to abandon their ambitions entirely. Refusing to yield, he channeled all his accumulated experience into his sixth and final eligible attempt. When the 2021 final merit list was published, Nikhil had achieved an All India Rank of 80, securing selection into the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). His trajectory underscored how unyielding consistency can transform years of disappointment into a historic milestone.
From LBSNAA Training Grounds to a 2024 Marriage
Inducted into the 2022 officer batch, both IAS Shreya Shree and IFS Nikhil Mahajan arrived at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie to begin their institutional training. It was within the classrooms and shared activities of the academy that their friendship took root. While Shreya brought the experience of focused self-study and swift triumph on her second attempt, Nikhil brought the philosophical depth of surviving a long, exhausting battle of six attempts.
Finding mutual respect and shared ideals during their time in training, the two administrative officers decided to take their partnership forward, officially tying the knot in 2024. Their combined journey has resonated widely across competitive exam communities, illustrating that varied preparation paths and personal struggles can culminate in shared triumph when anchored by unwavering discipline and resilience.
