IAS Renu Raj: UPSC is one of the toughest exams in India. Lacs of aspirants appear for UPSC exam every year but only a few hundred people manage to clear the UPSC exam. One such person is IAS officer Renu Raj, a resident of Kottayam, Kerala. Renu Raj succeeded in cracking the UPSC exam in her first attempt and she secured the second rank in the exam in 2014.
IAS Renu Raj Overview
- Rank: 2
- CSE: 2014
- Optional Subjects: Malayalam Literature
- Native State: Kerala
- Education: MBBS
- Attempt: First
Renu Raj had left medicine practice to appear in UPSC exam. Renu Raj is known for taking tough actions against illegal constructions and land encroachments in the hill station of Munnar.
While doing her doctorate, she started preparing for the UPSC exam. Within a few months of preparation, she passed the Civil Services Exam in her first attempt. Dr. Renu Raj’s name is taken in the list of the most efficient IAS officers of the country.
IAS Renu Raj Education
Dr. Renu Raj got her early education from St. Teresa’s Higher Secondary School located in Kottayam, Kerala. After completing her schooling, she did her medical studies from Government Medical College, Kottayam. After becoming a doctor, in the year 2013, she started preparing for the UPSC exam along with her doctorate.
IAS Renu Raj Family
Renu Raj’s father is a retired government employee and her mother is a housewife. Renu has two sisters and both of them are doctors by profession. Dr. Renu Raj married Sriram Venkataraman, MD of Kerala State Medical Services Corporation (IAS Sriram Venkitaraman) in April 2022. IAS Sriram Venkataraman secured 2nd rank in UPSC exam in the year 2012.
IAS Renu Raj UPSC Journey
When Dr. Renu Raj started preparing for UPSC exam, she was working as a surgeon. She has mentioned in many interviews that she wanted to be of use to as many people as possible. In such a situation, she thought that being a doctor, she could help 50 or 100 patients, but by becoming a civil service officer, she would benefit thousands of people. After this she decided to give UPSC exam. Renu Raj once said in an interview that it was her childhood dream to become an IAS officer. While she was working as a surgeon, she realised that she wanted to do something for the common people and make their life better and decided to become an IAS officer.
“I THOUGHT THAT BEING A DOCTOR, I COULD HAVE HELPED 50 OR 100 PATIENTS, BUT AS A CIVIL SERVICE OFFICER, MY ONE DECISION WOULD BENEFIT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. AFTER THAT, I DECIDED TO GIVE UPSC EXAM,” RENU RAJ HAD ONCE SAID.
IAS Renu Raj UPSC Preparation
Renu has given many interviews after becoming IAS. She told that since 2013, she used to study for 3-6 hours everyday for UPSC exam. Along with the practice of medicine, she studied for six-seven months by making a similar schedule. After this she decided to prepare full time. After the Mains exam, she started medical practice again and for this she had to cut down her study hours, but she did not let it affect her preparation.