Supported by her carpenter husband and a mason father, Sangita Sethi overcame marriage, motherhood, and financial hardship to secure Rank 113 in the Odisha Civil Services examination. In an exclusive interview with OdishaLIVE, she shares the story behind her success
OdishaPlus Bureau
Cracking the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) examination demands years of dedication, resilience and relentless hard work. But for Sangita Sethi, the journey was also a testament to the power of unwavering family support.
After marriage, Sangita pursued higher education and prepared for the highly competitive OCS examination with constant encouragement from her husband, who stood by her dream instead of letting family responsibilities limit her aspirations.
While balancing motherhood, household duties and financial challenges, she remained determined to succeed. Her relentless efforts, coupled with her husband’s belief in her potential, earned her Rank 113 in the Odisha Civil Services examination, inspiring countless women to chase their ambitions after marriage.
A Dream That Began After Marriage
For many women, marriage often puts academic and career aspirations on hold. Sangita’s journey, however, took a different course. A first-class student throughout her school years, she found herself occupied with household responsibilities after marriage until her husband encouraged her to pursue her dreams.
“My husband saw the potential in me and insisted that I should not let my academic background go to waste,” Sangita said.
He motivated her to prioritise her studies, shared household responsibilities and ensured she had the time to prepare for the Odisha Civil Services examination, becoming the strongest pillar in her journey to success.
Balancing Marriage, Motherhood and Preparation
Preparing for the Odisha Civil Services examination while raising a young child was one of Sangita’s greatest challenges. Her days began early with household chores, which she shared with her husband, before she settled down to study.
After completing family responsibilities, she returned to her books late into the night. “I often studied till three or four in the morning after my child and family had gone to sleep,” she recalled.
Despite getting only a few hours of sleep, Sangita resumed household work by 8 a.m., maintaining this demanding routine for years while balancing motherhood, family duties and her OCS preparation.
Completing Higher Education After Marriage
Sangita’s educational journey reflects her resilience and determination. Born into a humble family, with her father working as a building mason, she completed her schooling at a government girls’ high school before pursuing higher education.
Unlike many women, she continued her studies after marriage, earning her graduation and later a postgraduate degree in Economics from Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna (now Maa Manikeswari University).
She pursued higher education during pregnancy and early motherhood, overcoming long academic breaks. “Despite all the interruptions, I never gave up on my dream,” Sangita said.
Learning from Failure
Sangita’s OCS success was built on persistence. She cleared the preliminary examination in her first attempt and the mains in her second but narrowly missed the final selection.
“I realised my answer-writing skills needed improvement, so I worked on them instead of giving up,” she said. Her determination paid off in her third attempt, securing Rank 113 in the Odisha Civil Services examination.
Financial Challenges Never Went Away
Financial constraints were among the biggest hurdles in Sangita’s OCS journey. With her husband working as a carpenter and her father as a mason, every examination fee, study material and medical expense had to be carefully managed.
“There were times when medical emergencies or exam-related expenses drained our limited resources. I often felt guilty that my preparation was costing the family so much,” Sangita recalled.
Whenever financial worries surfaced, her husband reassured her, asking her to focus solely on her studies while he handled the responsibilities. Her parents also extended emotional and financial support, helping the family overcome difficult phases.
Choosing Online Learning Over Expensive Coaching
Unlike many successful OCS aspirants, Sangita could not move to Bhubaneswar or afford expensive offline coaching because of financial constraints and family responsibilities. Instead, she relied on online learning and the guidance of mentor Chiranjit Sir, whom she particularly credits for helping her improve her answer-writing skills and strengthen her preparation.
“Today, offline or online coaching doesn’t matter. What matters is your perseverance, consistency and how honestly you dedicate your time,” she said.
Her journey highlights how digital learning has made quality guidance accessible to aspirants across Odisha.
A Vision Rooted in Compassion
Success has only strengthened Sangita’s commitment to public service. She said her parents’ first advice after the results was to stay humble and serve people sincerely. Guided by the values of morality, empathy and compassion, she hopes to improve awareness of government welfare schemes and strengthen grievance redressal systems.
Having witnessed limited awareness in her own community, Sangita wants to ensure that every eligible citizen receives the benefits they deserve.
Integrity and Simplicity Above All
Sangita believes integrity will be her greatest strength as a civil servant. Confident that honesty and adherence to the law will help her withstand political pressure and corruption, she views public service as a responsibility rather than a position of authority.
Despite securing a coveted government job, Sangita and her husband have chosen to maintain their simple lifestyle and continue their child’s education in a government school, convinced that a student’s determination, family support and values matter more than expensive institutions. She also promises to treat every citizen with dignity and respect.
An Inspiration for Married Women Aspirants
Sangita Sethi’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination and the power of family support. Balancing marriage, motherhood, financial hardships and repeated setbacks, she proved that dreams need not end after marriage.
Her success in the Odisha Civil Services inspires countless women to pursue their ambitions with confidence and perseverance.