In a powerful display of resilience and determination, Malavika G Nair from Thiruvalla, Kerala, has secured an impressive 45th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, emerging as the top scorer from the state. What makes her achievement even more remarkable is the fact that she wrote the UPSC Mains exam just 17 days after childbirth.
Currently serving as a Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax in Kochi, Malavika is a 2020-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer. Her success in the prestigious exam came in her sixth and final attempt, marking the culmination of years of dedication and perseverance.
Malavika shared, “It was a special moment, as my baby was there with me. I was pregnant during the prelims, delivered my son on September 3, and appeared for the mains on September 20. It was an incredibly stressful period, but I could do it only because of the unwavering support from my family.”
Her journey was far from easy. While Malavika was writing her mains, her husband, Dr. M Nandagopan, was undergoing IPS training at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad. Her parents—retired KFC AGM K G Ajith Kumar and gynaecologist Dr. P L Geethalakshmi—along with her sister, stepped in to care for the newborn, Adisesh, even bringing him to the exam center in Thiruvananthapuram so she could feed him during breaks.
Her husband recalled, “The baby was only four months old when she attended the interview in Delhi, and he traveled with her then too.”
This isn’t Malavika’s first brush with UPSC success. She had earlier secured 118th rank in 2019 and 172nd in 2022. Interestingly, her husband Nandagopan also cleared the exam with a 233rd rank in 2022.
Malavika’s story is now inspiring aspirants across the country, especially women balancing motherhood and careers. Her journey is a testament to grit, support systems, and the sheer will to never give up.
