Surabhi Gautam is one of India’s most inspiring civil servants, known for securing All India Rank 50 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2016 in her very first attempt. Coming from a small Hindi-medium village background in Madhya Pradesh, she transformed early struggles — especially with English communication — into powerful strengths through discipline and determination. Before joining the Indian Administrative Service, she had already achieved remarkable success by securing Rank 1 in Indian Engineering Services (IES). Her journey from facing classroom humiliation to becoming a confident IAS officer reflects resilience, strategic preparation, and unwavering self-belief, making her a true role model for UPSC aspirants across the country.
Who is Surabhi Gautam?
Surabhi Gautam is a talented IAS (Indian Administrative Services) officer who received the prestigious 2016 UPSC Civil Service Exam’s Ranking of AIR 50 (across all of India) in one attempt, and before that she gained considerable fame across the entire country in 2016 when she became the highest rank (1st) in the IES (Indian Engineering Service) exams run by the Indian government. She has been noted by many as a great example of the importance of a disciplined study regime combined with the work ethic and dedication required to overcome significant challenges, even if you are entering this competition from a different medium of learning such as Hindi..
Surabhi Gautam Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Surabhi Gautam |
| Nick Name | Surabhi |
| Profession | Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer |
| Famous For | Securing AIR 50 in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2016 |
| Service | Indian Administrative Service (IAS) |
| UPSC Batch | 2016 |
| Cadre | Gujarat |
| Education | B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering |
| Medium of Schooling | Hindi Medium |
| Major Achievement Before UPSC | Rank 1 in Indian Engineering Services (IES), 2013 |
| Other Exams Cleared | ISRO & BARC Competitive Examinations |
| Birthplace | Amdara Village, Satna District, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Marital Status | Not Publicly Disclosed |
| Known For | Discipline, Strong Answer Writing Practice, English Transformation Story |
| Interview Marks (UPSC 2016) | 198 |
| Final Rank (UPSC 2016) | AIR 50 |
| Present Role | Senior Administrative Officer (As per Gujarat Cadre Posting) |
Surabhi Gautam Weight, Height and Physical Attributes
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches In cm – 163 cm |
| Weight | 55–60 kg |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Body Type | Slim & Fit |
| Personality Traits | Confident, Calm, Disciplined |
| Fitness Routine | Light exercise, walking, yoga |
| Lifestyle | Simple and Minimalistic |
Surabhi Gautam Family Background
Surabhi was born into a supportive joint family. Her father is a lawyer and her mother is a school teacher. Her parents played a critical role in shaping her discipline, moral values, and dedication toward education. Her mother’s motivational words during her toughest phase became the turning point of her life.
Surabhi Gautam Boyfriend
Surabhi Gautam has kept her personal life private. There is no confirmed public information regarding any boyfriend or relationship. She has always maintained a professional image focused on academics and public service.
Surabhi Gautam Education
Surabhi completed her schooling in a Hindi-medium school in her village, where she consistently topped her class. After clearing the state engineering entrance examination, she pursued B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering from an engineering college in Bhopal. Despite facing language barriers initially, she topped her university and earned a gold medal. Her technical background later helped her choose Electrical Engineering as her optional subject in UPSC.
The Humiliation That Sparked a Fire
One of the most powerful chapters of her life came during her first year of engineering. On her first day in college, she was asked to introduce herself in English but could not speak fluently. Her classmates laughed. Later, a professor mocked her for giving a wrong answer in English and even questioned her academic capability.
She felt broken and considered quitting.
But her mother told her:
“If you quit now, you are quitting for every girl in your village who dreams through you.”
That night, she decided to fight back.
She started learning 10 new English words daily, filled her walls with vocabulary notes, and practiced speaking constantly. Within a year, she became fluent and topped her university. The same language that once embarrassed her later helped her score 198 in the UPSC interview.
Before UPSC: A Trail of Victories
Before appearing for UPSC, Surabhi had already built an extraordinary academic record. She cleared exams conducted by Indian Space Research Organisation and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Most impressively, she secured Rank 1 in Indian Engineering Services (IES) in 2013.
These achievements strengthened her confidence and prepared her mentally for the Civil Services Examination.
UPSC 2016: First Attempt, AIR 50
In 2016, Surabhi appeared for the Civil Services Examination and cracked it in her very first attempt with All India Rank 50. Her performance reflected balanced preparation across General Studies, Essay, Optional, and Interview stages. Her strong interview score of 198 showcased her clarity of thought and confident personality.
Preparation Mantra
Surabhi’s preparation strategy was smart and disciplined rather than extreme. She chose Electrical Engineering as her optional because it matched her academic background. She believed in quality over quantity and followed a limited booklist with multiple revisions.
She practiced answer writing daily with structured introductions, subheadings, diagrams, and balanced conclusions. One week before Mains, she stopped learning new topics and focused entirely on revision. For Prelims, she followed a two-pass method — attempting sure questions first and then using intelligent elimination.
Her mantra was simple:
“Sit, Write, Check, Repeat.”
Administrative Career & Specific Contributions
After becoming an IAS officer, Surabhi served in Gujarat in important administrative roles. As Assistant Collector, she handled grassroots governance issues and coordinated migrant worker management during the COVID-19 period. She strengthened grievance redressal systems and ensured smooth public service delivery.
As District Development Officer, she worked on digitizing land records, improving transparency in revenue systems, and monitoring development funds efficiently. Her administrative style focuses on system improvement, accountability, and citizen-centric governance.
Her Advice to UPSC Aspirants
Surabhi advises aspirants to choose their optional subject wisely, preferably aligned with their academic background. She emphasizes regular answer writing practice, consistent revision, and mental resilience. According to her, discipline and clarity matter more than long study hours. She encourages aspirants to avoid comparing journeys and focus on steady daily improvement.
Surabhi Gautam Age
Surabhi Gautam is believed to be in her early to mid-30s as of 2026. She achieved AIR 50 in UPSC 2016 at a young age, making her one of the inspiring young achievers of her batch.
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Surabhi Gautam Profession
She is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer serving in the Government of India cadre. Her profession involves district administration, policy implementation, public welfare monitoring, and governance reforms.
Surabhi Gautam Diet
Surabhi follows a simple and balanced Indian diet. She prefers home-cooked meals, seasonal vegetables, fruits, and adequate hydration. During UPSC preparation, she avoided junk food and focused on light meals to maintain concentration and energy levels.
Surabhi Gautam Daily Routine
Her daily routine during preparation included 6–8 focused study hours, newspaper reading, revision sessions, and answer writing practice. As an IAS officer, her routine now involves early mornings, administrative meetings, field visits, grievance hearings, and policy reviews.
Surabhi Gautam Fitness
Surabhi believes physical fitness supports mental clarity. She includes light exercise, yoga, and regular walking in her routine. Maintaining discipline in lifestyle helps her manage the demanding schedule of civil services.
Favourite Things of Surabhi Gautam
| Category | Favourite / Preference |
|---|---|
| Hobby | Reading books & self-improvement literature |
| Subject | Mathematics & Technical Subjects |
| Book Type | Motivational & Inspirational Biographies |
| Quote | “Consistency and discipline create success.” |
| Food | Simple home-cooked Indian food |
| Beverage | Tea |
| Colour | Blue & White (symbol of calmness and clarity) |
| Activity | Answer writing practice & structured planning |
| Travel Preference | Peaceful and culturally rich places |
| Role Model | Self-made personalities in public service |
Surabhi Gautam on Social Media
Instagram – @Surabhi Gautam
Facebook – @Surabhi Gautam
Surabhi Gautam maintains a professional presence and keeps her personal life largely private. She is not highly active on social media platforms and prefers focusing on administrative responsibilities.
Career of Surabhi Gautam
Her career journey is remarkable — from a Hindi-medium village student to gold medalist engineer, Rank 1 IES officer, and finally IAS with AIR 50. Her administrative career continues to focus on transparency, efficiency, and people-centric governance.
Net Worth of Surabhi Gautam
As an IAS officer, Surabhi earns as per the Government of India pay scale. While exact figures are not publicly disclosed, IAS officers receive salary, allowances, and official benefits as per central government norms. Her real wealth lies in her credibility, service impact, and inspirational influence.
Key Takeaways
Surabhi Gautam’s life teaches that language barriers can be broken with persistence, humiliation can become motivation, and disciplined habits create extraordinary success. She proves that self-belief, structured preparation, and consistent revision are the true secrets of cracking UPSC.
Conclusion
The journey of Surabhi Gautam (IAS, AIR 50) is far from just a success story, but is now viewed as a foundation for all aspirants wishing to improve their chances of applying for these examinations that might seem impossible due to their circumstances or language. Her story is truly remarkable; she has gone from being a struggle to even have conversations in English to scoring 198 points out of a possible 300 points during the final interview process for the UPSC, and/or from having attended primary education in a rural area to working as an IAS officer in one of India’s 643 districts.
FAQs About Surabhi Gautam
She secured All India Rank 50 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2016 in her first attempt.
Her optional subject was Electrical Engineering, aligned with her B.Tech background.
Yes, she struggled with English communication in engineering college but overcame it through daily practice and discipline.
She secured Rank 1 in Indian Engineering Services (IES) in 2013 before clearing UPSC.
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