At just eight, Aparajita Rai’s world was shaken by tragedy when she lost her father, a divisional forest officer in Sikkim.

Some time later, she was exposed to the harsh indifference of government officials. Witnessing their callous treatment of the public ignited a fierce determination in her to change the system from within.

Raised by her mother, Roma Rai, a teacher, Aparajita was shaped into a determined and intelligent young woman. Here are nine things you might not know about her:

1: Her academic brilliance was evident early on. She topped her ISC exams with an impressive 95% and was awarded the Best Girl All-Rounder at Tashi Namgyal Academy for her outstanding performance.

2: After completing her schooling, Aparajita pursued law, earning a BA LLB (Hons) from the West Bengal National University of Judicial Sciences in 2009. However, her ultimate goal was to clear the prestigious UPSC Civil Services exam.

3: In 2009, her first attempt at the UPSC Civil Services exam ended in failure. Undeterred, she reappeared and secured the 768th rank in 2010.

4: In 2011, Aparajita’s perseverance paid off once again when she appeared for the UPSC exam, this time ranking 358th. With this achievement, she became the first female IPS officer from Sikkim.

5: Her excellence continued throughout her IPS training, where she earned multiple awards, including the Best Lady Outdoor Probationer and the Shri Umesh Chandra Trophy for Field Combat.

6: Aparajita’s mission goes beyond personal achievement. Driven by a passion to dismantle bureaucratic apathy, she’s determined to ensure no one faces the indifference she once saw. For her, the civil services are a pathway to make the system more humane.

7: Currently serving in the West Bengal cadre, her work against smuggling operations has been groundbreaking, uncovering major cases involving drugs and gold. Her impact in the field speaks for itself. 8: In 2021, she was honoured with the West Bengal Police Medal For Commendable Service.

9: Despite her demanding career, she remains active in sports, recently becoming the runner-up in the All India Police Badminton Championship.

As Aparajita passionately said, “Anyone who comes to me should not face the same harassment or agony which people generally encounter in government offices.” Her story continues to inspire change.