Some careers are defined by a single big moment. Ankita Sharma’s career is defined by persistence — three attempts at one of the hardest exams in the world, and then years of tough, front-line policing work afterward.
She became the first female IPS officer from Chhattisgarh. She’s led operations against Naxal groups in one of India’s most challenging policing environments. And she got there only after facing failure twice before finally succeeding.
This guide covers the real, documented story of IPS Ankita Sharma — her education, her UPSC journey, and her career in Chhattisgarh Police. It’s written for UPSC aspirants and anyone who wants accurate facts rather than viral headlines.
Ankita Sharma is an Indian Police Service officer and the first woman to join the IPS from Chhattisgarh. She secured All India Rank 203 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination of 2018, on her third attempt, after switching from an MBA background. She currently serves in Chhattisgarh Police and is known for her work in anti-Naxal operations.
Table of Contents
Who Is IPS Ankita Sharma?
Ankita Sharma is an Indian Police Service officer serving in the Chhattisgarh cadre. She holds a notable distinction: she was the first woman from Chhattisgarh to become an IPS officer. Her career has been closely associated with anti-Naxal operations, a demanding and often dangerous area of policing work in parts of central India, which has earned her the nickname “Lady Singham” in public coverage.
Early Life and Family Background
Ankita Sharma was born on 25 June 1990 in Durg, Chhattisgarh. Her father, Rakesh Sharma, works as a businessman, and her mother, Savita Sharma, is a homemaker. Ankita is the eldest of three sisters, and public reporting describes her as a serious, focused student from an early age.
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Education: From School to an MBA
Ankita completed her schooling at St. Xavier Senior Secondary School in Durg, where she was academically strong, scoring 92% in her Class 10 exams and 90% in Class 12.
Interestingly, her path didn’t start with a plan to join civil services. She went on to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekananda Technical University in Bhilai, where she graduated as a gold medalist.
The UPSC Journey: Two Failures, One Breakthrough
After completing her MBA, Ankita Sharma decided to pursue a career in civil services, drawing inspiration from the career of Kiran Bedi, India’s first woman IPS officer. But her own path to the IPS wasn’t immediate.
Her first UPSC attempt did not clear the Mains stage. Her second attempt fell short at the Prelims stage. For many candidates, two consecutive failures at different stages of the exam would be reason enough to stop. Ankita didn’t.
She briefly moved to Delhi to prepare with access to more coaching resources, but returned home after about six months and continued preparing independently. On her third attempt, in 2018, she succeeded, securing All India Rank 203, with Public Administration as her optional subject.
Expert Tip
Ankita Sharma’s UPSC journey is a useful example for aspirants who fail at different stages in different years. A Mains-stage failure and a Prelims-stage failure require different kinds of adjustment — but neither one has to be a final result.
Joining the IPS: Chhattisgarh’s First Woman Officer
With her 2018 result, Ankita Sharma joined the Indian Police Service and made history as the first woman from Chhattisgarh to become an IPS officer. This distinction matters beyond the personal achievement — it opened a path that hadn’t previously existed for women from her state pursuing this specific career.
Career: Anti-Naxal Work and Public Recognition
Since joining the IPS, Ankita Sharma has built a career strongly associated with counter-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh, a state that has faced long-running challenges with Naxal (left-wing extremist) activity in several districts.
In February 2021, she was honored with the Indra Bhushan Award for her contributions to law enforcement, recognizing her work in this demanding area of policing.
As of this writing, she serves as Superintendent of Police (SP) for the Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai districts in Chhattisgarh.
Note on her current posting: IPS officers are transferred periodically as part of standard state government service, so any specific posting mentioned online can become outdated. For the most accurate, up-to-date designation, check official Chhattisgarh Police notifications.
Mentoring the Next Generation of Aspirants
Alongside her demanding field responsibilities, Ankita Sharma is known for mentoring UPSC aspirants from rural backgrounds, reportedly conducting free guidance sessions on her days off. This mentoring work reflects the same motivation she has cited for her own career choice: a focus on public service rather than status.
She also maintains an active social media presence, where she shares updates related to her work and motivational content, drawing a large following among UPSC aspirants who see her journey as an example of persistence.
Read More: Vinay Tiwari IPS: Career, Background, and the Real Story
Personal Life
Ankita Sharma is married to Vivekanand Shukla, an officer in the Indian Army. Public reporting describes him as a consistent source of support throughout her policing career, given that both partners serve in demanding, service-oriented careers.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Ankita Sharma |
| Date of Birth | 25 June 1990 |
| Hometown | Durg, Chhattisgarh |
| Schooling | St. Xavier Senior Secondary School, Durg |
| Higher Education | MBA (Gold Medalist), Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekananda Technical University, Bhilai |
| UPSC Attempts | 3 |
| UPSC Rank | All India Rank 203 (2018) |
| Optional Subject | Public Administration |
| Cadre | Chhattisgarh |
| Distinction | First female IPS officer from Chhattisgarh |
| Recognition | Indra Bhushan Award (February 2021) |
| Spouse | Vivekanand Shukla, Indian Army officer |
What Her Story Teaches UPSC Aspirants
- Two different types of failure don’t cancel out your chances. Failing at Mains one year and Prelims the next still left room for a successful third attempt.
- A non-traditional academic background can still lead to civil services success. Her path ran through an MBA, not a conventional humanities degree.
- Location for preparation is a personal choice, not a fixed rule. She tried Delhi, then returned home and succeeded with independent preparation.
- Giving back doesn’t have to wait until retirement. She mentors aspirants actively, even while handling demanding field duties.
Conclusion
IPS Ankita Sharma’s story is built on repeated persistence: two unsuccessful UPSC attempts, followed by a third that changed the course of her career entirely. As the first woman from Chhattisgarh to join the IPS, and someone with a demonstrated record in anti-Naxal operations, her career reflects both a personal breakthrough and a broader step forward for women in Indian policing.
For UPSC aspirants facing repeated setbacks, her journey is a clear example that failure at different stages, in different years, doesn’t have to be the end of the road.
FAQs
1. Who is IPS Ankita Sharma? She is an Indian Police Service officer from the Chhattisgarh cadre, known as the first woman from the state to join the IPS, with a career strongly focused on anti-Naxal operations.
2. What is Ankita Sharma’s UPSC rank? She secured All India Rank 203 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination of 2018.
3. How many attempts did it take Ankita Sharma to clear UPSC? It took her three attempts. Her first attempt failed at the Mains stage, and her second failed at the Prelims stage.
4. What did Ankita Sharma study before UPSC? She completed an MBA at Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekananda Technical University in Bhilai, graduating as a gold medalist.
5. What is Ankita Sharma’s optional subject? She chose Public Administration as her optional subject for the UPSC Mains.
6. Who is Ankita Sharma married to? She is married to Vivekanand Shukla, an officer in the Indian Army.
7. What award has Ankita Sharma received? She received the Indra Bhushan Award in February 2021 for her contributions to law enforcement.
8. Which cadre is Ankita Sharma allotted to? She was allotted the Chhattisgarh cadre, making her the state’s first female IPS officer.
