Civil Services Exam: Kerala doctor gets second rank in first attempt

Renu Raj.

Renu Raj, who secured the second rank in the civil services examination, is a doctor with ESI Hospital. After graduating from Medical College in Kottayam in 2013, Raj, who hails from Changanassery in Kerala, enrolled for civil services exam coaching at the government-run Kerala Civil Service Academy. Her husband, H L Bhagath, is also a doctor pursuing higher studies in Mangalore.

“Civil services has been my childhood dream. But I started preparing for it only after my MBBS. A doctor’s profession has a lot of limitations. But a civil servant can do much more service to society and can deal with a wide range of issues,’’ said Raj, whose father was a transport officer.

Read More: A civil servant can do more to serve society: UPSC 2nd rank holder 

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Raj, who joined ESI Hospital in Kollam six months ago, said: “I could not rate my performance in the interview. I had expected my name in the list of winners, but the second rank was a surprise.”

This was her first attempt. “I could emerge the winner only because of the support of my husband, our families and well-wishers. All of them supported me and prayed for my success. Most of the credit should go to them.’’

Raj said she hoped to get the IAS Kerala cadre.