Who is Anshika Verma IPS?
Today let’s talk about Anshika Verma IPS: Anshika Verma, a dedicated IPS officer of the 2021 batch, has become an inspiration for countless UPSC aspirants across India. Born on January 3, 1996, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, she represents the new generation of civil servants who have achieved their dreams through sheer determination, hard work, and self-study. Her journey from an engineering student to a respected IPS officer, achieved without formal coaching, demonstrates that success in one of India’s toughest examinations is possible through dedication and strategic preparation.
Currently serving as Additional SP (South) in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh (as of 2025), Anshika has quickly established herself as a competent and committed law enforcement officer. Beyond her professional achievements, she has also become a social media influencer with over 550,000 followers on Instagram, using her platform to inspire and guide UPSC aspirants while maintaining the dignity and professionalism expected of an IPS officer.
Anshika Verma IPS
Anshika Verma IPS Early Life and Family Background
Anshika Verma was born on January 3, 1996, in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, one of India’s most historic cities known for its educational institutions and cultural heritage. Prayagraj, situated at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, is considered one of Hinduism’s holiest cities and has been a center of learning for centuries.
She was born into a middle-class family that valued education and hard work. Her father, Anil Verma, is a retired employee of the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Corporation Limited (UPPCL), having dedicated his career to public service in the state electricity board. Her mother, Vandana Verma, has been a homemaker who provided crucial emotional support and created a nurturing environment for Anshika’s educational pursuits.
Anshika is an only child, which meant her parents’ attention, resources, and aspirations were focused entirely on her education and development. Growing up in a supportive family environment where education was prioritized, she had the encouragement necessary to dream big and work toward ambitious goals.
Her father’s career in a government corporation likely provided Anshika with early insights into public service and government functioning. The middle-class upbringing instilled values of hard work, perseverance, and the importance of financial independence—qualities that would later drive her pursuit of civil services.
Prayagraj’s rich educational environment, with institutions like Allahabad University and several prestigious schools and coaching centers, exposed Anshika to a culture of academic excellence from an early age. The city has produced numerous civil servants, creating an atmosphere where UPSC success stories were part of the local culture.
Anshika Verma IPS Education
School Education
Anshika completed her schooling in Prayagraj, receiving her foundational education in the city’s schools. While specific details about her school are not widely publicized, her academic performance throughout her school years was consistently strong, laying the groundwork for her later achievements.
Growing up in Prayagraj meant access to quality schools and a competitive academic environment. The city’s educational institutions emphasize both academic rigor and extracurricular development, helping students develop well-rounded personalities—qualities important for future civil servants.
Engineering Education
After completing her school education, Anshika pursued a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree from Galgotias College of Engineering and Technology in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Galgotias is a well-known private engineering institution that attracts students from across North India.
Choosing engineering as her undergraduate path reflected the practical aspirations of many middle-class Indian families, who see engineering as a stable career option with good employment prospects. Like many engineering students, Anshika likely entered the program with the expectation of pursuing a technical career.
However, during her engineering studies, she realized that her true calling lay elsewhere. The structured, technical nature of engineering education, while valuable, didn’t ignite the passion she felt for public service and law enforcement. This realization led to a crucial decision that would change her life trajectory.
The Decision to Drop Out
Anshika made the bold decision to drop out of engineering to pursue her dream of becoming a civil servant. This decision was not easy—dropping out of engineering, especially after investing time and resources, carries social stigma in India where completing one’s degree is considered paramount.
For her family, particularly her father who had worked in a technical field (electricity corporation), accepting this decision required trust in Anshika’s judgment and belief in her abilities. The fact that her parents supported this unconventional choice demonstrates their progressive thinking and confidence in their daughter.
Dropping out also meant giving up the security of an engineering degree and the career opportunities it would provide. This decision required courage and conviction in her chosen path, as failure in UPSC would leave her without a degree and with years of effort unrewarded.
Anshika Verma IPS UPSC Journey and Preparation
Decision to Pursue Civil Services
The decision to pursue civil services came from Anshika’s desire to serve society and make a meaningful impact. Like many aspirants, she was inspired by the power and responsibility that come with administrative positions, particularly in law enforcement through the Indian Police Service.
The IPS appealed to her for several reasons: the opportunity to directly impact law and order, the action-oriented nature of police work compared to administrative roles, the authority to protect citizens and ensure justice, and the challenging and dynamic career it offered.
Self-Study Approach: No Coaching
One of the most remarkable aspects of Anshika’s UPSC journey is that she cracked the examination without taking any formal coaching. In an era where coaching institutes have become almost synonymous with UPSC preparation, and aspirants spend lakhs of rupees on classes, test series, and guidance, Anshika chose self-study.
This decision was partly practical—quality coaching requires significant financial investment that may have been challenging for her middle-class family—and partly strategic, as she believed in her ability to plan and execute her preparation independently.
Her self-study approach involved:
Comprehensive Reading: She studied NCERT textbooks thoroughly, which form the foundation of UPSC preparation. She also read standard reference books for various subjects.
Current Affairs: Regular reading of newspapers (likely The Hindu), magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra, and following government websites for schemes and policies.
Previous Year Papers: Analyzing previous years’ question papers to understand patterns, important topics, and examination trends.
Self-Assessment: Regular self-testing through mock tests and previous year papers to evaluate progress and identify weak areas.
Internet Resources: Utilizing free online resources, government websites, and educational platforms that provide UPSC-related content.
Disciplined Schedule: Creating and adhering to a study schedule that balanced different subjects, revision, and current affairs.
The self-study approach required exceptional self-discipline, motivation, and the ability to stay focused without external accountability that coaching provides. It also meant she had to be her own guide, identifying what to study, how much depth to go into, and when to move to new topics.
First Attempt: Learning from Failure
Despite her hard work and dedication, Anshika could not clear the UPSC examination in her first attempt. This failure was a significant setback that tests the resolve of every aspirant. The UPSC examination has a success rate of less than 1%, so failure in the first attempt is common, but it’s still emotionally and psychologically challenging.
The first attempt failure could have led to self-doubt, questioning of her decision to drop out of engineering, and pressure from society and even family to pursue alternative careers. However, Anshika chose to view failure as a learning opportunity rather than a dead end.
She analyzed what went wrong: perhaps time management during examination, gaps in knowledge, lack of answer writing practice, or insufficient revision. This honest self-assessment was crucial for her second attempt strategy.
Second Attempt: Achieving Success
Learning from her first attempt, Anshika refined her preparation strategy. She likely focused more on answer writing skills, improved her time management during examination, strengthened weak areas identified in the first attempt, and increased revision cycles to ensure better retention.
Her hard work bore fruits and in her second attempt she got All India Rank (AIR) 136 and furthered her way towards the Indian Police Service (IPS) at the age of 24. Securing AIR 136 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2019 (results declared in 2020, joining in 2021) was a remarkable achievement. This rank ensured her selection into the Indian Police Service, one of the three premier All-India Services.
Achieving this at age 24 was particularly noteworthy—she had time to build a long career in civil services, and her relatively young age meant energy and contemporary perspective in approaching law enforcement challenges.
The rank of 136 reflects not just passing but excelling in one of the world’s toughest examinations. It demonstrated comprehensive knowledge across diverse subjects, excellent answer writing skills, strong personality and communication (for the interview), and exceptional dedication and preparation.
Anshika Verma IPS Training
Foundation Course at LBSNAA
After clearing UPSC, Anshika began her journey as a civil servant with the Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. This course, lasting approximately three months, is attended by all successful UPSC candidates—IAS, IPS, IFS, and other services.
The Foundation Course provides training in: Indian Constitution and governance, public administration fundamentals, ethics and values in public service, Indian culture and heritage, contemporary issues facing India, and inter-service interaction and team building.
This training phase helps officer trainees transition from civilians to public servants, instilling values of integrity, dedication to duty, and understanding of their role in nation-building.
IPS Training at SVPNPA
Following the Foundation Course, Anshika proceeded to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad for specialized IPS training. This intensive training, lasting approximately one year, transforms officers into law enforcement professionals.
The SVPNPA training includes:
Physical Training: Rigorous physical fitness regimen, weapons training, drill and parade, self-defense and martial arts, and horse riding.
Legal Training: Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Evidence Act, and various special and local laws.
Police Procedures: Investigation techniques, crime scene management, forensics basics, traffic management, and law and order maintenance.
Leadership and Management: Personnel management, crisis management, communication skills, and ethical policing.
Practical Training: Exposure to real police work through attachments with different units and field exercises simulating various scenarios.
As a female officer in a male-dominated service, Anshika had to prove her mettle in physically demanding training while also excelling in academics and leadership exercises. Her performance during training likely demonstrated the determination and capability that would characterize her career.
District Training
After SVPNPA, IPS officers undergo district training in their allotted cadres, where they work under the supervision of senior officers in various police stations and units, gaining practical experience in day-to-day police work before independent posting.
Anshika Verma IPS Professional Career
Uttar Pradesh Cadre
Anshika Verma belongs to Uttar Pradesh (UP) cadre. She is a 2021 batch IPS officer serving in Uttar Pradesh state. The UP cadre is one of the largest and most challenging cadres in India due to the state’s massive population (over 240 million), complex law and order situations, diverse communities, high crime rates in certain areas, and political sensitivity.
Working in UP cadre means dealing with various challenges: managing communal tensions in certain districts, handling organized crime and gang warfare, addressing crimes against women and vulnerable sections, maintaining law and order during elections and festivals, and implementing government policies in diverse geographical and social contexts.
Postings
Gorakhpur
Anshika previously served in Gorakhpur district, an important city in eastern Uttar Pradesh known for its religious significance (Gorakhnath Temple) and political prominence. Gorakhpur presents unique challenges including managing large religious gatherings, handling urban crime, and dealing with district borders close to Nepal.
Agra
She later served as ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police) in Agra, one of UP’s most important tourist destinations due to the Taj Mahal. Working in Agra meant dealing with tourist-related issues and crimes, managing VIP security during high-profile visits, handling heritage site security, urban crime management in a historical city, and maintaining the city’s image as a safe tourist destination.
The ACP position is a crucial middle-management role in police hierarchy, responsible for supervising multiple police stations, coordinating law and order operations, investigating serious crimes, and liaising between ground-level police and senior officers.
Current Posting: Bareilly
Currently posted as Additional SP (South), Bareilly (as of March 2025). The Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) position is senior-level, involving greater responsibility and independent command. Bareilly, a major city in the Bareilly division of UP, has its own set of challenges including urban-rural crime dynamics, industrial area management, and maintaining communal harmony.
As Additional SP (South), Anshika is responsible for a substantial geographical area within Bareilly district, overseeing multiple police circles, coordinating major operations, handling sensitive cases, and ensuring effective law enforcement in her jurisdiction.
Anshika Verma IPS Notable Work and Achievements
Case Handling and Investigation
Throughout her postings, Anshika has been involved in handling various cases ranging from routine crimes to sensitive investigations. Her approach combines modern investigative techniques with empathetic understanding of victims’ situations, particularly in cases involving women and children.
Her strategic case handling showcases her ability to analyze complex situations, coordinate multiple agencies, utilize forensic and technical resources, and ensure justice while following due process.
Community Policing Initiatives
Like many progressive officers, Anshika has likely engaged in community policing efforts, understanding that effective law enforcement requires public cooperation and trust. This involves reaching out to communities, especially women and youth, addressing their security concerns, creating awareness about crimes and preventive measures, and building bridges between police and citizens.
Women’s Safety Initiatives
As a female IPS officer, Anshika is particularly sensitive to women’s safety issues. She has likely been involved in initiatives targeting crimes against women, creating safe reporting mechanisms for victims, training police personnel on handling sexual assault cases sensitively, and public awareness campaigns about women’s legal rights.
Anshika Verma IPS Social Media Presence and Influence
Instagram Popularity
With 550K Followers, 1,201 Following, 39 Posts on Instagram (@anshikaverma.ips), Anshika has built a substantial social media following. Her Instagram bio simply states: “IPS 2021| UP cadre,” maintaining professional dignity while engaging with the public.
Her social media presence is noteworthy for several reasons:
Inspiration for Aspirants: Her posts and presence inspire thousands of UPSC aspirants, particularly young women who see her as proof that they too can achieve their dreams.
Transparency in Government: By maintaining social media presence, she makes the police force more approachable and humanizes law enforcement officers.
Breaking Stereotypes: She challenges stereotypes about both women and police officers through her professional demeanor and achievements.
Motivation and Guidance: Through her platform, she occasionally shares insights about UPSC preparation, police work, and public service, providing valuable guidance to aspirants.
Balancing Privacy and Public Presence
Despite her social media presence, Anshika maintains appropriate boundaries, sharing professional updates and inspirational content without compromising operational security or personal privacy. This balance demonstrates maturity in navigating the modern landscape where public figures are expected to be accessible while maintaining professional standards.
Anshika Verma IPS Personal Life
Current Status
As of the available information, Anshika is currently unmarried and focused on building her career in law enforcement. At 28-29 years old (as of 2024-25), she is in the early phase of what promises to be a distinguished career spanning potentially three decades.
Interests and Hobbies
While specific details about her hobbies are not extensively publicized, her social media presence suggests interests in fitness and wellness (important for maintaining physical standards required in IPS), reading and continuous learning (essential for staying updated on various issues), and engaging with youth and aspirants through mentoring and guidance.
Lifestyle
Living the life of an IPS officer involves significant demands: long working hours and unpredictable schedules, managing stress from dealing with crime and sensitive situations, maintaining physical fitness despite demanding schedules, frequent transfers and adapting to new environments, and balancing personal life with professional responsibilities.
Anshika Verma IPS Challenges Faced and Overcome
Breaking Gender Barriers
As a woman in the Indian Police Service, Anshika faces challenges that male officers may not encounter. These include:
Physical Standards: Meeting the same physical standards as male officers while dealing with physiological differences requires exceptional dedication to fitness.
Stereotypes: Overcoming societal stereotypes about women’s suitability for police work, particularly in challenging law and order situations.
Work-Life Balance: Greater societal expectations regarding marriage and family can create pressure that male officers don’t face to the same degree.
Safety Concerns: Additional security considerations given that female officers may be targeted differently.
Establishing Authority: Proving competence and earning respect in situations where subordinates or public may question female officers’ authority.
Despite these challenges, Anshika’s success demonstrates that competence, dedication, and professionalism transcend gender.
The Coaching Disadvantage
Preparing for UPSC without coaching meant several disadvantages: no structured guidance on what to study and how much, no peer group for motivation and knowledge sharing, no answer writing evaluation and feedback, no regular test series to assess preparation level, and greater reliance on self-discipline and motivation.
However, she turned these disadvantages into strengths by developing self-reliance, creating her own study structure, and learning to be her own critic—skills valuable in life beyond UPSC.
Dealing with Failure
The first UPSC attempt failure was perhaps her biggest challenge. In a society that often stigmatizes failure and where she had already taken the risk of dropping out of engineering, this setback could have been devastating. Her ability to persist, learn, and ultimately succeed demonstrates exceptional mental strength and resilience.
Anshika Verma IPS Philosophy and Approach to Policing
Commitment to Duty
Anshika’s approach to policing is characterized by strong commitment to duty and public service. She understands that as an IPS officer, she holds significant power and responsibility, and uses both judiciously to serve citizens and maintain law and order.
Ethical Policing
In an era where police forces face criticism regarding human rights, corruption, and misuse of power, young officers like Anshika represent hope for ethical, professional policing. Her approach likely emphasizes following legal procedures, respecting citizens’ rights, using force only when necessary and proportionate, and maintaining integrity in all dealings.
Progressive Mindset
As a millennial officer, Anshika brings contemporary perspectives to law enforcement: understanding of technology’s role in both crime and investigation, awareness of mental health issues affecting both officers and citizens, sensitivity to diverse communities and identities, and willingness to adapt policing methods to changing times.
Anshika Verma IPS Impact and Legacy
Role Model for Aspirants
Anshika’s most significant impact has been as a role model for UPSC aspirants, particularly: young women from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, students considering dropping out of engineering or other professional courses, those who cannot afford expensive coaching, and anyone who has failed once and is contemplating a second attempt.
Her success story provides tangible proof that UPSC can be cracked through self-study, determination, and strategic preparation, without requiring expensive coaching or elite educational backgrounds.
Changing Police Image
Through her professional work and social media presence, Anshika contributes to changing public perception of police officers. Her approachability on social media, professional conduct, and visible dedication help humanize the police force and build public trust—crucial for effective law enforcement.
Inspiring Women in Law Enforcement
Her presence in IPS encourages more women to consider careers in law enforcement, traditionally seen as male domain. Each successful female officer makes the path slightly easier for the next generation by normalizing women in these roles.
Anshika Verma IPS Future Prospects
At 28-29 years old and with a promising start to her IPS career, Anshika has several decades ahead to make significant contributions to law enforcement and public administration. Potential future trajectories include:
Senior Police Positions: With experience and continued excellent performance, she could rise to positions like DIG, IG, and potentially DGP (Director General of Police).
Specialized Units: Opportunity to work in specialized units like Anti-Terrorism Squad, Cyber Crime, Economic Offences Wing, or Women’s Safety Cell.
Central Deputation: Possibility of central government postings with agencies like CBI, IB, RAW, or CRPF.
Training and Policy: Contributing to police training institutions or policy-making bodies to shape future law enforcement approaches.
International Assignments: Potential for UN peacekeeping missions or international police cooperation roles.
Political Entry: Like many successful civil servants, possibility of entering politics after retirement to continue public service.
Anshika Verma IPS Lessons from Anshika Verma’s Journey
Her journey offers several valuable lessons:
Self-Belief: Having confidence in one’s abilities and decisions, even when they’re unconventional.
Learning from Failure: Viewing setbacks as learning opportunities rather than final verdicts.
Self-Study is Viable: Success in UPSC doesn’t necessarily require expensive coaching if one is disciplined and strategic.
Family Support Matters: Having a supportive family that trusts your decisions and encourages your dreams.
Alternative Paths: Success doesn’t always follow conventional routes; dropping out or changing paths isn’t failure if it leads to your true calling.
Work-Life Integration: Building a public presence while maintaining professional standards and personal boundaries.
Breaking Barriers: Not letting gender, background, or lack of resources limit aspirations.
Also Read: Ajitha Vejendla Biography
Frequently Asked Questions Anshika Verma IPS
Who is Anshika Verma and what is her background?
Anshika Verma was born on January 3, 1996, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to Anil Verma (a retired employee of UP Electricity Corporation) and Vandana Verma. She pursued B.Tech from Galgotias College of Engineering and Technology in Greater Noida but dropped out to pursue her dream of becoming a civil servant. She is currently 28-29 years old, unmarried, and an only child from a middle-class family.
How did Anshika Verma crack UPSC and what was her rank?
Anshika prepared for UPSC through self-study without taking any formal coaching. In her first attempt, she could not clear the examination, but she didn’t give up. Learning from her mistakes, she prepared again and in her second attempt secured All India Rank (AIR) 136 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2019 (2021 batch), achieving this at the age of 24. This rank qualified her for the Indian Police Service (IPS).
What positions has Anshika Verma held in her IPS career?
Anshika Verma belongs to the Uttar Pradesh (UP) cadre and is a 2021 batch IPS officer. She has served in multiple districts including Gorakhpur, where she began her career, and Agra, where she served as ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police). Currently (as of March 2025), she is posted as Additional SP (South) in Bareilly, a senior position with significant responsibility for law and order in her jurisdiction.
What is unique about Anshika Verma’s UPSC preparation strategy?
The most remarkable aspect of Anshika’s UPSC journey is that she cracked the examination entirely through self-study without any formal coaching. In an era when most aspirants rely on expensive coaching institutes, she proved that UPSC success is achievable through disciplined self-study, utilizing free resources, analyzing previous year papers, and maintaining consistent preparation. Her approach offers hope to aspirants who cannot afford coaching.
What is Anshika Verma’s social media presence?
Anshika has a significant social media presence with 550,000 followers on Instagram (@anshikaverma.ips). Her bio states “IPS 2021| UP cadre.” Despite being a serving police officer, she maintains an active social media presence that inspires UPSC aspirants while maintaining professional standards. She has become a social media influencer in the civil services space, using her platform to motivate and guide aspirants, particularly young women interested in law enforcement careers.
Conclusion
Anshika Verma’s biography is a testament to the power of determination, self-belief, and hard work in achieving one’s dreams. From dropping out of engineering to becoming an IPS officer at age 24 without any coaching, her journey breaks multiple stereotypes and offers inspiration to millions of young Indians, particularly women, who aspire to serve the nation through civil services.
Her success demonstrates that prestigious services like IPS are not reserved for those from privileged backgrounds, elite educational institutions, or expensive coaching centers. With the right mindset, strategic preparation, and unwavering commitment, even middle-class students from tier-2 cities can crack UPSC and serve at the highest levels of administration.
As a serving IPS officer managing law and order in one of India’s most populous and challenging states, Anshika continues to prove her mettle daily. Her professional work, combined with her role as a social media influencer inspiring aspirants, makes her impact multidimensional—she serves society through her duty as a police officer while also motivating the next generation of civil servants.
At just 28-29 years old, Anshika Verma has decades of service ahead. As she gains experience and rises through the ranks, she has the potential to make significant contributions to law enforcement, women’s safety, and public administration in Uttar Pradesh and potentially at the national level.
Her story is particularly relevant in contemporary India where questions about gender equality, access to opportunities, and merit-based success are hotly debated. Anshika embodies the aspirational India where a young woman from a middle-class family in Prayagraj can rise to positions of power and influence through her own efforts, serve her state and nation with dedication, and inspire countless others to pursue their dreams regardless of circumstances.
The journey from engineering dropout to IPS officer, from first attempt failure to AIR 136 success, from UPSC aspirant to law enforcement professional—each phase of Anshika Verma’s life offers lessons in resilience, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to goals. Her biography will continue to inspire UPSC aspirants for years to come, serving as living proof that in democratic India, public service remains open to all who have the determination to serve and the dedication to earn it.