Kanika Anabh of Ranchi has emerged as the first-ranked officer in the Indian Forest Service (IFS) examination of 2024, achieving the top position after three earlier unsuccessful attempts at the UPSC preliminaries. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has announced cadre allocations for the select IFS officers; Kanika has been allotted the Odisha cadre.
The result and subsequent allocation were published as part of the government’s list of selected candidates. Kanika’s success has attracted attention for both the rank she secured and the persistence that defined her preparation. In an interview she stated that she drew inspiration from Rajasthan’s well-known IAS officer Tina Dabi, whose career motivated Kanika to persevere through repeated setbacks.
IFS topper Kanika Anabh: preparation and perseverance
Kanika’s path was not straightforward. After failing the UPSC preliminaries three times, she did not concede defeat. Instead she redoubled her efforts, establishing a rigorous daily routine. Kanika has described studying for around ten hours each day, supplemented by a two-hour sloted schedule focusing on different categories of revision. Her preparation emphasised Political Science and NCERT texts, coupled with systematic revision practices.
The combination of methodical study and resilience proved decisive. Kanika’s story is being shared widely among aspirants as an example of how persistent effort and targeted strategy can overturn earlier disappointments. Her achievement also highlights the varied backgrounds of successful candidates; Kanika hails from Ranchi in Jharkhand, demonstrating that top civil service ranks are accessible to candidates from across India.
Alongside Kanika, the government’s cadre allocation included other select IFS officers: Anand Khandelwal (Odisha), Anupam Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Shikhar Jain (Rajasthan), Bhujang Shivam (Karnataka), Vijay Shankar (Rajasthan), Markand Pashit (Madhya Pradesh), Saurabh Kumar Singh (Gujarat), Anjali Sandhi (Madhya Pradesh) and Ratan Prakash (Jharkhand). The allocations reflect the routine administrative process following finalisation of UPSC selections.
Kanika’s public acknowledgement of Tina Dabi as an inspiration has been noted by many commentators. The parallel between Kanika and other high-profile civil service achievers adds a narrative of mentorship and aspiration that resonates with younger candidates. Kanika’s remarks in interviews underline that role models can play a significant psychological role for aspirants facing repeated examinations.
For prospective examinees, Kanika’s experience offers several practical takeaways: establish a consistent study schedule, divide revision into focused segments, rely on foundational texts such as NCERTs for conceptual clarity, and maintain resilience in the face of setbacks. Her example shows that earlier failures need not define a candidate’s eventual outcome.
As Kanika prepares to take up responsibilities in the Odisha cadre, her journey will be followed by many who regard civil service success as a combination of strategy, discipline and sustained effort. Her achievement is not only a personal milestone but also a motivational story for aspirants across India.
Key Takeaways:
- Kanika Anabh from Ranchi topped the IFS 2024 after three previous UPSC setbacks.
- She credits Rajasthan IAS officer Tina Dabi as her inspiration and followed a disciplined study routine.
- Kanika has been allotted the Odisha cadre; the government released cadre allocations for other select IFS officers as well.
