She graduated in Mathematics from Indraprastha College, Delhi.
It took her two attempts to clear the UPSC exam with Political Science and International Relations as optional subjects.
Nimishi Tripathi, a 24-year-old science graduate and the daughter of Avdhesh Tripathi, a forest ranger in Madhya Pradesh, successfully cleared the UPSC civil service exam. Hailing from the lesser-known town of Sanawad in the tribal-dominated Khargone district, Nimishi secured 622nd rank in the UPSC 2020.
After graduating in Mathematics from Indraprastha College, Delhi, in 2017, she started her UPSC preparation journey. It took her two attempts to successfully pass the exam, with Political Science and International Relations as electives. Her fascination with geopolitics drew her to this topic, as reported by Indian Masterminds.
Nimishi Tripathi attributed her success to her father Avdhesh Tripathi, who currently serves as a forest ranger in Khandwa district, and the continued support and guidance of her mother, Shaivalini Tripathi, who is a homemaker. The older of the two daughters drew her main inspiration from her parents’ hard work and dedication.
In an interview with Indian Masterminds, Nimishi Tripathi discussed the crucial role her parents have played in her journey so far. She considered her parents as her ultimate inspiration and attributed her success at UPSC entirely to their support. “I get my inspiration from them. My father Avdhesh Tripathi is a forest ranger and my mother Shaivalini Tripathi is a housewife. They both worked hard to help me get to where I am today,” she said.
She further emphasized that her parents believed in her abilities. It was at their insistence that she pursued her UPSC aspirations. Nimishi further said, “I was not sure that I would be able to pass the exam, but their motivation kept me going and played an important role in this success.”
While speaking to Indian Masterminds, Nimishi Tripathi opened up about her round of interviews. She said the questions asked were mainly related to her educational background and interests. One of the panelists inquired about the challenges faced by the tribes in her region, especially in the area of education. Surprisingly, she didn’t completely disconnect from social media during the preparation. She saw it as a source of relaxation. Whenever she had a tough day at work, she would unwind by scrolling through her favorite social media platforms.
Moreover, Nimishi Tripathi took on the significant social responsibility of providing remedial lessons to nine tribal children who had dropped out of school. She also expressed her creativity by creating tribal Mandana floor and wall paintings.