How Garima Lohia Became IAS AIR 2 in Just 2nd Attempt

Key Strategic Pillars:

• 01No Coaching, All Self-Study — Used books and free online resources exclusively. Proved coaching is optional, not mandatory.
• 02Test Series Enrollment — While avoiding coaching, she enrolled in a Mains test series to practice answer writing with feedback.
• 03NCERT Foundation — Built conceptual clarity through NCERTs before advancing to standard references.
• 04Previous Year Papers — Solved years of past papers to internalize UPSC’s question patterns and preferred answer structure.
• 05Strategic Optional — Chose Commerce & Accountancy to leverage her B.Com background — a decisive competitive advantage.
• 068–9 Hours Daily — Consistent, long study hours maintained every single day throughout the preparation cycle.

Detailed Biography — The Inspiring Story of Garima Lohia

Early Life and Humble Beginnings

The story of Garima Lohia begins in Buxar — a historically significant but economically modest town in Bihar, India. Born in 1999 into a business-oriented family, Garima grew up in an environment that valued hard work and simplicity over luxury. Her grandfather, Late Narayan Lohia, was a tax advocate and the primary anchor of the joint family. Her father, Manoj Kumar Lohia, ran a small business and was a source of inspiration during her formative years.

From her very earliest years, Garima Lohia demonstrated an exceptional aptitude for academics. She scored a perfect 10 CGPA in her Class 10 board examinations at Woodstock School in Buxar — a sign of things to come. Even then, those who knew her recognized that this young girl from Bihar was destined for something extraordinary.

A Devastating Loss — 2015

The year 2015 brought a shattering blow to the Lohia family. Garima’s father passed away, leaving behind a void that could never truly be filled. For a teenage girl who had looked up to her father as a guiding light, this was a trauma that could have derailed her entire future. But Garima Lohia chose a different path. With the unwavering support of her mother, Sunita Lohia, she transformed grief into purpose.

“I have kept his photo everywhere for inspiration. It is his blessing behind my success.”

Sunita Lohia — a homemaker who had never received formal recognition — became the silent engine behind Garima’s journey. During the long, exhausting nights of UPSC preparation, Garima’s mother would stay awake beside her daughter, ensuring she had food, support, and the emotional fuel to keep going. This bond between mother and daughter is at the very heart of the Garima Lohia story.

Academic Excellence — From Bihar to Delhi

After her father’s passing, Garima Lohia channeled her energy into her studies with renewed intensity. In her Class 12 board examination at Sunbeam School in Varanasi, she scored an outstanding 98.2% — placing her among the top performers in the state. This remarkable score opened the doors of one of India’s most prestigious institutions: Kirori Mal College, Delhi University.

In Delhi, Garima Lohia pursued her Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree, graduating in 2020. The cosmopolitan academic environment of Delhi broadened her horizons. She developed a deep understanding of Commerce and Accountancy — knowledge that would later prove invaluable in her UPSC optional subject strategy. It was during these years that her vision for public service crystallized: she wanted to return to places like Buxar, armed with the power of administration, to change lives.

The UPSC Journey — From Setback to AIR 2

In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, Garima Lohia made a pivotal decision. Rather than waiting for normalcy to return, she saw the lockdown as an opportunity. She began her UPSC preparation with a simple toolkit: fundamental books, an internet connection, and iron-willed self-discipline. There were no coaching classes, no study groups, no expensive study material subscriptions. Garima Lohia’s UPSC preparation was a masterclass in strategic self-study.

Her first attempt in 2021 ended in disappointment — she could not clear the Preliminary Examination. For many aspirants, this first failure marks the beginning of the end. For Garima, it was a data point, not a verdict. She conducted a frank self-assessment, identified the gaps in her preparation, and rebuilt her strategy from the ground up. She enrolled in a test series for Mains practice and intensified her answer writing sessions.

In 2022, Garima Lohia appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination for the second time. She had studied 8 to 9 hours every single day — reading newspapers, mastering NCERT concepts, solving previous year papers, and writing timed answers. When the results were announced in May 2023, the entire nation celebrated: Garima Lohia had secured All India Rank 2, with a total score of 1063 out of 2025.

The Day Success Arrived

The announcement of UPSC CSE 2022 results on that day in May 2023 was a moment of pure, unalloyed joy for the Lohia family in Buxar. For the 13-member joint family that had stood together through the hardest years, this was vindication of every sacrifice made. Garima Lohia — the young girl who had lost her father, studied through a global pandemic without a coach, failed her first attempt, and refused to give up — had emerged as one of the top two IAS officers in all of India.

“I anticipated passing the exam, but I did not anticipate receiving a second rank.”

Training at LBSNAA and Joining the IAS

Following her extraordinary result in the Garima Lohia UPSC examination, she joined the prestigious Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie for the IAS Foundation Course training as part of the 2023 IAS Batch. At LBSNAA, probationary IAS officers undergo comprehensive training in administration, governance, public policy, and field experience — preparing them for the complex realities of Indian bureaucracy.

Conclusion — The Legacy of Garima Lohia

Garima Lohia is more than a UPSC topper. She is a symbol of what is possible when talent meets tenacity, when grief is alchemized into purpose, and when a young woman from a small town in Bihar refuses to let circumstances define her ceiling. The name Garima Lohia has already entered the annals of India’s civil services history — not just as a rank, but as a story.

As an IAS officer from the 2023 batch, Garima Lohia carries with her the hopes of millions — the aspirants who study without coaches, the families who sacrifice without recognition, the small-town dreamers who believe that excellence is possible from anywhere. Her journey from Buxar to the highest offices of Indian administration is an ongoing story, and the best chapters are yet to be written.

For every UPSC aspirant who opens a textbook at midnight, for every mother who stays awake beside her studying child, for every young person who has faced loss but refuses to surrender — Garima Lohia’s story is for you. It whispers, and then it shouts: You Can.

“The distance between your dream and reality is called preparation. And preparation has no substitute.”

Also Read:Pratika Rawal , Tina Dabi Award, Manu Maharaj IPS

Frequently Asked Questions

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The success of Garima Lohia UPSC proves that focus, resilience, and smart strategy can turn dreams into reality.

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