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ClearIAS » UPSC Toppers » Poonam Dalal: The Inspirational Story of a Woman Police Officer

Poonam Dalal: The Inspirational Story of a Woman Police Officer

Last updated on November 2, 2017 by Alex Andrews George

We all love to find excuses. Age, gender, marital status, financial background, lack of facilities, work-pressure – these are only some of the excuses one can make. But not Poonam Dalal. Her story is a story of hard work and willpower. It is a story which portrays up to what level ordinary Indian women can rise if she thinks she can. It’s a story which can inspire not only thousands of women but also men.

ClearIAS Team came to know about Poonam Dalal, when she sent us a thank you mail once she cleared the toughest exam in the country – UPSC Civil Services Exam – more popularly known as IAS Exam. More about that later. Now more into the life of Poonam Dalal, who is currently serving as the ACP Vigilance Gurgaon.

From a primary teacher to ACP

Poonam Dalal

Poonam Dalal says she is slightly different from many others yet at the same time very similar to a lot of us. She has her ancestral roots at Chhara village in Jhajjar District, Haryana. But she was born and brought up in Delhi.

Poonam started her career as a primary teacher in a government school at Delhi. Along with the job she did her graduation as an external student from Delhi University.

After completing her graduation she appeared for different Bank PO Exams and SSC Graduate Level Exam and cleared all of them. SBI PO, SBI Associates PO, Union Bank Of India PO, SSC Graduate Level 2005 etc are some of them.

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She finally chose SBI PO. She regrets that there was nobody to guide me about UPSC Exam.  (Had there been somebody at that time to guide her about UPSC Exam, you would have been reading this interview much earlier!)

She also shares the fact that at that stage she used to be very under-confident about her chances at CS Examination. She says, “I am sharing these thoughts so that all of those who are somehow feeling the same as I had once been, can come out of it and not repeat the mistake which I did”.

After 3 years in SBI, she joined the Income Tax Department securing a very decent rank (7) at all India level in SSC graduate level Examination 2006 which gave her the confidence of writing UPSC. This is also a time she realised that being a General Category candidate her attempts were going to be wasted anyhow because of her age (Poonam was around 28 by then, and 30 was then the upper age limit for General Category candidates.)

She gave her first attempt at UPSC CSE in 2009 at the age of 28 and got Railways (RPF).

She didn’t join that service and sat for CSE 2010. She again got Railways, but a different service (IRPS).

Meanwhile, she had cleared Haryana PSC and joined as Dy.SP in Haryana Police in 2011.

Wait; the story is not over yet!

In 2011, she couldn’t qualify Prelims. She thought her tryst with UPSC was over due to the age-limit. (As hinted before it was only 30 years for general category candidates then, and even now it’s only 32 years).

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‘Fortune favors the brave’ – many say. Life has kept more surprises for her. In 2015, because of agitations and petitions from candidates who were affected by pattern change in 2011, the government gave an extra attempt to all those who wrote for Civil Services Exam in 2011. Thus, Poonam got an opportunity to appear again for UPSC.

9 months pregnant at the time of Prelims; had to take care a 3 months old baby while writing mains!

Poonam Dalal newspaper article

This attempt came as a great challenge as Poonam was out of touch with preparation, being working 24*7 in police force. Much more than that she was 9 months pregnant at the time of prelims. She cleared UPSC prelims in flying colors by self-study. While preparing for mains she had also to take care of her son who was just 3 months old. It was never easy. But as Poonam puts it, she got her best rank in her most challenging circumstances – all India rank 308! CSE 2015 Roll number: 0506094.

ClearIAS receives Thank You mail from Poonam Dalal

Thank You Mail

It is the policy of ClearIAS that we should not claim the success of toppers unless the toppers themselves share their success with us. ClearIAS  – as self-study package for UPSC Civil Services exam – has been providing free online study materials and test-series for Prelims at a very affordable price, but we believe we have no rights to brag about the results. It’s only the brilliance and hard work of our students which resulted in their success. We only guide them. We just give assurance that if you have potential, even by self-study you can clear IAS exam.

Nothing is more rewarding to us than our students/readers sharing the success moment with us. Poonam Dalal did. Even at the success moment, she is very humble. We are publishing her testimonial, thinking that this would give confidence to thousands of followers of ClearIAS who cannot afford expensive classroom coaching, but depend on our guidance for self-study. This is her mail to clearias.com.

Hello sir,
I am writing this mail to thank you for your website (www.clearias.com) for helping me prepare for UPSC CSE 2015. I am currently posted as ACP Vigilance Gurgaon (through state services batch 2011 Haryana Police Services) and had earlier also been selected in UPSC allied services of railways twice in CSE 2009 and CSE 2010. I appeared in CSE 2015 because of the extra attempt provided to CSE 2011 candidates.
 
Working 24*7 in the police for the last 5 years and been out of touch  with the preparation, I took the guidance from your website, especially the ClearIAS prelims test series. I bought it and found it to be the best available online.
 
Also, last year the attempt was more difficult for me as I  gave the prelims while I was 9 months pregnant and mains with my 3-month-old son. So , you can very well understand how I would have managed. I want to thank you personally, but I  am not having your contact no. If possible then please provide me the same. Anyhow, accept my sincerest gratitude for being a beacon of hope for students of self-study like me. Thanks a lot.
 
Keep the  good work going. You yourself don’t know how much helpful you are to so many students in this vast ocean of confusing preparation.
 
Thanks again
Regards
Poonam

ClearIAS wishes Poonam all the very best in life and career!

Thanks a lot Poonam Dalal to find time to write to us, share the credit of her success to us, and enquire the person behind. ClearIAS salutes hardworking modern women like Poonam. We wish her to become a role model for a better India.
Update: To read the preparation strategies of Poonam, read the toppers interview of Poonam by ClearIAS. Poonam has also written a best-selling book on Indian History for UPSC aspirants. You can get the book on Ancient and Medieval Indian History here.
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About Alex Andrews George

Alex Andrews George is a mentor, author, and entrepreneur. Alex is the founder of ClearIAS and one of the expert Civil Service Exam Trainers in India.

He is the author of many best-seller books like 'Important Judgments that transformed India' and 'Important Acts that transformed India'.

A trusted mentor and pioneer in online training, Alex's guidance, strategies, study-materials, and mock-exams have helped thousands of aspirants to become IAS, IPS, and IFS officers.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. khalid raza says

    May 25, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    such a wonderful and inspiring stoury

    Reply
    • ABDUL SATTAR says

      October 3, 2016 at 8:22 pm

      a magic and motivational story

  2. Anjana says

    May 25, 2016 at 10:46 pm

    a real ispiration ma’am… 🙂

    Reply
  3. Chaitali mitra says

    May 26, 2016 at 12:13 am

    Congrats poonam mam on your success.your success story is truly inspiring & motivates others.your story proves that if one is determined then he/she can cross all hurdles and barriers in the path of progress.

    Reply
  4. gajanan V. Satpute says

    May 26, 2016 at 7:17 am

    अभिनंदन पुनम जी और ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएं….!!!!!

    Reply
  5. VIPAN SAIN says

    May 26, 2016 at 9:26 am

    A Big Congrats to Mam….

    Reply
  6. GANI says

    May 26, 2016 at 4:19 pm

    excellent and courageous brave wo
    man, and every one take inspiration from her

    Reply
  7. amar karve says

    May 26, 2016 at 5:23 pm

    Great person great work…inspiration to millions…thank u madam

    Reply
  8. Arun says

    May 27, 2016 at 9:22 am

    Great saluate to you ma’am for yours achievement in desirous goal.its inspiration gives the moral boost to the other aspirants who are in race and by fate not accommodated in final list.but you rvthe icon of talent and best guidelines for the youths who have opted the challenge , true and hard work never goes in vain and certainly gives the way….directly or indirectly you are icon and symbol of motivation and inspiration to specialy general….and m also on your path.its gave a lot of hope and inspiration. General are having everywhere limitation and tough boundary. But it says that the hard work and determination always gives the way.thanks a lot ma’am .wish u all the best future…from arun.

    Reply
  9. Sona says

    May 27, 2016 at 5:00 pm

    I salute to u mam… Even i would like to become the same…

    Reply
  10. Ajita says

    May 31, 2016 at 1:03 am

    I salute u ….mam . so brave u r . at least after three attempt evry one can feel I can’t do this but u proved this ….” Where is a will there is success ” …..

    Reply
  11. Jyoti says

    June 5, 2016 at 12:17 am

    I salute you mam.You gave a good lesson that ‘never give up’ always go ahead.

    Reply
  12. ankit singh says

    June 5, 2016 at 8:13 am

    amazing ,super story sir I am Ankit Singh presently serving in the Indian navy. sir ,how can I prepare for IAS exam? sir I am a Hindi medium students.plz guide me sir

    Reply
  13. gautam says

    June 17, 2016 at 11:35 am

    inki story dekh ke sirf itnaa kah sakte hain ki… god help thmm,,, who helps themselves….

    so nice story’

    Reply
  14. binod says

    June 30, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    Salute u mam, no words to say, hope n believe may god gave all of us the same strength n patience to combat the life game..

    Reply
  15. Ashna says

    July 23, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    Really these stories r inspirational
    Good luck to those aspirants who r preparing this exam!!!

    Reply
  16. mahendra says

    August 8, 2016 at 2:53 pm

    really poonam mam i am very much inspired by your success journey.and for that very very thanks to you poonam mam.

    Reply
  17. Monawar Rahman says

    August 13, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Poonam Madam,
    To si great ho
    You are an asset of the nation

    Once I was an aspirant of CSE, I couldn’t make that but still I love those people who aspire to be a CS

    May Allah bless you with lots of success

    Warmth regards
    Monawar Rahman

    Reply
  18. Endy says

    August 24, 2016 at 10:35 pm

    Hats off !

    Reply
  19. Surendra pal Singh says

    August 30, 2016 at 10:30 am

    This was a great great inspirational story which we ever heard as you break all the hurdles and prove that anyone have the fire to get the goal can achieve whatever they wants…and Good bless you for your little child ….

    Reply
  20. saiz says

    August 30, 2016 at 12:31 pm

    Congrats Poonam Ma’am…really this is the result of yours true dedication…
    you have became an inspiration for all of us…

    Best of luckkk…
    I hope your success goes on like this in future…

    Reply
  21. sumit says

    September 6, 2016 at 11:11 pm

    mam I salute u this is a true inspirational story

    Reply
  22. Vineet Mishra says

    September 13, 2016 at 9:10 pm

    A herculean effort..!

    Reply
  23. sandeep kumar says

    September 16, 2016 at 7:04 pm

    no word to explain YOU ARE GREAT MAM PLEASE ALSO HELP ME by giving your brightful suggestion how to prepare cse

    Reply
  24. santosh kumar says

    September 25, 2016 at 10:22 pm

    I am a very proud of mam

    Reply
  25. Ravi kumar says

    September 29, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    Very inspirational story for middle class student in respect of not only in economic background as well as in study also

    Reply
  26. Mohana Priya says

    October 1, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    Really this very inspirational to me mam. Great salute to you poonam mam.

    Reply
  27. sarath says

    October 14, 2016 at 1:21 pm

    Mam you proved yourself. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Hard work never fails. You’re my role model. I’m doing self study . three times I gave attempt. I couldn’t clear. here I found a good materials thank you so much for website clearias.com.

    Reply
  28. Ghanshyam Rosewal says

    October 18, 2016 at 4:59 pm

    Very Inspiration Story…

    Reply
  29. Ghanshyam Rosewal says

    October 18, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    शानदार ।। बहुत खूब

    Reply
  30. Taseem says

    October 19, 2016 at 1:42 pm

    Very Inspiration story….
    You gave a good lesson that never give up always go ahead.

    Reply
  31. Raushan kumar says

    January 19, 2017 at 9:06 pm

    Oh God thnkeew so muchh mam being an inspiration for thousand of aspirants nd arised the people who loved to make excuses CS is the most favourable job for all students yet bcos of the effort what the people like u putting here
    Having all grt designations u remain single minded nd focused on the mountain where u had to climbed

    Reply
  32. shubham chauhan says

    January 25, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    we proud of you mam

    Reply
  33. sai shwetha naidu says

    April 23, 2017 at 5:30 pm

    such a great women i too need and serive to the socity i was one o the most inspried one of all them thank you mam i hope that you move on in many events to insprie the students with your great hard work mam

    Reply
  34. Surabhi Gurjar says

    May 4, 2017 at 4:56 pm

    You did a commendable job Poonam Mam. Clear IAS has no doubt been very helpful for people preparing for IAS.

    Reply
  35. gajanan V. Satpute says

    May 4, 2017 at 11:37 pm

    inspirational & motivational…!!

    Reply
  36. anbu murugan says

    May 4, 2017 at 11:37 pm

    Thank you so much i have confident in my first attempt in June 18 th ,2017.your lot of experience and your hard work never fails

    Reply
  37. Gulshan says

    May 5, 2017 at 1:58 am

    I read many success stories but this is most inspiring.
    Now we can believe that nothing is imposibble if we do our work honestly.

    Reply
  38. devansh lilhare says

    May 5, 2017 at 11:19 am

    You are brilliant

    Reply
  39. devansh lilhare says

    May 5, 2017 at 11:21 am

    Good

    Reply
  40. ramesh p says

    May 5, 2017 at 5:43 pm

    Congrats mam on your success.thankyou so much for sharing on your exprienses.you are my rolemodel

    Reply
  41. Remo says

    July 10, 2017 at 7:18 pm

    Awesome great Inspired everyone who read it thanks for sharing with us

    Reply
  42. MOUMITA GHOSH says

    August 23, 2019 at 4:31 pm

    REALY AN INSPIRING STORY . DETERMINATION AND PRACTICE PROPER GUIDE AND LUCK HELPS U TO REACH UR DESTINATION . SHE IS THE EXAMPLE OF THAT . CONGRATS POONAM MAM .

    Reply

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"Working 24*7 in the police for the last 5 years and been out of touch with the preparation, I took the guidance from your website, especially the ClearIAS prelims test series. I bought it and found it to be the best available online." - Poonam Dalal, ClearIAS Online Student

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