Rural roots, administrative goal
Nandini Sahu, a native of Bade Sajapali in the Basna block of Mahasamund district, has been selected as a Deputy Collector after securing the 5th rank in the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) examination, according to the report. Her achievement follows years of sustained effort amid family hardship after the death of her father during her Class 12 studies.
Her early education took place at the village government school and she later graduated from Degree Girls' College in Raipur. The late Meghnath Sahu, Nandini's father, was a teacher who had long emphasised education and harboured the hope that one of his daughters would enter the higher administrative services.
Family responsibility and survival
When Meghnath Sahu died while Nandini was in Class 12, the family faced both emotional and financial strain. The burden of sustaining the household fell on her mother, Ramapyari Sahu, who had formal education only up to Class 5. The mother managed the family's needs through farming and by using the late teacher's pension to keep the children in school, the report states.
In 2019, mother and daughter relocated to Bilaspur and began living in rented accommodation so that Nandini could pursue higher studies and preparation. The household includes five sisters and a younger brother; relatives provided the space and time needed for her to concentrate on competitive-exam preparation. Importantly, relatives did not press for an early marriage, a factor Nandini cited as enabling her full-time focus on civil-service goals.
Preparation and setbacks
Nandini initially attended coaching classes for a few months to understand the pattern and direction of the CGPSC examination. Thereafter she continued largely with self-study at home, preferring daytime hours and an early start to the day. The path was not free of setbacks — she experienced failures during the process — but chose to review her mistakes and refine her methodical approach to study.
Her strategy combined short periods of formal coaching with disciplined independent preparation. The report notes she adapted her routine after failures by analysing weak areas and adjusting her revision and practice accordingly.
What the result means locally
Nandini’s success is significant for several reasons: it demonstrates that candidates from small villages and modest backgrounds can crack state-level competitive examinations; it highlights the role of family support, particularly when that support comes from women working in agriculture; and it underscores the value of allowing young women the time and opportunity to pursue higher education instead of early marriage.
- Background: Village government school, Degree Girls' College, Raipur.
- Family: Mother sustained household via farming and pension; five sisters and a younger brother.
- Preparation: Brief formal coaching, mainly self-study, routine adjustments after setbacks.
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Bade Sajapali, Basna block, Mahasamund district |
| Education | Village government school; Degree Girls' College, Raipur |
| Family support | Mother (farm income + pension), relatives' support in Bilaspur |
| CGPSC result | Ranked 5th; selected as Deputy Collector |
Wider implications and practical lessons for aspirants
Her journey offers practical takeaways for aspirants across Chhattisgarh who balance study with family obligations. First, targeted short-term coaching can provide clarity on exam pattern and direction, but sustained self-study and discipline remain central. Second, local support networks — relatives and family members who provide time and space for preparation — can be a decisive factor when financial resources are limited. Third, setbacks should be approached as material for correction and not as final judgement.
Finally, Nandini’s case underlines the importance of keeping girls in school and buffering them against early marriage — factors that have direct bearing on women’s representation in administration and governance.
According to the report, the achievement also fulfils a personal family aspiration: the ambition of her late father that one of his daughters should rise to a senior administrative post. For Nandini, the selection as Deputy Collector marks the start of a public-service career that her family had long envisioned.
The report’s account of Nandini’s path offers a concrete example of rural aspiration translating into administrative representation — and may encourage other young people from similar backgrounds across the state to persist in competitive-exam preparation.
