Some police officers are known for the authority they hold. At the same time, some are known for the trust they build and the reassurance they bring to the people during difficult times. Sakshi Verma, who is an IPS officer, falls into the second category of police officers.
Sakshi Verma was the first one in her family to ever clear the UPSC Civil Services Examination. She was inspired by her father and began preparing for the examination after completing her college education.
Sakshi’s UPSC Journey
Her journey to the civil services was a remarkable example of persistence and resilience.
Sakshi Verma had given a total of four attempts to crack the UPSC examination. She was able to make it to the interview stage in all her first three UPSC attempts. Coming so close to success and clearing UPSC and then not being able to secure a rank is emotionally exhausting. However, her perspective towards each attempt was positive. She saw each attempt as part of her progress rather than a failure.
All her efforts paid off when she cleared the examination on her fourth attempt and earned the post of Indian Police Service in the 2014 batch.
The most interesting part is that Sakshi did not aim from the beginning itself towards becoming an IPS officer. As she once said to Indian Masterminds, “The idea was to clear UPSC.” She just wanted to clear UPSC, but with time, serving as an IPS became much more than just a profession; it became her field of interest.
Career as an IPS Officer
Sakshi, as an IPS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, has served in challenging districts, such as Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur, and Shimla. And at present, she is serving as the SP, Vigilance in Himachal Pradesh.
While serving as an Officer, she had put a lot of effort and time into combating issues, such as drug abuse, maintaining law and order, and supporting communities during difficult times. Her compassionate approach while serving as a police officer has earned her the respect from both her colleagues and the public.
Her personal life shows the same strength and commitment as her career. She is married to a fellow IPS officer, and she shares a relationship that is built on mutual respect and an unsaid understanding of the demands of the public service. Both of them have shown balance while facing the demands of public service, along with their family responsibilities.
Motherhood was a new dimension that was added to her journey. When she returned to her duty after maternity leave, her baby was only six months old, and it was the time when Himachal Pradesh was facing the devastating floods. Balancing the responsibilities of being a new mother, combined with the pressure of disaster management, tested her emotionally and professionally.
Like many other working mothers, she often ended up questioning herself if she was doing enough for both her child and her profession.
Through every challenge, a single thought that has been guiding her was that “Life is much, much beyond this.”
Sakshi Verma’s journey is a powerful reminder that success is not only about clearing an examination or holding a prestigious position. It is about maintaining perspective, showing empathy, and continuing to serve with dedication and humanity.