Charusree strikes a balance between conservation and development.

A few weeks ago at the personality test in New Delhi, Charusree Thiagarajan (24) had to make a choice between environment conservation and infrastructure development. Refusing to make a choice, she took a stand, sensibly striking a right balance between conservation and development. It worked.

On Saturday, Ms.Charusree emerged the topper among thousands of IAS aspirants who prepared for the civil services exam from Chennai, securing the sixth rank at the all-India level. After innovating on wireless technology at Qualcomm, she took a decision to join the Indian Forest Service. Now, her career is set to take yet another turn, towards the Indian Administrative Service as the Union Public Service Commission on Saturday recommended a list of 1,236 successful candidates for appointment to IAS, IFS, IPS and Central Services.

With a score at the personality test crucial for a good ranking in the highly competitive examination, sensible answers by such candidates have offered them the opportunity to join the IAS. Having secured the highest rank among candidates from the State, Ms.Charusree is expected to join the Tamil Nadu cadre of IAS after completion of training.

Ms.Charusree decided to shift to Chennai for graduation after schooling in Coimbatore. “I joined the College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University because Chennai has the facilities to prepare for the civil services. I graduated in 2012, joined Qualcomm, but continued to prepare for the civil services,” said Ms.Charusree.

“At work with Qualcomm, I studied geography in Shankar IAS Academy and T.I.M.E in Chennai. I worked hard for 6 to 7 hours every day,” said Ms.Charusree.

“I read only The Hindu and NCERT textbooks for general studies,” said Ms.Charusree.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by Aloysius Xavier Lopez / Chennai – July 05th, 2015