Garima Lohia Biography: UPSC AIR 2, Age, Current Posting, Education & Marksheet

Early Life & Humble Beginnings
Garima Lohia was born in 1999 in the historic town of Buxar, Bihar — a city known for its cultural richness and the famous Battle of Buxar. She grew up in a Marwari business family, deeply rooted in values of hard work, community, and self-reliance. Her father, Manoj Kumar Lohia, ran a wholesale garments business and was the emotional backbone of the family. The Lohia household was a joint family of 13 members, and Garima was raised in an environment where togetherness was a way of life.

The Loss That Shaped Her Resolve
In 2015, tragedy struck when Garima’s father, Manoj Kumar Lohia, passed away due to a sudden heart attack. Garima Lohia’s world changed overnight. She was a teenager, and her mother, Sunita Lohia, was now solely responsible for raising Garima and her three siblings. Rather than letting grief consume her, Garima channeled that loss into purpose. She keeps her father’s photograph everywhere she studies — a silent vow to make him proud. Her mother Sunita’s quiet strength became the fuel for every sleepless night of preparation that followed.

Educational Excellence — Garima Lohia Education Qualification
Garima’s academic record was impeccable from the very beginning. She scored a perfect 10 CGPA in her 10th standard from Woodstock School, Buxar. For her intermediate (Class 11–12), she moved to Sunbeam School, Bhagwanpur, Varanasi, where she achieved a stellar Garima Lohia 12th percentage of 98.2% — one of the highest in her school. This academic brilliance earned her admission to the prestigious Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, where she pursued her Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) in Commerce and Accountancy, graduating in 2020.

The UPSC Dream — Garima Lohia UPSC Preparation Journey
With her graduation done and the nation in COVID-19 lockdown, Garima returned to Buxar in 2020. It was here, in her hometown, surrounded by her family — especially her ever-supportive mother — that she decided to attempt the UPSC Civil Services Examination. The dream was not just personal ambition; it was a desire to bring change to society and serve the grassroots of Bihar.

Her Garima Lohia attempt history is a masterclass in resilience. In 2021, on her first attempt, she did not clear the Prelims — a setback that breaks many aspirants. But Garima treated this not as failure, but as data. She meticulously analyzed where she fell short, reworked her strategy, and returned with greater focus in 2022.

Study Strategy — Self-Made Success
What makes the Garima Lohia UPSC story uniquely inspiring is that she cracked AIR 2 without any coaching institute. Her preparation was built on discipline, smart resource selection, and intensive practice. She relied on basic NCERT books, freely available online resources, and a structured self-study plan. She studied 10–12 hours daily with razor-sharp consistency. She deeply analyzed UPSC previous year question papers and engaged in intensive answer writing practice. For Mains, she enrolled in a test series at ForumIAS — her only external resource. The result? 1063 marks out of 2025 — enough for All India Rank 2.

Her Garima Lohia optional subject — Commerce and Accountancy — was a natural extension of her B.Com background. This alignment between her graduation stream and UPSC optional is one of the most-discussed choices in the aspirant community. The Garima Lohia ethics copy and her General Studies answers are studied widely as model answers for conceptual clarity and precise writing.

The Moment of Glory
On May 23, 2023, when the UPSC Civil Services 2022 results were declared, India witnessed history: the top 4 ranks were all held by women. IAS Garima Lohia secured AIR 2, right behind Ishita Kishore (AIR 1). As cameras flashed and congratulations poured in, Garima was seen with wet eyes — thinking of her father. “It is his blessing behind my success,” she said, her words echoing across the nation and touching millions of hearts.

Into Service — Garima Lohia Current Posting
After completing her foundation course and professional training at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, IAS Garima Lohia was allotted the Bihar cadre — her home state. As of 2025–2026, Garima Lohia current posting is as Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Paliganj, Patna, following the Bihar government’s reshuffle of 2023-batch IAS officers in August 2025. Prior to this, she served as SDM, Barh (Patna) from January 2026. She is in the early but impactful phase of her administrative career, working at the district level where governance meets the people directly.

Preparation Strategy & Career Philosophy