Ravi Sihag IAS: Farmer’s Son Who Cracked UPSC with AIR 18

Ravi Sihag IAS is one of the most inspiring names in India’s civil services today. He is a 2022-batch IAS officer who secured All India Rank (AIR) 18 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021 — entirely in the Hindi medium. That alone makes his story special.

Ravi comes from a farming family in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. He grew up helping his father in the fields, studied at a government school in a small village, and beat India’s toughest competitive exam on his fourth attempt. He became the top-ranked Hindi medium candidate in UPSC CSE 2021, breaking a dry spell of six to seven years during which no Hindi medium student had reached such a high rank.

Quick Information Table

Ravi Sihag IAS Age, Early Life and Education

Childhood in a Farming Village

Ravi Kumar Sihag was born on 2 November 1995 in Village Chak 3 BM, near Vijayanagar, in the Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan. He grew up in an agricultural environment, helping his father in the fields and understanding the challenges that rural people face every day.

His family was not wealthy. His father, Ramkumar Sihag, worked as a farmer. His mother, Vimala Devi, managed the household. Ravi was the only son among four children, with three sisters. From a young age, he showed a sharp mind and a deep love for books. Even while working on the farm, he never lost sight of his dream of becoming a government officer.

Schooling

Ravi completed his early schooling at Saraswati Vidya Mandir School, Sri Ganganagar, up to Class 7. He then moved to Sharda School, Anupgarh, for Class 8 to 11, and completed his Class 12 from a Government Senior Secondary School in Vijayanagar.

He scored 95% in his Class 10 board exams and 97% in Class 12 — a remarkable achievement for a student from a small rural village. These scores show that his academic brilliance was visible from a very early age.

Graduation

Ravi pursued a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Sharda College, Anupgarh, Rajasthan. In college, he studied subjects like Political Science, English Literature, and Economics. He completed his graduation in 2015 with approximately 75% marks.

After finishing college, Ravi continued to assist his father on the farm while deciding his next step. He knew he wanted to enter government service. The IAS was his ultimate goal.

UPSC Preparation

Ravi started preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2016. He moved to Delhi and joined Drishti IAS coaching institute. Rather than using newspapers for current affairs, he followed the Drishti current affairs website and wrote down questions and answers in a notebook. He also used the Vision IAS PT365 book.

One of the most important decisions Ravi made was choosing Hindi Literature as his optional subject. He searched online for information about Hindi medium toppers and found that most of them had chosen Hindi Literature as their optional subject. That research guided his choice. It proved to be a winning strategy.

Family Details

Father & Mother

Ravi Kumar Sihag was born into a modest farming family in Chak 3 Bam village, Vijayanagar tehsil, Sri Ganganagar district, Rajasthan. His father, Ramkumar Sihag, is a farmer who worked hard on agricultural land to support the family and educate his children. His mother, Vimala Devi (also referred to as Vimla Devi), is a homemaker who instilled values of hard work and simplicity.

Sisters

He is the only brother among three sisters: Poonam Sihag (homemaker), Raveena Sihag (teacher, government school), and Komal Sihag (Anganwadi supervisor / agricultural supervisor). The family has always emphasised education and public service.

Wife

On 16 December 2025, Ravi married fellow IAS officer Ishita Rathi (UPSC CSE 2021 batch, AGMUT cadre, AIR 8). Their relationship began during training at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, and the marriage is widely described as a love marriage between two batchmates. After the wedding, Ravi received approval for an inter-cadre transfer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre to the AGMUT cadre so the couple could serve closer together.

Ravi Sihag IAS UPSC Journey and Career

Four Attempts — One Dream

Ravi Kumar Sihag’s UPSC journey is one of steady improvement and iron determination. He did not give up after his first success. He kept pushing until he reached the rank he always wanted.

Attempt 1 — 2018: Ravi secured the 337th rank in 2018 and was allocated the Indian Defense Accounts Service (IDAS). Most candidates would have joined and settled. Ravi did not.

Attempt 2 — 2019: He improved his rank to 317th in 2019 and was allocated the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS).Again, he chose to keep going. His goal was the IAS, and nothing less would do.

Attempt 3 — 2020: In 2020, on his third attempt, Ravi was unable to pass the UPSC preliminary exams. This was a setback. But he regrouped, reviewed his preparation, and returned stronger.

Attempt 4 — 2021: In 2021, he passed the exam with an AIR 18 on his fourth attempt and was subsequently appointed an IAS officer. He cracked the exam in the Hindi medium. In the UPSC exam of 2021, the top 17 ranked candidates were from the English medium. Ravi Kumar Sihag, who was a Hindi medium candidate, secured the 18th rank, making him the highest-ranking candidate among all Hindi medium students in UPSC CSE 2021.

His total score in UPSC Prelims 2021 was 207.92 marks. His Mains scores across subjects totalled 1022 marks, reflecting a balanced and well-rounded performance.

Training at LBSNAA

On 30 August 2023, Ravi started training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. During training, he won a quiz on the ‘Constitution and Life of Dr. Ambedkar’ organized on the eve of Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti. He was felicitated with a prize by the Hon’ble Ram Nath Kovind and the Governor of Uttarakhand, Gurmit Singh.

This showed that his love for learning did not stop after clearing the exam. He remained a student even inside the academy.

Career Postings

After completing foundational training at LBSNAA, Ravi went through district training in Madhya Pradesh. He then received his first field posting.

Ravi Kumar Sihag was first posted as Assistant Collector in Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh.

He was then posted as Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, for a period of 8 weeks from 20 May 2024 to 12 July 2024.

In September 2024, he was transferred and posted as SDO (Revenue), Lakhnadon, Seoni district, Madhya Pradesh.

In March 2026, following his marriage to IAS Ishita Rathi, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) formally approved his inter-cadre transfer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre to the AGMUT cadre on marriage grounds.

Ravi Kumar Sihag is currently serving as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, since 01 April 2026.

Current Posting Summary

Ravi Kumar Sihag IAS – UPSC Marksheet (CSE 2021)

Ravi Kumar Sihag secured All India Rank 18 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021 (his fourth attempt) and emerged as the topper among Hindi-medium candidates. He wrote the examination in Hindi medium and chose Hindi Literature as his optional subject.

Prelims Score

• Paper I: 124.59
• Paper II (CSAT): 83.33
• Total: 207.92

Mains + Interview Score

• Essay: 143
• General Studies Paper I: 98
• General Studies Paper II: 118
• General Studies Paper III: 91
• General Studies Paper IV: 117
• Optional Paper I (Hindi Literature): 144
• Optional Paper II (Hindi Literature): 140
• Written Total: 851
• Personality Test (Interview): 171
• Grand Total: 1022

Awards & Achievements

• AIR 18, UPSC CSE 2021 — One of India’s most competitive exams, cleared on the fourth attempt.
• Hindi Medium Topper, UPSC CSE 2021 — First Hindi medium candidate to reach such a high rank in six to seven years.
• Quiz Winner at LBSNAA — Won the ‘Constitution and Life of Dr. Ambedkar’ quiz during foundational training at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, and was felicitated by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
• Felicitation at DoPT — Ravi attended a special felicitation programme for UPSC toppers organised by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in 2022.
• Inspiration for Hindi Medium Aspirants — Widely recognised across UPSC preparation communities as a role model who proved that Hindi medium candidates can achieve top ranks.

Interesting Facts About Ravi Sihag IAS

• Son of a farmer: Ravi grew up on agricultural land and helped his father with farming work before starting his UPSC preparation. He never forgot his roots.
• Four UPSC attempts: He cleared the exam three times (2018, 2019, 2021) but kept trying until he secured the IAS. His 2020 attempt ended at the Prelims stage.
• Hindi medium topper: In UPSC CSE 2021, the top 17 candidates wrote in English. Ravi, writing in Hindi, stood at rank 18, making him the highest-ranked Hindi medium candidate that year.
• Scored 95% in Class 10 and 97% in Class 12: His exceptional school performance was a sign of things to come.
• Chose Hindi Literature as optional subject: After researching past Hindi medium toppers online, he identified this as the strategic choice — and it worked.
• Studied at Drishti IAS, Delhi: He enrolled at one of India’s leading UPSC coaching institutes and also used its test series to sharpen his preparation.
• Won a prize from former President of India: During training at LBSNAA, he won a quiz on the Constitution and Dr. Ambedkar and was felicitated by Ram Nath Kovind.
• Cadre transfer on marriage grounds: After marrying IAS officer Ishita Rathi in December 2025, he transferred from the Madhya Pradesh cadre to the AGMUT cadre under special service rules — an uncommon but legal move.
• Fitness enthusiast: Ravi regularly shares his workout sessions on social media and is known for maintaining physical discipline alongside his professional duties.
• EWS category candidate: Ravi applied under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category during his UPSC exam. His EWS certificate faced scrutiny in 2025, with the central government seeking verification from Rajasthan, though no adverse order has been publicly reported.

Ravi Kumar Sihag IAS – Social Media Details

Ravi Kumar Sihag is active on Instagram, where he shares updates about his personal life, fitness routines, official work, and interactions with the public.

Conclusion

Ravi Kumar Sihag IAS is not just a high-ranking civil servant — he is proof that background does not determine destiny. Growing up as a farmer’s son in rural Rajasthan, writing in Hindi, failing in one attempt, and still reaching AIR 18 in UPSC is a story that speaks to the heart of every aspirant who has ever doubted themselves.

Read More:

• Ashok Khemka IAS
• Ishita Kishore IAS
• Tukaram Mundhe IAS
• Abhishek Singh IAS
• Sanjukta Parashar IPS
• Shah Faesal IAS
• Armstrong Pame
• Ajit Pawar IPS
• Divya Tanwar
• Anuj Agnihotri Age
• Aditya Srivastava
• Saloni Khanna IAS
• IAS Pari Bishnoi
• Ambika Raina
•  Arti Dogra IAS
• Aishwarya Sheoran
• Palki Sharma
• Isha Singh IPS
• Kanishak Kataria
• Mahantesh Bilagi IAS
• Amit Kataria IAS
• Who is Safin Hasan IPS
• Dr. Navjot Simi IPS Biography
• Garima Lohia Biography
• Ishita Rathi IAS
• Srushti Deshmukh IAS
• Medha Roopam IAS
• Avi Prasad IAS
• Junaid Ahmad IAS
• Pari Bishnoi IAS
• Neha Byadwal IAS
• Vishakha Yadav IAS

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Ravi Kumar Sihag IAS?

Ravi Kumar Sihag is a 2022-batch IAS officer who secured AIR 18 in UPSC CSE 2021. He is from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, and is the son of a farmer. He wrote the entire exam in the Hindi medium and became the top Hindi medium candidate that year.

2. What is Ravi Sihag IAS’s date of birth?

Ravi Kumar Sihag was born on 2 November 1995.

3. What is Ravi Sihag IAS’s age in 2026?

As of 2026, Ravi Kumar Sihag is 30 years old.

4. What is Ravi Sihag IAS’s UPSC rank?

He secured All India Rank (AIR) 18 in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021. He was the highest-ranked Hindi medium candidate that year.

5. What is Ravi Kumar Sihag IAS’s current posting?

As of 1 April 2026, Ravi Kumar Sihag is posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, under the AGMUT cadre.

6. What cadre does Ravi Sihag IAS belong to?

Ravi Kumar Sihag originally belonged to the Madhya Pradesh cadre. After marrying IAS officer Ishita Rathi in December 2025, he transferred to the AGMUT cadre in March 2026.

7. Who is Ravi Sihag IAS’s wife?

Ravi Kumar Sihag married IAS officer Ishita Rathi on 16 December 2025. Ishita Rathi is also a UPSC CSE 2021 batch officer and belongs to the AGMUT cadre.

8. How many attempts did Ravi Kumar Sihag take to clear UPSC?

Ravi took four attempts. He cleared the exam in 2018 (AIR 337), 2019 (AIR 317), failed Prelims in 2020, and finally secured AIR 18 in 2021.

9. What was Ravi Sihag IAS’s optional subject in UPSC?

His optional subject was Hindi Literature. He chose this after researching the strategies of previous Hindi medium toppers.

10. What is Ravi Sihag IAS’s educational qualification?

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Sharda College, Anupgarh, Rajasthan, with Political Science, English Literature, and Economics as his subjects.

For more verified information, you can refer to this trusted external source:  Founderdetail.com