One of the most inspiring civil servants of India is Anu Kumari. She became well known in India after securing AIR-2 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017. The reason why her journey to the top is worth mentioning is the fact that she reached this position while working, being a wife, and also as a mother. With all these responsibilities on her shoulders,
Anu Kumari’s persistence, discipline, and confidence have become the key factors to make her a great inspiration to lakhs of aspirants who are preparing for UPSC. Anu Kumari IAS belongs to the state of Haryana and spent almost 10 years in the corporate world before moving towards civil services. Keep reading further to discover more information about Anu Kumari and her life.
Who Is Anu Kumari?
She was officially born as Anu Kumari on November 18, 1986. Her birthplace is located in Sonipat, Haryana, India. By profession, she is an IAS Officer. Anu Kumari is an IAS officer who belongs to the Kerala cadre. She became nationally known as she came out second at the UPSC Civil Services Exam held in 2017.
In addition, she became the highest-ranked woman in the UPSC exam. Prior to joining the IAS service, she worked in the private sector as a financial expert. Anu has inspired many aspirants due to her remarkable journey. She studied for the UPSC exam while being a wife and mother.
Anu Kumari IAS Biography & Wiki
Anu Kumari IAS is the official name given to her at birth. Speaking of which, she was born on November 18, 1986. Her place of birth is located in Sonipat, Haryana, India. One of the most inspiring bureaucrats in the whole of India is Anu Kumari. She gained widespread popularity owing to her second ranking in the Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC in 2017.
The most admirable part about her success is that she succeeded in becoming what she is as a working professional, as a married lady, and as a mother. Discipline and determination helped her become a role model for lakhs of aspirants in UPSC. She belongs to the state of Haryana and comes from the corporate world for almost a decade.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anu Kumari |
| Date of Birth | November 18, 1986 |
| Age | 39 years old |
| Birthplace | Sonipat, Haryana, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | IAS Officer |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Marital Status | Married |
Early Life of Anu Kumari IAS
Anu Kumari IAS spent her childhood growing up in Sonipat, Haryana. She was raised by a middle-class Hindu family. She had firsthand experience of how rural lifestyle shapes women. Despite this, she developed a strong mindset and independent ideologies. At one point, Anu even moved to Delhi for education and corporate work purposes. As a teenager, she had huge ambitions to serve the country.
School & College Education
Her school’s name is Shiva Shiksha Sadan. It is located in her hometown of Sonipat. For higher education, she joined the University of Delhi (DU). To be specific, she attended the Hindu College and graduated with a B.Sc (Honours) degree. Thereafter, Anu Kumari also earned an MBA degree in Finance and Marketing. She used to study at the Institute of Management Technology Nagpur for postgraduation. That was the end of Anu’s academic journey.
Anu Kumari IAS Age
Anu Kumari IAS was 31 years old while clearing the UPSC exam and becoming an IPS officer. Her date of birth is November 18, 1986. Accordingly, Anu is 39 years old as of now.
Anu Kumari Physical Appearance
| Height | 5 feet and 5 inches |
| Weight | 58 kgs |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Skin Color | Wheatish |
| Appearance | Fit body build |
Family Members of Anu Kumari
Baljit Singh is the father of Anu Kumari. Allegedly, he used to work in Jaipur Golden Hospital’s HR department. The name of her mother is Santro Devi, and she is a housewife. It is claimed that Anu has two younger brothers and an elder sister. But their identities are not revealed.
Anu Kumari IAS Husband & Son

Anu Kumari is married to a successful Indian businessman. Her husband’s name is Varun Dhaiya. Their wedding took place back in 2012. She has shared that her husband was completely supportive of her UPSC exam and IAS ambitions. The couple have even welcomed a son but didn’t reveal his name for privacy.
Career & Professional Journey
Prior to her entry into the civil services, Anu Kumari had spent around eight years working with the private sector. It is known that she worked with insurance and financial firms, including Aviva Life Insurance. Although she was enjoying her career as a professional in a good company, yet she was of the view that her efforts were not contributing positively towards society. Thus, to pursue her dream of making an important contribution to society, she left her corporate job and prepared herself for UPSC.
In 2016, she gave her first try at UPSC; however, she narrowly missed qualifying for the preliminary stage by just one mark. Undeterred by her failure, she kept trying and finally qualified with great ease in 2017. In the same year, she stood second in UPSC Civil Services Examination, emerging as the highest ranking female candidate in the year. She selected Sociology as her optional subject. After training, she entered the Indian Administrative Service with the Kerala cadre. She has been serving in various administrative capacities since then.
Anu Kumari Net Worth 2026
There is no real-time data about her wealth and assets. Estimates place Anu Kumari’s net worth between INR 1-2 crores. From IAS salary to government allowances, investments, savings, and previous corporate income, everything contributes to her fortune. Her net worth is projected to grow even further in the upcoming years.
Social Media Handles
| Platform | Username | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| @iasanukumari | 96K+ | |
| Anu Kumari | 31K+ |
Trivia
- Anu Kumari narrowly missed the UPSC prelim cut-off by one mark in her first attempt.
- Before her career as an IAS officer, Anu Kumari had been working in the corporate sector for about eight and a half years.
- She resigned from her lucrative private job to concentrate on UPSC preparation.
- Anu Kumari emerged second in UPSC CSE 2017 with an All India Rank 2 and became the top lady aspirant of that year.
- She prepared for UPSC while being a mom of a toddler.
- In her preparation process, she separated herself from her kid for nearly two years.
- She obtained a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Physics from Hindu College, University of Delhi.
- Anu Kumari pursued an MBA program from IMT, Nagpur.
- She preferred Sociology as an optional subject primarily due to the concise syllabus of the same.
- Self-study and current affairs from the internet were major elements of her preparation process.
- At some point of time, she called her corporate job ‘mechanical’ and devoid of personal gratification.
- The members of her family urged her to attempt the UPSC exam seriously.
- It is believed that Anu Kumari prepared for the UPSC exam while staying with her maternal aunt in Sonipat.
- Corporate work experience made her feel confident while appearing for the UPSC interview stage.
- She later got associated with women empowerment movement, such as ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.
FAQs
Where did she work before her UPSC success?
Anu Kumari is a former employee of Aviva Life Insurance.
Who did she marry?
Her husband is identified as Varun Dahiya.
What are the names of her parents?
Their names are Baljit Singh and Santro Devi.
Where was she born?
Anu’s birth took place in Sonipat, Haryana, India.
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