Tollystory: creating the biography w/ infobox!

2026-03-15T03:54:08Z

creating the biography w/ infobox!

New page

{{Short description|IAS Officer working for indian government}}
{{Orphan|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Pranjal Lahensingh Patil
| image =
| alt =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|04|1}}
| birth_place = Wadaji, Jalgaon, Maharashtra
| education =
| alma_mater = [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]]
| occupation = [[IAS officer]]
| honorific_suffix = [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]
| employer = [[Government of India]]
| organization = [[Indian Administrative Service]]
| years_active = 2017–present
| spouse =
| father = Lahen Singh B. Patil
| mother = Jyothi Patil
}}

'''Pranjal Lahensingh Patil''' (born 1 April 1988) is an [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) officer and India's first visually impaired woman to hold such a position.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-14 |title=First visually-impaired woman IAS officer appointed as Kerala sub collector |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/first-visually-impaired-woman-ias-officer-appointed-kerala-sub-collector-110506 |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> Despite losing her vision at the age of six, she has made significant contributions to [[public administration]] in India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katoch |first=Manabi |date=2016-05-14 |title=Visually Impaired Girl Cracks UPSC in First Attempt. Will Become IAS Officer. |url=https://thebetterindia.com/55277/blind-girl-upsc-2016-pranjal-patil-maharashtra/#:~:text=it%20come%20true.-,Pranjal%20Patil,%20a%2026-year-old%20visually-impaired,lost%20vision%20in%20this%20eye. |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=The Better India |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Pranjal Patil was born on 1 April 1988 in Wadaji, [[Jalgaon]], [[Maharashtra]], to Lahen Singh B. Patil and Jyothi Patil. She lost her vision completely by the age of six due to a progressive eye condition. She was diagnosed in 1994 and by 1995 Mrs. Patil was totally blind.<ref>{{Cite web |last=T |first=Anilkumar |date=2018-05-30 |title=Visually impaired Assistant Collector wins against all odds |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2018/May/30/visually-impaired-assistant-collector-wins-against-all-odds-1821158.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

Despite these challenges, her parents prioritized her education, enrolling her in Smt. Kamla Mehta School for the Blind in Dadar, Mumbai. Her teachers appreciated her as a very studious and intelligent girl. She studied at the Chandibai Himatlal Manshukhani College in Ullhasnagar. Pranjal excelled academically, achieving 85% in her Class 12 examinations and topping the Arts section at Chandibai College.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visually Impaired Girl Cracks UPSC in First Attempt. Will Become IAS Officer. - xaam.in |url=http://www.xaam.in/2016/05/visually-impaired-girl-cracks-upsc-in.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.xaam.in}}</ref>

After graduating from high school, she earned a degree in Political Science from [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]]. Later, in her constant quest for learning, Mrs. Patil moved to [[New Delhi]], where she pursued postgraduate studies and obtained a master's degree in [[International relations|International Relations]], an [[MPhil]], and a PhD from [[Jawaharlal Nehru University|Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)]], [[Delhi]] in International Relations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Vision Beyond Sight: Know Pranjal Patil Success Journey To Becoming Indias First Visually Impaired Female IAS Officer |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/a-vision-beyond-sight-know-pranjal-patil-success-journey-to-becoming-indias-first-visually-impaired-female-ias-officer-2765400.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Zee News |language=en}}</ref>

While training at the university, she frequently traveled by train and received assistance from terminal staff and daily commuters. This experience heightened her awareness of the [[civil service]]'s significance and the role of an educated society, where individuals willingly help those in need.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First IAS visually impaired lady takes charge as a Sub-Collector of Thiruvananthapuram. |url=https://bookofachievers.com/articles/braving-all-challenges-visually-impaired-ias-officer-takes-charge-as-a-sub-collector#:~:text=The%20formative%20years,exposure%20to%20the%20sun's%20rays. |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=BookOfAchievers |language=en-IN}}</ref>

== Civil services career ==
Patil's journey into civil services began with her first attempt at the [[Union Public Service Commission]] (UPSC) [[Civil Services Examination]] in 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Public ER Sheet_Supremo |url=https://supremo.nic.in/ERSheetHtml.aspx?OffIDErhtml=MzMyNTM=&PageId= |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=supremo.nic.in}}</ref> where she secured the 744th rank. Unsatisfied with this result, she reappeared in 2017 and achieved an impressive 124th rank.<ref>{{Cite news |title=आंतरराष्ट्रीय महिला दिन: नेत्रहीन असूनही समाजाला नवी दृष्टी देणाऱ्या प्रांजल पाटील |url=https://www.bbc.com/marathi/india-44516356 |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=BBC News मराठी |language=mr}}</ref> Notably, she prepared for these examinations without any formal coaching, utilizing screen-reading software to study.

Initially, Patil was allocated to the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS). However, due to her visual impairment, she faced challenges in securing the position.She was rejected as the Personnel and Training Department informed her that the Indian Railways does not employ staff with 100% blindness. She was subsequently assigned to the Post and Telecommunications Department, at a lower rank than the first position. To achieve the position, she deserved by merit she had to fight against bureaucracy, met with ministers and even made statements in the press. As a result, Railway Minister [[Suresh Prabhu]] promised to give her a job commensurate with her qualifications.

Undeterred, she continued her pursuit and was appointed to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Public ER Sheet_Supremo |url=https://supremo.nic.in/ERSheetHtml.aspx?OffIDErhtml=MzMyNTM=&PageId= |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=supremo.nic.in}}</ref> She commenced her IAS career as an Assistant Collector in [[Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]], in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visually impaired IAS officer takes charge - a first in Kerala |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/lifestyle/women/2018/05/30/visually-impaired-ias-officer-takes-charge-a-first-in-kerala.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=OnManorama}}</ref> Subsequently, she served as the Sub-Collector of [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and later as the [[District magistrate|District Magistrate of Ernakulam]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-04 |title=Ernakulam's new Assistant Collector is country's first visually challenged woman IAS officer |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ernakulams-new-assistant-collector-is-countrys-first-visually-challenged-woman-ias-officer-5203670/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=कोतकर |first=प्रशांत |date=2017-06-01 |title=प्रांजल पाटील देशातील 'पहिली' दृष्टिहीन विद्यार्थिनी जिल्हाधिकारी |url=https://www.esakal.com/uttar-maharashtra/nashik-news-pranjal-patil-passed-upsc-exam-49326 |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Marathi News Esakal |language=Mr}}</ref> As of 2023, she holds the position of Additional Director ([[Public administration|Administration]]) in the Directorate of Education, Delhi.

== Personal life ==
Pranjal Patil is married to Komal Singh Patil who is a Businessman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katoch |first=Manabi |date=2016-05-14 |title=Visually Impaired Girl Cracks UPSC in First Attempt. Will Become IAS Officer. |url=https://thebetterindia.com/55277/blind-girl-upsc-2016-pranjal-patil-maharashtra/#:~:text=it%20come%20true.-,Pranjal%20Patil,%20a%2026-year-old%20visually-impaired,lost%20vision%20in%20this%20eye. |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=The Better India |language=en-US}}</ref> Her story has been a source of inspiration for many, highlighting the possibilities of overcoming physical challenges to achieve professional success.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-12 |title=Pranjal Patil ~ first visually challenged woman IAS officer, takes over as Sub-Collector of Thiruvananthapuram – shares her experience on how Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism and following Dr. Daisaku Ikeda's guidance has helped her understand “Life is the foremost of all treasures” |url=https://nichirenbuddhism.home.blog/2020/02/12/pranjal-patil-first-visually-challenged-woman-ias-officer-takes-over-as-sub-collector-of-thiruvananthapuram-shares-her-experience-on-how-nichiren-daishonins-buddhism-and-following-dr-dais/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Introduction to Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism |language=en}}</ref>

== Achievements and Impact ==
Pranjal's success story has been widely covered by the [[Media (communication)|media]], highlighting her as a role model for [[civil service]] aspirants, especially those with disabilities. She has worked towards making public administration more inclusive and efficient, advocating for better accessibility in government offices and education systems.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPSC Topper 2023: Download List, Selection Process, Qualities And Success Stories - PWOnlyIAS |url=https://pwonlyias.com/upsc-topper-2023-download-list-selection-process-qualities-and-success-stories/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaur |first=Jaisal |title=Meet India's first visually impaired IAS officer who cracked UPSC twice without coaching with AIR… |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/education/report-meet-india-s-first-visually-impaired-ias-officer-who-cracked-upsc-twice-without-coaching-with-air-3074250 |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=DNA India |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Indian Administrative Service]]
* [[Civil Services Examination (India)]]
* [[Union Public Service Commission]]
* [https://www.upsc.gov.in/ Official UPSC Website]
* [https://www.dopt.gov.in/ Official Department of Personnel and Training]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Patil, Pranjal Lahensingh}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Jalgaon district]]
[[Category:Indian Administrative Service officers]]

Pranjal Lahensingh Patil - Revision history

Tollystory: creating the biography w/ infobox!