Meet Kashmir’s first female IAS officer, who left MBBS, cleared UPSC twice

New Delhi: The best way to predict the future is to create it; Ruveda Salam has made history by doing just that. Salam is the first woman IPS Officer of Jammu & Kashmir. Hailing from the terror-affected Kupwara district, Ruveda Slaam cracked the UPSC Civil Services examination in 2013. After spending a year as the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Chennai, she successfully cleared the UPSC once again in 2015, realizing her lifelong aspiration of becoming an IAS officer.
Life in the Kashmir Valley brings its own set of obstacles. Political turmoil, strikes, curfews, and frequent stone-pelting incidents are a regular occurrence. Ruveda Salam faced these challenges every day. Despite the lack of formal coaching, limited access to newspapers, and scarce study resources, she remained determined and passed the UPSC exams twice.
Ruveda’s father was her source of inspiration, instilling in her the confidence to pursue her goal of becoming an IAS officer. Her mother supported her by dismissing any talks of early marriage, allowing Ruveda to concentrate on shaping the life she envisioned for herself.
According to the media reports, Ruveda started her career in 2009 after earning her medical degree from the Government Medical College in Srinagar. While she was still an intern, she applied for the J&K Public Service Commission examination.