Passing the toughest competition examination of India in one go becomes an accomplishment for sure. But passing it thrice just to join the coveted service becomes another story. Ravi Kumar Sihag successfully cracked UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2018 and 2019, earning respectable services, yet decided to take the test for the fourth time. He successfully secured his aim of joining the Indian Administrative Service. In 2021, Ravi Kumar Sihag cracked the IAS examination becoming the highest ranker among Hindi medium aspirants across India. This article covers everything currently known about Ravi Kumar Sihag’s age, family, career journey, and personal life, based on the latest available information.
Who Is Ravi Kumar Sihag?
Ravi Kumar Sihag belongs to the Indian Administrative Service, 2021 batch, best known for securing All India Rank 18 in UPSC Civil Services Examination despite being studied completely in Hindi language, something which is considered quite uncommon since all ranks from 1st to 17th were earned by students studying English medium. Born in a poor agrarian family based in Rajasthan, his journey towards becoming IAS officer included previous appearances and passing the examination twice to achieve his ultimate aim on the fourth attempt. Initially posted in Madhya Pradesh cadre, Ravi Kumar Sihag now serves in AGMUT cadre after marrying Ishita Rathi, herself an IAS officer, in December 2025.
Quick Biography Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ravi Kumar Sihag |
| Date of Birth | November 2, 1995 |
| Age | 30 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Chak 3 B.M., Vijaynagar, Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | IAS Officer (Indian Administrative Service) |
| UPSC Batch/Rank | 2021 batch; All India Rank 18 (CSE 2021), 4th attempt |
| Cadre | Originally Madhya Pradesh; transferred to AGMUT in March 2026 |
| Education | Saraswati Vidya Mandir (up to 10th); Anupgarh Sharda School (11th); New Senior Secondary School, Vijaynagar (12th); B.A., Sharda College, Anupgarh |
| Optional Subject | Hindi Literature |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Famous For | Top Hindi-medium candidate, UPSC CSE 2021 |
Early Life and Education
Ravi Kumar Sihag was born on November 2, 1995, in Chak 3 B.M., located within Vijaynagar region in the state of Rajasthan. Coming from a farming background of a humble economic status, his family comprised farmers who valued education greatly despite the limited financial resources. He brought up along with his three sisters namely Poonam Sihag, Raveena Sihag, and Komal Sihag, each building successful careers ahead.
Ravi passed his primary education till tenth class from Saraswati Vidya Mandir in his native village. Later on, he shifted to Anupgarh Sharda School for studying the eleventh standard. He passed out his 12th standard studies from New Senior Secondary School situated at Vijaynagar, always performing well academically throughout his secondary education. After passing out his 12th class examinations, Ravi pursued his graduation in Bachelor of Arts course specializing in Hindi, English, Literature, and Economics subjects at Sharda College located in Anupgarh, a perfect selection for UPSC preparation.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Chak 3 B.M., Vijaynagar, Sriganganagar, Rajasthan |
| Family Background | Modest farming family |
| Schooling (up to 10th) | Saraswati Vidya Mandir, his home village |
| Schooling (11th) | Anupgarh Sharda School |
| Schooling (12th) | New Senior Secondary School, Vijaynagar |
| Higher Education | B.A., Sharda College, Anupgarh |
Ravi Kumar Sihag Age
According to current year 2026, Ravi Kumar Sihag celebrates his birthday on November 2 every year. Therefore, the exact chronological age of Ravi Kumar Sihag will be 30 years old this year. The zodiac sign Scorpio perfectly reflects upon Ravi Kumar Sihag’s personality characteristics. Notably, he is a dedicated and hardworking individual throughout life who never gave up trying till getting into his favorite job profile.
Ravi Kumar Sihag Height and Physical Appearance
Ravi Kumar Sihag maintains decent physical appearance fitting enough for an Indian Administrative Servicer officer cadre. You may come across pictures of him regularly attending training workshops or conferences held in connection with his administrative duties.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Public Image | Disciplined, understated demeanour befitting his role as a civil servant |
| Known For | Being the top-ranked Hindi-medium candidate in UPSC CSE 2021 |
Family Background
Ravi Kumar Sihag belongs to Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar district where he was born. His father is Ramkumar Sihag who is engaged in farming whereas his mother is Vimla Devi who acts as a housewife. Though they do not have enough financial stability but they have always been concerned about educating their children. Ravi Kumar Sihag also has three sisters named Poonam Sihag, Raveena Sihag, and Komal Sihag who are making a name in their respective fields of work.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Father | Ramkumar Sihag (farmer) |
| Mother | Vimla Devi (homemaker) |
| Sisters | Poonam Sihag, Raveena Sihag, Komal Sihag |
| Family Background | Economically modest farming family from rural Rajasthan |
Ravi Kumar Sihag Wife and Personal Life
On December 16, 2025, Ravi Kumar Sihag married another UPSC aspirant named Ishita Rathi. The wedding ceremony took place in Delhi city, attended by numerous administrative and political figures. Both the newlyweds belong to the same IAS cadre. They are batchmates having passed the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021 successfully. Their love story dates back to the training period at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie. As successful UPSC toppers, both are highly recognized throughout administrative circles across the nation. After marriage, he moved to the AGMUT cadre of his wife under the service regulations allowing cadre transfers of spouses serving within the same cadre. On March 9, 2026, his transfer application received approval from the Department of Personnel & Training.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Ishita Rathi (IAS officer, AGMUT cadre) |
| Marriage Date | December 16, 2025, in Delhi |
| How They Met | Batchmates during UPSC CSE 2021; relationship developed during LBSNAA training in Mussoorie |
| Cadre Transfer | Approved by DoPT on March 9, 2026, moving Ravi from Madhya Pradesh to AGMUT cadre |
Career Journey of Ravi Kumar Sihag
Early Academic Foundation
His entire educational history reflects dedication towards acquiring academic excellence. Growing up in a family stressing educational significance regardless of financial limitations, he obtained education through various institutes located in and around Sriganganagar district. He pursued his bachelor’s degree in Arts from Sharda College, which helped him secure a sound understanding of subjects like Hindi, English, Literature, and Economics. Such foundational knowledge proved immensely beneficial while preparing for UPSC examinations.
First UPSC Attempt and IDAS Allocation (2018)
His civil services examination career started with his first successful attempt in 2018 when he was ranked 337th on the national level. Being allotted the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) was undoubtedly a great success but did not fully satisfy his aims. Therefore, he decided to appear for the next attempt instead of pursuing his selected career stream immediately.
Second Attempt and IRTS Allocation (2019)
Again appearing for the examination in 2019 proved more successful for him. His rank went up by few positions and became 317 this time. Furthermore, he was offered Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS). Nevertheless, he continued preparing for UPSC examinations without opting for any of the services he had qualified earlier. Continue reading if you wish to know more about his UPSC journey.
A Setback in 2020
Unfortunately, all efforts do not always work out successfully. Ravi appeared for his third attempt of the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2020. However, he could not qualify for the preliminary test, which could have affected his future morale due to past successes. He kept going even after facing the failure in such an important test. It turned into an opportunity for him instead of getting disappointed.
Breakthrough: AIR 18 and Hindi-Medium Topper Status (2021)
His hard work paid off greatly in 2021. He qualified for UPSC Civil Services Examination successfully on his fourth attempt. He managed to secure a highly respectable position in the list of successful candidates as an All India Rank 18 holder. Interestingly enough, all other 17 rank holders were English-medium students while Ravi stood first amongst Hindi-medium students. There are limited study resources available in Hindi as compared to English. So, Ravi relied on NCERT books, practice answers, and revisions. Furthermore, he translated some notes in Hindi due to scarce study materials.
Training at LBSNAA (2023)
After qualifying for the exam, the next step involves joining LBSNAA in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. On August 30, 2023, Ravi attended LBSNAA to join the training session of 2021 batch. He emerged victorious at a quiz competition named Constitution and Life of Dr. Ambedkar organized by LBSNAA in memory of Dr. Ambedkar on his birthday. President Ram Nath Kovind and Governor of Uttarakhand Gurmit Singh felicitated Ravi with a reward during the event held in April 2023.
Posting to the Madhya Pradesh Cadre
After completing LBSNAA training, Ravi got assigned to the cadre of Madhya Pradesh. He started serving as an IAS officer for Madhya Pradesh cadre.
Marriage and Cadre Transfer (2025–2026)
His married life began towards the end of 2025 and early 2026. Ravi tied the knot with Ishita Rathi in December 2025, who was a fellow IAS officer from AGMUT cadre and took charge as District Collector of Karaikal in Puducherry. Therefore, Ravi requested for a cadre change based on the facility provided to married officers belonging to different cadres. DoPT sanctioned his request for cadre transfer from Madhya Pradesh cadre to AGMUT cadre on March 9, 2026.
Career Highlights
| Year | Milestone | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | First UPSC success | AIR 337; allotted Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) |
| 2019 | Second UPSC success | AIR 317; allotted Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) |
| 2020 | Setback | Did not clear the preliminary examination on third attempt |
| 2021 | Major breakthrough | AIR 18; top Hindi-medium candidate in UPSC CSE 2021 |
| 2023 | LBSNAA training | Began training in Mussoorie; won Ambedkar quiz, felicitated by President Kovind |
| December 2025 | Marriage | Married fellow IAS officer Ishita Rathi in Delhi |
| March 2026 | Cadre transfer | Moved from Madhya Pradesh to AGMUT cadre |
Awards and Recognition
- Secured All India Rank 18 in UPSC CSE 2021, the highest rank among all Hindi-medium candidates that year
- Felicitated by then-President Ram Nath Kovind and Uttarakhand Governor Gurmit Singh in April 2023, for winning a quiz on the Constitution and the life of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during his LBSNAA training
- Widely cited as an inspirational example for Hindi-medium UPSC aspirants, given the comparative scarcity of Hindi-language preparation resources
Additional Notable Facts
- Ravi Kumar Sihag cleared the UPSC exam three separate times, in 2018, 2019, and 2021, before finally achieving his specific goal of joining the IAS.
- He was unable to clear the preliminary exam in his third attempt in 2020, a setback he overcame the following year with his best result yet.
- He chose Hindi Literature as his optional subject, alongside core subjects including Political Science, Economics, and English Literature.
- He adapted to the limited availability of Hindi-language UPSC study materials by translating notes himself.
- His marriage to fellow IAS officer Ishita Rathi in December 2025 led to a formal cadre transfer, approved by the Department of Personnel and Training in March 2026.
Conclusion
Ravi Kumar Sihag, whose journey started from a little farming village located in Rajasthan, has become the best-performing Hindi-medium student in one of the toughest entrance tests across the globe. Ravi Kumar Sihag cleared the UPSC exams two times. However, despite clearing the examination twice, he attempted it yet again. He felt dissatisfied with both outcomes and believed that they did not meet his expectations and goals. His AIR 18 ranking last year, followed by the recognition he received throughout his LBSNAA training, along with his recent wedding ceremony and cadre allocation, make Ravi a true inspiration for the Hindi medium aspirants aspiring for India’s civil service exams. Currently posted under the AGMUT cadre, Ravi Kumar Sihag will continue to be one of the prominent young IAS officers in India till 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
He was born on November 2, 1995, making him 30 years old as of 2026.
He secured All India Rank 18 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021, on his fourth attempt, making him the top-ranked Hindi-medium candidate that year.
He is from Chak 3 B.M., a village in the Vijaynagar area of Sriganganagar district, Rajasthan.
Yes, he married fellow IAS officer Ishita Rathi on December 16, 2025.
He was originally allotted the Madhya Pradesh cadre, but transferred to the AGMUT cadre in March 2026 following his marriage to Ishita Rathi.
Also, Read About: Ketaki Kulkarni Age | Shweta Mahara Age | Bharat Ahlawat Age


