Pari Bishnoi, an IAS officer who cracked India's toughest competitive exam and got an AIR 30, opened up how about her isolated setbacks and her silent struggles. In a heartfelt Instagram video, she shared her inspiring UPSC journey, emphasising that "the real victory is when you don't quit", revealing that she "gained 45 kilos due to stress eating" and was left emotionally, physically and mentally drained.
She failed to clear her UPSC exam in 2017 and returned to her hometown in Rajasthan to prepare for it again. But little did she know that she had go through a period of isolation that would prompt her to cut herself off from the world, turning to stress eating as a coping mechanism.
"I isolated myself. Shut out the world, I gained 45 kilos," she said, saying that the phase was overwhelming for her, leaving her mentally drained and physically unrecognisable.
Pari adopted a monk-like lifestyle in order to crack the UPSC. From deleting all her social media accounts to not carrying any smartphone and living a disciplined life, Pari deleted all the possible distractions from her life. All the efforts paid off when Pari cracked the UPSC and got AIR 30. She also qualified the UGC NET examination and successfully cleared the NET-JRF.
One interview call gave her the defining moment
Pari Bishnoi's world changed upside down when she received an interview call for a subsequent attempt. The call became a turning point in her life, pushing her to focus not just on securing a rank, but also on rebuilding herself through personal growth and self-improvement. Determined to transform both mentally and physically, she adopted a disciplined lifestyle that included workouts, a balanced diet and strict self-discipline to regain her fitness and confidence.
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She explained that losing weight was not just about transformation, but about letting go of the heaviness within: "Losing that weight wasn't just about numbers, it was about shedding fear, doubt, and everything that made me feel I wasn't enough." Her hard work eventually paid off when she cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2019, securing an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 30.
She reflected on her struggles and the transformation that led to her success, ending with a powerful "don't quit" message. Through her story, she urged other aspirants currently in a "dark place" not to give up. "The real victory is when you ‘DON'T QUIT' If you're in a dark place right now - You're not stuck. You're not broken. You can change your life. Its completely in your own hands," she wrote on Instagram.
Pari Bishnoi is married to BJP leader Bhavya Bishnoi, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Veda, in February this year.
A look at her postpartum fitness journey
Pari also shared her postpartum fitness journey, speaking honestly about the physical and mental challenges of returning to the gym after childbirth. She recently shared a powerful workout montage capturing her fitness journey through pregnancy and post-partum recovery. The video features her performing several exercises, including bench presses, lat pulldowns, kettlebell deadlifts, cable rows, stability ball workouts and floor-based leg reaches. One of the most touching moments in the clip shows her doing squats while safely holding her daughter.
The text featured in the video offered an honest glimpse into her struggles during the phase. “There were days I could barely lift myself,” Pari admitted, adding that “weights felt impossible” as she adjusted to a body she no longer fully recognised. Despite battling low motivation at times, she stressed the importance of consistency and showing up every day. She also reflected emotionally on motherhood, saying her daughter, who was once her reason to “slow down”, has now become her “reason to rise”.
In the caption accompanying the post, Parineeti summed up her transformation, writing: “Pregnancy tested my strength. It changed my body, changed my perspective. Motherhood reshaped my heart. It stretched my limit. And I’ve never felt this strong!”
Who is Pari Bishnoi?
Pari Bishnoi was born on February 26, 1996, in Kakra village of Rajasthan and comes from an academically driven family. Her father, Maniram Bishnoi, is a lawyer by profession, while her mother, Sushila Bishnoi, serves as a police officer in the Government Railway Police. Her grandfather, Gopiram Bishnoi, also played an important role in local administration and served as the sarpanch of Kakra village four times.
Known for her dedication towards academics from an early age, Pari completed her schooling at the prestigious St. Mary's Convent School in Ajmer. She later moved to Delhi for higher studies and graduated from Indraprastha College for Women under the University of Delhi. After completing her graduation, Pari pursued a Master’s degree in Political Science from Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University in Ajmer.
