Surabhi Gautam stands as a beacon of determination, rising from a small Madhya Pradesh village to secure All India Rank 50 in UPSC CSE 2016 on her first attempt. This IAS officer’s story highlights overcoming language barriers and gender biases through relentless hard work. Her career in Gujarat administration continues to drive impactful public service.
Who is Surabhi Gautam?
Surabhi Gautam is an IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre. After scoring the highest ranks in various national, level examinations including securing IES AIR 1 in 2013, she was given the Gujarat cadre. Born and brought up in Amdara village, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh, she is a true representative of rural India making it big in the civil services. Presently, she is the Regional Commissioner of Municipalities in Vadodara.
Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
| Attribute | Details |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) |
| Weight | 55 kg |
| Build | Slim, athletic |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Distinct Features | Confident expression |
Educational Qualification
Surabhi was a Hindi, medium student of government schools and scored 93.4% in Class 10 with perfect marks in Math and Science. She was one of the State Merit holders. She did her B.Tech in Electronics and Communications from Bhopal’s UIT, RGPV and graduated as university topper and gold medalist. Her engineering foundation was behind her consecutive success in GATE, ISRO, and BARC selections.
Surabhi Gautam Biography

| Biography Aspect | Details |
| Full Name | Surabhi Gautam |
| Profession | IAS Officer, Gujarat Cadre |
| UPSC Rank | AIR 50 (2016) |
| Hometown | Amdara village, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh |
| Current Position | Regional Commissioner of Municipalities, Vadodara |
| Key Achievements | Cleared GATE, ISRO, IES AIR 1 (2013), BARC on first attempts |
| Education | B.Tech Electronics & Communication (Gold Medalist) |
| Early Challenges | Hindi-medium schooling, rheumatic fever, language mockery |
Age and Early Life
Surabhi was born in August 1991 in Amdara village, in a Brahmin joint family of over 30 members. She will turn 34 years old in 2026. Her father, a lawyer at Maihar Civil Court, and mother Dr. Sushila Gautam, a high school teacher, made sure that discipline was maintained in the house along with equal treatment for all the siblings. Even though she had rheumatic fever in her Class 12 and had to go for treatment 150 km every other day, she managed to get the APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship
Career Highlights
Surabhi not only aced the exams she took after her B.Tech but she almost cracked every test: GATE, ISRO, BARC (went on to be a nuclear scientist for a year), SAIL, MPPSC, SSC CGL, Delhi Police, FCI, and then she topped IES 2013 before getting UPSC AIR 50 in 2016. LBSNAA Mussoorie was her alma mater for the training. As an Assistant Collector in Vadodara, she initiated the management of the COVID migrant repatriation. Then she was appointed the District Development Officer in Viramgam where she worked on digitizing land records and took the initiative in the revival of heritage schools.
Awards and Recognition
Along with a Gold medal, Surabhi was presented the Chancellor’sAward during her B.Tech. She was APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship awardee in Class 12 and was a meritorious student in various state, level academic events. In 2013, she made history as the first woman to top the IES with record, high marks followed by success in UPSC. The Gujarat government honoured her with an award for her outstanding contributions to the COVID, 19 response in 2020.
Relationship
Surabhi Gautam has been living her life away from the limelight and has never disclosed any of her romantic relationships to the public. Insiders also maintain that she is single and
Family
Surabhi was raised in a joint family of more than 30 members in Amdara and was equally treated among the siblings. Her father was a lawyer at Maihar courts; her mother Dr. Sushila was a high school teacher and she educated her. The details of the siblings are kept secret, but the support of the family was the fuel of her rise
Net Worth
Surabhi as Regional Commissioner with more than 8 years of service, receives around 1.5, 2 lakhs per month, which comes to 20, 25 lakhs per year inclusive of allowances. The net worth is largely from the salary as there are no mentions of business ventures or assets in the public domain. She has a modest lifestyle which is in line with the norms of a civil servant.
Social Media
Surabhi Gautam is not very active online. The Instagram handle @gautamsurabhi is mentioned in the profiles. She posts very less of her personal life, mostly sharing professional insights or inspirations. There is no active Twitter account or any other major platform available for her
Unknown Facts
Firstly, Surabhi got a perfect score of 100/100 in Class 5 Math and was the first person in the school’s history to do so, which was the beginning of her identity as a diligent student. During engineering, she was mocked for her English and to overcome this, she learned 10 new words every day and eventually became the topper. She left TCS halfway, cleared more than 10 exams with flying colors and then appeared for UPSC.
Conclusion
Surabhi Gautam’s journey from a Hindi, medium village school to IAS leadership is a proof that perseverance is more powerful than one’s roots. Her self, study method for UPSC and her work in Gujarat are a source of motivation for aspirants all over the country. The officer’s legacy will be carried forward by her commitment to transparent governance and empowerment drives.
FAQs
What is Surabhi Gautam’s UPSC Rank?
Surabhi Gautam secured All India Rank 50 in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2016 on her very first attempt, after scoring 856 in mains and 198 in the interview.
Where Does Surabhi Gautam Currently Serve?
How Did Surabhi Gautam Overcome Language Barriers?
Raised in a Hindi-medium village school, Surabhi faced English mockery in college but learned 10 words daily, eventually topping her B.Tech and IES exams.
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