IPS Ankita Sharma’s viral AK-47 video highlights journey from Class 5 maths struggle to AIR 203 in UPSC

IPS Ankita Sharma, a 2018 batch officer of the Indian Police Service, has garnered significant public attention following a viral video depicting her firing an AK-47 rifle during a traditional weapon worship ceremony on Dussehra at the police lines in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. The video, showing her in a saree firing nine rounds into the air, has drawn focus to her professional career and her academic journey, which includes overcoming early struggles in mathematics to achieve success in the civil services.

Sharma, who is popularly known as ‘Lady Singham’ and is the first woman IPS officer from Chhattisgarh, has served in various capacities within the state, including postings in Naxal-affected regions. Her career trajectory and personal story, marked by perseverance, are frequently cited as an example for aspirants.

Academic Journey and UPSC Success

Ankita Sharma’s academic record reflects a notable progression from early challenges to high achievement. Originally from Durg district in Chhattisgarh, she completed her schooling at St Xavier’s School in Durg. She reportedly scored 5 out of 50 marks in mathematics in Class 5, necessitating a supplementary examination. Despite this, she achieved 92% in her Class 10 examinations and 90% in her Class 12 examinations.

She pursued graduation and postgraduation in Bhilai and was a gold medalist in her MBA program from Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekananda Technical University. Sharma then left her MBA programme to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. After two unsuccessful attempts, where she missed the mains selection by 15 marks in her first attempt and could not clear the preliminary examination in her second, she secured All India Rank (AIR) 203 in her third attempt in 2018. Her optional subject for UPSC was Public Administration.

Policing Career in Chhattisgarh

As a Chhattisgarh-cadre officer, IPS Ankita Sharma has been associated with policing operations in Naxal-affected areas of the state. She began her career with a posting in Bhatapara and later served as a City Superintendent of Police (CSP) in Raipur’s Azad Chowk area. In May 2022, she was appointed Superintendent of Police in Khairagarh, becoming the district’s first woman SP. As of 2026, she is serving as the SP of the Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai districts and was recently posted as SP, Rajnandgaon.

Her professional achievements include receiving the Indra Bhushan Award in 2021 from the Chhattisgarh DGP for exceptional service. She reportedly led ‘Operation Clean’ in Raipur, which resulted in the seizure of 700 kg of ganja, and was involved in a case concerning 53,000 liquor bottles during her trainee posting. Sharma is also reported to be the first woman in Chhattisgarh to lead Naxal operations. Her husband, Vivekanand Shukla, is an officer in the Indian Army.

Public Profile and Recognition

Beyond her official duties, IPS Ankita Sharma maintains an active presence on social media, with over 890K followers on Instagram under the username @ankitasharmaips25. Her public profile and professional actions, particularly in challenging environments like Naxal-affected regions, have garnered significant media attention and public recognition. She is regarded as a symbol of progress for women in Chhattisgarh, a state that continues to address challenges such as Naxalism and underdevelopment.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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