Puja Khedkar: UPSC Rank 821, Controversy, and Candidature Cancellation

In the history of the Indian Civil Services, it is rare for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to take the extreme step of permanently debarring a candidate after they have already been allotted a cadre. However, the case of Puja Khedkar changed everything. What began as a story of a successful medical professional entering the IAS turned into a landmark case regarding the integrity of the reservation system and the verification of candidate identity.

Who Is Puja Khedkar?

Puja Khedkar is a former probationary IAS officer from the 2022 batch. A medical doctor by training, she initially gained attention for securing a rank that allowed her entry into the prestigious Indian Administrative Service. She was allotted the Maharashtra cadre and began her training as an Assistant Collector in Pune. However, her tenure was cut short following a string of administrative complaints and subsequent investigations into her selection credentials.

Feature	Details
Full Name	Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar
UPSC Rank	AIR 821
Exam Year	CSE 2022
Service	IAS (Candidature Cancelled)
Cadre	Maharashtra (Withdrawn)
Educational Background	MBBS

Puja Khedkar UPSC Marksheet and Details

Puja Khedkar’s selection was based on her performance under specific reservation categories. According to official UPSC records and subsequent filings, she applied under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) and Other Backward Class (OBC-Non Creamy Layer) quotas.

Component	Category/Details
AIR	821
Selection Category	OBC and PwBD (Multiple sub-categories claimed)
Mains Marks	Cleared within category-specific cutoffs
Current Status	Candidature Cancelled (July 2024)
Action Taken	Permanent Debarment from all UPSC exams

Educational Background and Early Life

Puja Khedkar comes from a background with significant ties to administration and politics. Her father is a retired senior state government officer. She completed her primary and secondary education in Maharashtra before pursuing a career in medicine.

She earned her MBBS degree, which provided her with a strong academic foundation. Many doctors gravitate toward the UPSC to impact public health policy, and Khedkar appeared to be on that same trajectory. However, her early life and family assets later became a focal point of the investigation regarding her eligibility for the Non-Creamy Layer status.

How Many Attempts Did Puja Khedkar Take?

The number of attempts Puja Khedkar took became one of the central pillars of the UPSC’s investigation. According to the Commission’s final report, Khedkar allegedly misrepresented her identity to bypass the limit on the number of attempts allowed for her category.

By changing her name, her parents’ names, and other personal details, she was able to appear for the exam more times than the rules permitted. While a typical candidate must be strictly honest about their history, this case highlighted a sophisticated attempt to reset the “attempt clock,” leading to her permanent debarment.

Puja Khedkar Optional Subject: Strategy and Choice

As per available reports, her optional subject was Psychology. Given her medical background, Psychology is a popular choice as it overlaps with psychiatric and physiological concepts learned during MBBS.

Her reported strategy involved:

• Medical Synergy: Using her knowledge of the human brain and behavior to tackle Paper 1.
• Case Studies: Applying clinical logic to social psychology questions in Paper 2.
• Standard Resources: Relying on academic texts used by most medical aspirants.

While her marks in the optional were sufficient for her rank, the validity of these scores was ultimately overshadowed by the legal discrepancies in her application.

UPSC Preparation Strategy: What Was Reported?

Before the controversy erupted, Khedkar was seen as a disciplined aspirant. She reportedly followed a rigorous schedule typical of medical professionals. She focused on high-yield topics and integrated current affairs into her General Studies preparation.

However, the “strategy” that eventually came to light was one of systemic manipulation. This serves as a reminder that while hard work is necessary, the UPSC journey is fundamentally built on Integrity and Ethics. Aspirants often use an AI Mentor on AnswerWriting.com to seek guidance on maintaining a balanced and honest preparation path, ensuring that their efforts are directed toward genuine merit.

Books and Resources Linked to Her Preparation

Khedkar allegedly utilized standard UPSC resources. The following table represents the materials commonly associated with her academic background.

Subject	Resource
Polity	M. Laxmikanth
History	Spectrum and NCERTs
Psychology	Baron and Morgan & King
Current Affairs	Monthly Magazines and Newsletters

Mains Answer Writing: The Importance of Honesty

Answer writing is the core of the UPSC Mains. It requires a candidate to present their thoughts with clarity and ethical grounding. Khedkar’s answers in the GS 4 (Ethics) paper would have been evaluated on the same parameters as any other topper.

The irony of the case lies in the gap between exam performance and real-world application. While tools like the Answer Evaluator on AnswerWriting.com help aspirants sharpen their structure and content, they also emphasize the need for authentic perspectives. No amount of “perfect” structuring can compensate for a lack of foundational honesty in a candidate’s profile.

Interview and Medical Examination Discrepancies

The most significant red flags appeared during the medical examination phase. After the personality test, candidates claiming disability must undergo rigorous verification at designated hospitals like AIIMS.

Reports indicate that:

1. Missed Appointments: Khedkar reportedly skipped medical examinations multiple times.
2. Refusal of Tests: She allegedly refused to undergo a brain MRI to verify her claims of a specific disability.
3. Submission of Outside Certificates: Instead of accepting the board’s findings, she submitted certificates from non-designated centers.

The UPSC Action: Debarment and Cancellation

In July 2024, the UPSC issued a scathing statement. Following a show-cause notice, the Commission found her guilty of acting in contravention of the Civil Services Examination Rules.

The UPSC:

• Cancelled her 2022 candidature.
• Permanently Debarred her from all future examinations and selections.
• Initiated Criminal Proceedings by filing an FIR with the Delhi Police for forgery and fraud.

Key Lessons Every UPSC Aspirant Can Take from the Puja Khedkar Case

• Integrity is Non-Negotiable: The UPSC system has multiple layers of verification. Even if a candidate slips through during the exam, the system eventually catches up during training or service.
• The Weight of the PwBD/OBC Quota: These reservations are meant for those in genuine need. Misusing them is not just a personal error but a theft of opportunity from a deserving candidate.
• Transparency Matters: Always be honest about your attempts, your family income, and your health status. A career built on a lie will inevitably crumble.
• The System works: This case restored faith for many aspirants that the UPSC will take the toughest possible action to protect the sanctity of the “Steel Frame” of India.

FAQs About Puja Khedkar

1. Why was Puja Khedkar removed from the IAS?

She was removed due to allegations of misusing disability and caste quotas and misreporting the number of attempts she had previously taken.

2. What was her rank in the UPSC 2022 exam?

She secured an All India Rank of 821.

3. Can Puja Khedkar give the UPSC exam again?

No. The UPSC has permanently debarred her from all future examinations conducted by the Commission.

4. What was her optional subject?

As per available reports, her optional subject was Psychology.

5. What is the status of the criminal case against her?

The Delhi Police registered an FIR based on a complaint by the UPSC for faking her identity, and the matter is currently under legal proceedings.

6. Which cadre was she initially allotted?

She was initially allotted the Maharashtra cadre as a probationary officer.