UPSC Exam Topper Opens Up About Cyberbullying

2014 UPSC Exam Topper Ira Singhal opened up about the cyberbullying she faced. She was the first differently-abled candidate to top the general category. She shared pictures in a Facebook post saying: “For anyone who thinks people with disabilities don’t have to face anything, as the world is nice and kind – just sharing someone’s comments from my Instagram account.” She added: “A face of cyber-bullying. Unfortunately, someone who cannot be bullied is being attempted to be bullied. And this is probably a person who wants to be a Civil Servant. This is why we need Inclusive Schools and this is why we need our education system to focus on producing better human beings more than anything else.” 

The 2014 topper had also attempted the exam in 2010, securing the 815th rank. She was not given a post because of her disability. She later got a posting in Hyderabad after her second attempt. Singhal spoke about the need for change saying: “What really needs to be done, is to help people change their mentality and attitude towards disabilities and abilities.” She also spoke against bullying: “Oh yes, attempting Cyber-bullying is bad and must not be tolerated. Unfortunately, he picked someone who cannot be bullied.”