Interactive Session on ‘From NLUO to Civil Services: Inspiring Pathways to Public Leadership’

Interactive Session on “From NLUO to Civil Services: Inspiring Pathways to Public Leadership” by Miss Ms. Saista Parwin (UPSC Rank 614, NLUO BA LL.B. 2019)

The, Social Media Committee (SMC) in collaboration with the Centre for Disability Law and Advocacy (CDLA) at National Law University Odisha, hosted a deeply inspiring interactive session on March 24, 2026. Titled “From NLUO to Civil Services: Inspiring Pathways to Public Leadership,” the event took place in the University Seminar Hall to provide students with a roadmap for transitioning from legal academia to high-level public service. The gathering was graced by Smt. Bratati Harichandan, IAS (Retd.), the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, and Ms. Saista Parwin, a distinguished NLUO alumna of the 2019 Batch who recently secured All India Rank 614 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.

During the interactive segment, Miss Sista Pravin reflected on her journey as a law student, noting that the five-year B.A. LL.B. curriculum, particularly subjects like Constitutional Law, serves as a vital stepping stone for the UPSC syllabus. As an aspirant with a visual impairment, she shared how she leveraged digital resources and social media as essential tools for her “unconventional” preparation. She advised students to prioritize target-based consistency over rigid schedules and emphasized the necessity of reading primary newspapers like The Indian Express or The Hindu to build the in-depth perspective required for the Mains and Interview stages.

Smt. Bratati Harichandan enriched the discussion by sharing insights from her 34-year career in the Odisha Public Service Commission and the Indian Administrative Service. She remarked that while hard skills and legal knowledge are foundational, the true essence of a civil servant lies in “soft skills”, specifically the ability to listen to and empathize with the common man. She urged the students to view public administration as a thought process dedicated to making equity a reality, reminding them that a person’s character and empathy define the office they hold, rather than the job defining the person.

The event concluded with a facilitation ceremony and the distribution of certificates to the rank holders of the three-credit course on “Law, Technology, and Vulnerability“. In her closing statement, Prof. (Dr.) Dolly Jabbal, Dean of Academics, thanked the organisers and guest speakers for providing such a significant support system for the many NLUO students who aspire to serve the nation through the civil services.