Madhya Pradesh IPS Officer Anu Beniwal Resumes Duty After 10 Weeks of Maternity Leave with Newborn Daughter

Madhya Pradesh-cadre IPS officer Anu Beniwal has returned to duty after ten weeks of maternity leave, sharing a personal account of balancing her return to service with life as a new mother. In a social media post accompanied by photographs with her newborn daughter, she described sleepless nights, physical changes after childbirth and the strength she has drawn from motherhood.

“Joined back my service with my baby girl after taking ten weeks of maternity leave, after spending a lot of sleepless nights and after shedding 14 kgs of weight!” she wrote.

“Incredibly grateful and thankful to my little bundle of joy for making me feel so deeply loved and strong!” she added.

Beniwal’s return to work comes after a civil services journey that included personal and financial challenges. She did not secure selection in her first two attempts at the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, but continued pursuing her ambition of joining the services.

In her third attempt, she secured All India Rank (AIR) 638. She continued preparing and appeared for the examination again, improving her rank to AIR 217 and earning a place in the Indian Police Service. She was allotted the Madhya Pradesh cadre.

Her experience brings together two demanding transitions: the preparation required to enter the civil services and the physical and emotional changes associated with motherhood. By speaking publicly about sleepless nights and postpartum changes alongside the joy of raising her daughter, Beniwal has offered a glimpse into her return to a profession with substantial responsibilities.

Her journey may also resonate with civil services aspirants, particularly women considering how to pursue demanding careers while navigating motherhood and family responsibilities.