Dr. Ruveda Salam is the first woman from the Kashmir Valley to clear the UPSC Civil Services Examination twice. Hailing from the remote Farkin village in Kupwara district, Jammu & Kashmir, she began her career as a medical doctor before transitioning into civil services. In 2013, she joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) and served as Assistant Commissioner of Police in Chennai. Driven by her aspiration to become an IAS officer, she reappeared for the UPSC exam and, in 2015, secured a higher rank, enabling her to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).