Also, UPSC aspirants should look at recent toppers for valuable insights about effective preparation strategies and the mindset required to excel. They offer practical tips on managing study schedules and tackling the vast syllabus, as well as serve as a source of inspiration. Take a look at the inspiring journeys of these people UPSC Toppers,
Aditya Srivastava: UPSC 2023 topper
Aditya Srivastava, an IIT Kanpur alumnus from Lucknow, has topped the most prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024. Srivastava’s academic path is remarkable. He graduated from the Aliganj branch of CMS Lucknow, where he scored 95% marks in his class 12 exams. This excellence continued at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) as well, where he pursued a dual B.Tech and M.Tech program.
His passion and desire to serve the country forced him to quit a well-paid job. He found it difficult to focus on his preparation due to the job pressure. As a result, in 2020, just a month before the preliminary exams, he decided to resign from his post and go back home. He cleared the IPS exam in 2022 with an AIR of 216.
Aditya emphasises on working smart rather than hard while preparing for UPSC civil services. According to a TOI report, he said, “Apart from basic books, analysing previous years’ papers was helpful. I also identified the pattern of framing statements in question papers apart from using all resources like PT 365 (compilation of current affairs). I made maximum use of Google and Chat GPT.”
Ishita Kishore: UPSC 2022 topper
UPSC CSE 2022 top performer Ishita Kishore has been a national-level football player and participated in the Subroto Cup in 2012. She completed her graduation in economics at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi University and passed the exam with political science and international relations as her chosen subjects. This was the third attempt for the 26-year-old, she had failed to clear the preliminary exam in her previous two attempts. She focused on having a disciplined and honest approach while preparing for the UPSC exam.
As reported by TNN, Ishita credits a strategic change for her improved performance in the UPSC exam. “This time, I made my own notes and study material,” she says. For her third attempt, she also attended online classes. Ishita stresses the importance of understanding the key concepts: “It is important to understand the gist of the subject matter. My advice to all candidates is to make a detailed study schedule. It is important to use the right sources of information. I studied for 8-9 hours a day,” she says.
Shruti Sharma: UPSC 2021 topper
Shruti Sharma, who secured All India Rank 1 in UPSC CSE 2021, has completed her graduation in History Honours at St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi. After graduation, she started a master’s program in Modern History at Jawaharlal Nehru University. However, she decided to leave the program midway and joined the Jamia Millia Islamia Residential Coaching Academy to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Exam.
This UPSC topper’s preparation strategy included making his own notes from newspapers and focusing on answer writing practice. In an interview to TNN, he revealed that he used social media in a balanced manner.
4 key lessons to learn from UPSC toppers
Dedication, hard work and perseverance are the main ingredients of success in all walks of life. However, there are some important tips that can make our preparation strategy more effective and increase our chances of success. Here are some important lessons that candidates can learn from the UPSC toppers of the last three years.
Strategic focus over hard work
Aditya emphasises the importance of strategic preparation. Instead of relying only on hard work, he focused on smart study techniques like analysing previous years’ papers and using resources like PT 365. He also highlighted the importance of pattern recognition in question papers and leveraging tools like Google and ChatGPT for optimal results.
Optimum Use of Technology
Srivastava’s UPSC journey also highlights the effective use of technology in his preparation. By using tools like Google and ChatGPT and analysing previous years’ papers, he was able to optimise his study process. Proper use of technology can prove beneficial for preparation.
Effective use of resources
Shruti made effective use of study resources by making her own notes and focusing on answer-writing practice. Her balanced use of social media for current affairs, coupled with targeted study techniques, emphasises the importance of using resources efficiently for exam preparation.
adaptability and tenacity
Ishita’s journey highlights the importance of identifying mistakes and working on them to improve chances of success. She took lessons from her past failures and revised her preparation strategy which led her to success in UPSC CSE Exam 2022.
