UPSC Success Stories of IAS Toppers & Working Professionals
Gajendra Singh Godara
Oct 12, 2025
15
mins read
Success stories of UPSC aspirants are powerful sources of motivation and guidance. They show how determination and strategic planning can help candidates overcome obstacles. This blog explores diverse IAS success stories – from top rankers to working professionals, average students and repeat aspirants – and highlights the perseverance, planning and mindset that led to their UPSC exam success stories. By examining these journeys, we identify common lessons that current aspirants can apply in their own preparation.
The most important aspect of success stories is to offer practical strategy tips and help stay motivated throughout your UPSC journey. They debunk myths about who can crack the exam. For example, one aspirant observed that “grades do not define intelligence,” confirming that even an average student can succeed. Such stories provide concrete examples of disciplined study habits and effective time management. Reading how others planned their preparation and stayed persistent helps aspirants believe in their own potential. Rather than vague encouragement, success stories offer case studies of perseverance and strategy, proving that steady effort can lead to success.
Success stories also reveal recurring patterns. Candidates who cleared UPSC often displayed unwavering perseverance (they kept trying despite setbacks), systematic planning (they followed structured schedules), and a resilient mindset (they stayed positive under pressure). By analyzing these patterns – such as daily routines, revision habits, and growth-oriented attitudes – aspirants can adapt similar approaches.
Ansar Shaikh (Age 21, First Attempt, 2016, Rank 361): Ansar became India’s youngest IAS officer by clearing UPSC at just 21 on his first attempt. Born in a poverty-stricken family in Maharashtra, he faced numerous challenges including financial hardship and lack of resources. His younger brother sacrificed his education savings to support Ansar’s dream. His story teaches that determination and hard work can overcome even the toughest circumstances.
Anudeep Durishetty (Fifth Attempt, 2017, Rank 1): Anudeep left a software engineer job at Google to pursue his dream of becoming an IAS officer. After four unsuccessful attempts, he finally topped the exam in 2017 on his fifth try, without coaching. Balancing his IRS duties simultaneously, he focused on Anthropology as his optional and excelled through consistent self-study and strategic planning. Presently serving as District Collector of Khammam, Telangana, Anudeep embodies resilience, determination, and focused hard work.
Kanishak Kataria (First Attempt, 2018, Rank 1): After completing his B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay, Kanishak worked as a data scientist in South Korea and Bengaluru. He was earning a handsome salary, but he realized that his passion lay in serving the nation. He quit his well-paying job to prepare for UPSC, dedicating himself fully to his dream. With disciplined preparation and self-study, including a few months of coaching, he secured All India Rank 1 in his very first attempt. His journey shows that following one’s passion and risking comfort can yield spectacular results.
Kiran P B (AIR 100, 2021): Kiran P B worked full-time as a Principal Applications Engineer at Oracle while preparing for UPSC over five attempts. Despite a hectic 9-to-6 job, he managed to study early mornings, late evenings, and weekends with a sharp, focused strategy. His initial attempts saw failures in prelims and mains, but he learned from every mistake. His minimalistic preparation, emphasis on mock tests, and disciplined time management finally helped him clear UPSC with an impressive rank 100, topping the interview round.
Vidushi Singh (First Attempt, 2024, Rank 13): Vidushi cracked UPSC in 2024 with an impressive rank 13 without any coaching. Choosing the Indian Foreign Service, she exemplifies how focused self-study, discipline, and clarity of goals lead to success. Her journey encourages aspirants to trust their own methods and stay committed regardless of external support.
Hema V (First Attempt, 2025, Rank 569): Kerala’s youngest UPSC topper in 2025, Hema stands out not just for her exam success but for her active role in guiding aspirants online through YouTube and social media. She combines modern digital tools with disciplined preparation, inspiring youth from Kerala and beyond.
Aakriti Sethi (Last Attempt, 2022, Rank 249): Aakriti’s journey is marked by resilience and persistence, clearing UPSC in her last, sixth attempt. Her story encourages aspirants who face repeated setbacks to keep refining their strategies and learning from failures till success comes knocking.
Ashish Kumar Singhal (Last Attempt, 2023, Rank 8): After facing initial failures, Ashish cracked UPSC with a stellar rank 8 on his final allowed attempt. His journey illustrates that perseverance, coupled with self-analysis and consistent improvement, can turn dreams into reality.
Consistency: Toppers maintained long-term discipline. For instance, Arun Raj (AIR 34, 2014) relied on a methodical self-study schedule even during college, illustrating that consistent effort and planning led to his success.
Rigorous Preparation: Strong work ethic and focus on fundamentals were common. Successful candidates often mention sticking to core textbooks and regular study hours. One aspirant noted that disciplined self-study helped her stay focused on goals.
Adaptation and Feedback: Successful aspirants continually refined their strategies. They learned from mocks and past mistakes. For example, Priyanka Goel (AIR 369, 2023) “gradually learned lessons after every attempt,” identifying weaknesses and improving before the next try.
Resilience: All toppers encountered setbacks but did not give up. They treated failures as lessons and maintained confidence in their planning. Their perseverance and self-belief kept them on track until success.
These traits – disciplined consistency, deep preparation, adaptive learning and resilience – appear across many UPSC topper success stories. They demonstrate that success is less about innate talent or coaching and more about sustained hard work and smart planning.
Many working professionals clear UPSC alongside jobs, showing that career responsibilities need not halt one’s dreams. For example, Kiran P B (AIR 100, CSE 2021), an Oracle software engineer, cracked UPSC while working full-time at age 32. Zoology post-graduate Neha Nautiyal secured rank 185 in 2011 on her second attempt by studying about 2–4 hours on weekdays and intensive sessions on weekends. Abhimanyu Gahlaut left an international economics career (as a Country Economist at LSE) to become an IFS officer, preparing 6–8 hours daily and succeeding in CSE 2015. These examples show that with focused effort, working aspirants can achieve UPSC success.
Balancing Work and Study
Time Management: Working candidates make use of every free slot. They often study in early mornings, commutes or lunch breaks. For instance, Neha compensated limited weekdays by maximizing her weekends for revision.
Focused Effort: Quality of study matters more than quantity. In limited time, aspirants prioritize key topics. As one working aspirant did, Neha focused on short, effective study sessions each day.
Reduced Financial Stress: Holding a job provides stability, allowing aspirants to study without the pressure of immediate results. This can lead to a more balanced approach and less anxiety about exam fees or materials.
The journeys of working aspirants reveal that smart planning and dedication pay off. There are “hundreds of success stories of aspirants who have cleared this exam alongside their jobs”. By creating realistic study schedules, leveraging commute time, and staying disciplined, employed candidates can achieve IAS success while maintaining their careers.
Contrary to a common myth, many IAS officers were not straight-A students from the start. For example, Israel Jebasingh (AIR 59, 2004) described himself as an “ordinary chap” without any special academic distinction, yet he cleared UPSC through sheer determination. Annies Kanmani Joy, a professional nurse, secured rank 65 in 2011 after improving from rank 580 on her first attempt. She also considered herself average academically and credits consistent newspaper reading for her success. These stories prove that a modest academic record is no barrier: “grades do not define intelligence,” and with perseverance any student can excel.
Strategies for Closing Gaps
Master Fundamentals: Average students often concentrate on NCERT textbooks and core concepts to build a strong foundation.
Quality over Quantity: They emphasize understanding topics deeply rather than skimming many sources. Indeed, one success story noted focusing on study quality rather than volume.
Gradual Improvement: By setting modest daily goals and reviewing regularly, these aspirants steadily filled their knowledge gaps. Over time, consistent revision allowed them to match peers with stronger academics.
The key lesson is that determined preparation and a positive attitude can overcome any initial disadvantage. Systematic effort and incremental learning can transform an average background into a success story.
Many UPSC success stories involve multiple attempts and relentless effort. Priyanka Goel cleared UPSC in her sixth attempt (final allowed try) in 2022. Each failure taught her something, and she improved her strategy each time. Nirish Rajput (AIR 370, 2017), from an underprivileged background, failed his first three attempts but passed on the fourth. These journeys show that persistence pays off; failing once or twice did not deter them from succeeding later.
Learning from Persistence
Iterative Improvement: Repeat aspirants carefully analyze past mistakes. Priyanka shared that she “gradually learned the lessons after every attempt,” finding weak areas and overcoming them.
Maintaining Confidence: They kept their goal in sight despite setbacks. A common motto emerges from these stories: “winners are not born; they rise from the ashes of failures”.
Support Networks: Family and mentors often provided encouragement. Knowing others also took multiple tries helped aspirants stay motivated.
These perseverance stories highlight that resilience is as crucial as knowledge. By treating each failure as feedback and refusing to give up, many aspirants eventually achieved their dream.
Across all these examples, several common lessons emerge:
Effective Time Management: Successful aspirants maximize every minute. Employed candidates use short breaks or commutes for quick revision, while students and repeaters carve out fixed daily study hours.
Regular Revision and Mocks: Consistent review and taking mock tests were routine. Top candidates frequently practiced previous papers and full-length tests to identify weak spots.
Goal Setting: Breaking the syllabus into daily or weekly targets keeps them on track without feeling overwhelmed.
Mental Resilience: Aspirants learned to handle stress and view setbacks constructively. Many stressed that modest beginnings or failures “are not hurdles if one has determination”.
Focused Resources: Most toppers emphasize strategic use of resources. Rather than accumulating materials, they concentrated on a few trusted sources (like NCERTs) and stuck to a plan.
No single shortcut guarantees success; these stories show that a blend of disciplined study, regular practice, and a positive mindset leads to success.
Based on these success stories, aspirants can adopt the following actionable strategies:
Create a Structured Plan: Set a realistic timetable covering all subjects, current affairs and revisions. Allocate specific time slots (including breaks) and adhere to the routine, just as many toppers did.
Focus on Core Material: Stick to key sources (standard textbooks, NCERTs, daily news). Do not overload on resources. Top performers often credit their success to covering fundamentals thoroughly rather than chasing too many references.
Regular Self-Assessment: Take mock tests frequently and review mistakes. Practice answer-writing under timed conditions. Successful aspirants continually adjusted their preparation based on feedback from these tests.
Use Time Wisely: Utilize every available slot – early mornings, commutes, lunch breaks – for study. Working professionals in these stories often did exactly this to supplement their weekday studies.
Stay Resilient and Positive: Expect ups and downs. When facing difficulty or a setback, remember that persistence is crucial. As mentors advise, it’s not the quantity of study time but making each hour count. Keep a growth mindset and remind yourself that improvement is possible.
Learn from, Don’t Compare with, Others: Let these stories inspire you. Don’t get discouraged by someone else’s achievements; use them as guides for strategies you can adapt to your own path. Your journey is unique, and steady personal progress is what matters.
By emulating the discipline and mindset shown in UPSC success stories, aspirants can strengthen their own preparation. These strategies – drawn directly from real journeys – offer a blueprint: balanced planning, consistent revision, and unwavering persistence are the keys to clearing UPSC.
UPSC success stories remind aspirants that persistence and smart work can make the impossible possible. Each story here is a guide showing how obstacles can be overcome through disciplined effort. As mentors advise, focus on making every study hour count. Use these journeys for inspiration, but measure progress against your own goals, not others. With determination, planning and resilience, any aspirant can write their own UPSC success story.
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