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UPSC Civil Services Examination · Topper strategies

UPSC Civil Services Examination: how toppers studied

Each method below is Shishya's short summary, in its own words, of a published news interview with the topper; open the article for their own words. Made by Shishya (AI-assisted), checked against each article. One person's method is not a rule: take what fits you.

What these interviews have in common

  • A short, fixed set of sources, read again and again, comes up more than long reading lists.
  • Test series and honest review of one's own mistakes are named as what changed the result between attempts.
  • All three speak of several attempts; none describes a single-attempt plan.

Shishya's reading of the interviews below; nothing here is from another source.

The toppers, in their interviews

Anuj Agnihotri — UPSC CSE 2025, AIR 1

From: ETV Bharat, 7 Mar 2026 (read 27 Oct 2026)

How they studied

  • Prepared mostly with online courses and self-study at home; his medical background helped with the science and technology part of GS Paper 3.(the reporter's account)
  • Chose Medical Science as his optional because it matched his MBBS training.(the reporter's account)
  • Cut out social events and social media for the final year to keep the exam as the only goal.
  • Used what the earlier attempt taught him, and inputs from fellow trainees, to improve.
  • Advises looking after health and keeping some time for recreation, to avoid burnout.

Note: The article puts this as his third attempt; some other websites give a different count.

Rajeshwari Suve M — UPSC CSE 2025, AIR 2

From: The Tribune (her words to PTI), 6 Mar 2026 (read 27 Oct 2026)

How they studied

  • Did a strengths-and-weaknesses (SWOT) review of her own test results to stop repeating mistakes.
  • Kept to basic books such as the NCERTs instead of collecting more online material.
  • Took test series on time, had them evaluated and acted on the teachers' feedback.
  • Studied full time over the years of preparation.(the reporter's account)
  • Was supported by Tamil Nadu's Naan Mudhalvan scheme through prelims, mains and interview.

Also read: DT Next, 7 Mar 2026 — She says aspirants need not move to Delhi for coaching, as the material is available in the State; her optional was Sociology.

Note: The two articles differ on her graduation year (2017 or 2018).

Shakti Dubey — UPSC CSE 2024, AIR 1

From: ETV Bharat, 23 Apr 2025 (read 27 Oct 2026)

How they studied

  • Calls her early lack of a fixed book list her biggest mistake: many sources scattered her reading.
  • Advises a limited set of books that covers the syllabus, read again and again.
  • Deciding each day what to focus on matters more than the number of hours.
  • Make each topic's concepts clear and memorise what you study.

Note: The article gives this as her fifth attempt; some other websites give a different count.

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