A blacksmith's son's grind to a new mom taking the exam 17 days postpartum—UPSC candidates' journeys

The Indian civil services exam is one of the toughest in the world, and every year lakhs of applicants apply with the hope of cracking it. Many toppers have now shared their inspiring journeys—of personal struggle, quiet determination and family support.
Shakti Dubey from Uttar Pradesh topped the list, Harshita Goyal from Gujarat stood second and Dongre Archit Parag from Maharashtra was third.
New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Monday declared the results of the Civil Services Examination 2024, recommending 1,009 candidates for appointment to the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other Group A and B posts.
For Shakti, 28, a postgraduate in biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University, it was her younger brother who had unwavering faith that she would not just clear the exam but secure the top rank.
'My parents always supported me in this journey. I am their eldest daughter but they never let me face the pressure of marriage. This was my fifth attempt at the exam, and the last time when I couldn't clear it, my brother said it was because I am reserved for rank 1,' she told ThePrint.
Her journey was long, at times difficult, but she remained focused and resilient.
Harshita Goyal, 25, a chartered accountant, prepared for the exam from Gujarat. A graduate from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Harshita said it was her father who encouraged her to take the UPSC route and stood by her every step of the way.
She appeared for the exam three times—failing to clear the prelims in her first two attempts—but finally secured the impressive rank 2 this time.
Unlike other aspirants who take the high-pressure 14-hour study route, Harshita said she consciously avoided the long hours. 'I used seven-eight hours effectively. I could only study when I was relaxed, so I used to hang out with my friends, watch movies or paint,' she told ThePrint.
Harshita's mother died 10 years ago, and since then her father has taken care of everything—from household chores to managing his job.
'There were days when I used to feel demotivated, but it's on those days that you have to remind yourself why you started. Initially, it (Harshita clearing the UPSC exam) was my father's dream, but slowly it became mine and finally it became true,' she explained.
Also Read: Only 33% joint secretaries belong to IAS. How the service's dominance has eroded under Modi govt
Backed by families
Another successful candidate from Gujarat, Smit Panchal, also had an unconventional path.
The 22-year-old secured rank 30, but his journey wasn't easy. His father works as a blacksmith and it was Smit's brother who introduced him to the exam and sponsored his studies for a year.
'I couldn't afford to live in Delhi. I was a bright student—I got 94 percent marks in Class 10. My brother said I should think about the UPSC exam. In 2022, I completed graduation and started preparing. In 2023, I couldn't clear the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test, a key qualifying paper) and had to return to Ahmedabad because I couldn't afford to live in Delhi,' he told ThePrint.
To resume his preparations, Smit said he worked at a coaching centre for three months—from December to February—and managed to save Rs 50,000. That money allowed him to return to Delhi and restart the civil services exam grind.
'My brother was in Gurgaon. I asked him to move to Old Rajinder Nagar (hub of UPSC exam coaching centres). I used to sneak into his room. There was a mattress where I used to sleep,' he said, his voice carrying neither complaint nor sadness—just quiet pride.
Another extraordinary story is that of Malavika G. Nair, one of the three candidates from Kerala to feature in the top 50 ranking this year.
Malavika, who got rank 45, gave her mains exam just 17 days after giving birth to her child in September last year.
'It was a highly strenuous attempt. I was pregnant while writing the prelims exam last year. There were challenges on the health front. My son was born on 3 September and I wrote the mains exam on 20 September,' she said. 'I was able to write the exam only because of the support given to me by my family.'
A serving Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Malavika has been preparing for the UPSC exam since 2015. In 2019, she secured rank 118 and joined the IRS. In her fifth attempt in 2022, she got rank 175 but didn't opt for the IPS, choosing to remain in the IRS. Her 2024 attempt came while she was in her third trimester.
'Before the mains exam, I couldn't write much due to my physical condition, so I focused on reading. I used to feel very happy just reaching the examination hall,' she said.
Her husband, an IPS officer, was undergoing training during that time. 'My family supported me a lot in this journey,' she told ThePrint.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Also Read: In Modi 3.0, an attempt to align educational qualifications of top IAS officers with their roles

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