Aishwarya Verma UPSC 2021-22 Rank-4

Aishwarya Verma, ranked 4th in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2021, hails from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. With a background in electrical engineering, Aishwarya graduated from Pant Nagar University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand, in 2017. Despite his engineering background, he chose Geography as his optional subject. His path to success was challenging, as he did not clear the prelims in his first attempt, and missed the final selection after interviews in subsequent attempts. However, with perseverance, he achieved an All India Rank (AIR) 4 in his fourth attempt. His success was marked by dedicated study, involving long hours of preparation​.

Aishwarya completed his schooling at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya. He pursued a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree in electrical engineering from Pant Nagar University. During his academic journey, he consistently excelled in his studies but decided against campus placements, choosing instead to focus on preparing for the UPSC examination. His engineering background gave him a solid analytical foundation, but his passion for public service motivated him to pursue civil services​.

Aishwarya Verma hails from a middle-class family, with his father employed in the banking sector(Bank of Baroda) ,while his mother is a homemaker. He also has a sibling. He admits that his failures did shake his confidence and make him contemplate alternative paths. He recounted, my professional history was sparse. I understood that if a career in civil services didn't materialize, I might face challenges in securing a stable profession. While I was quite optimistic after my third try, I fell short. That period marked my lowest point, but my parents were there to provide solace. They consistently reassured me to forge ahead, promising unwavering support

Aishwarya was drawn to the civil services because of its immense scope for making a positive impact on society. During his engineering studies, he realized that while technology can contribute to development, policy-making and administration have a direct and widespread influence on people's lives. He believed that through the civil services, he would be able to address key societal issues, such as inequality and resource distribution. His choice to pursue the UPSC exams reflects his dedication to serving the public and his commitment to nation-building​.

Marks Obtained:

Aishwarya faced several challenges during his UPSC preparation. In his first attempt, he failed to clear the prelims, a setback that could have discouraged many. In his second and third attempts, he cleared the prelims but was unable to pass the interview stage, which required a mental shift and improvement in answer articulation. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic posed logistical and psychological hurdles, as he prepared in isolation in Delhi. His eventual success is a testament to his resilience and ability to learn from his failures​.

For Prelims:

Aishwarya focused on thoroughly revising the static portions of the UPSC syllabus and placed a significant emphasis on solving previous year’s question papers. He believed that understanding UPSC’s question patterns was crucial for success. He also supplemented his study with a rigorous test series to keep track of his progress​.

For Mains:

For the Mains exam, Aishwarya emphasized the importance of answer writing practice. He worked on writing 2-3 high-quality answers daily and focused on improving both quality and speed. His preparation strategy involved making concise notes, particularly for Geography (his optional subject), and revising them frequently​.

For Interview:

Aishwarya’s interview preparation was centered around refining his communication skills and improving his articulation of opinions on current affairs. He learned from his past interview failures by working on confidence-building and engaging in mock interviews with experienced mentors​.