Ananya Reddy IAS/UPSC 2023-24 Rank-3

Ananya Reddy, from Mahbubnagar district in Telangana, secured the third rank in the 2023 UPSC Civil Services Examination in her very first attempt. She followed a self-study approach, only taking coaching for her optional subject, Anthropology. Ananya balanced hard work with stress management by reading novels and watching cricket, drawing inspiration from cricketer Virat Kohli. Her desire to serve society was nurtured from a young age, particularly influenced by her grandfather, who envisioned her as a future administrator. She has now realized this dream and is committed to bringing administration closer to the people.

• Ananya completed 10th from Geetham School in Telangana with 10 in C.G.P.A in 2016 and 12th from Narayana School with 97% in 2018.
• She graduated with a degree in Geography from Miranda House, Delhi University, in 2021. Although she chose to take coaching only for her Anthropology optional subject, she designed her preparation plan based on her own strengths and weaknesses, which ultimately led her to success in her first attempt. She has keen interest in Reading Fiction and playing cricket.

Ananya hails from a modest background. Her father is self-employed(Agriculture), while her mother is a homemaker. She is the first in her family to clear the civil services examination. Her family provided her with full freedom to choose her path, supporting her during the challenging journey of preparing for the UPSC exams.

Ananya's interest in the civil services was kindled at a young age. She credits her grandfather, who often envisioned her as a future civil servant, for planting the seed of this ambition. Over time, her desire to serve society grew, and she viewed the civil services as the best avenue to make a meaningful impact. She aspires to work in areas that allow her to bring administration closer to the people and improve governance at the grassroots level. Her success, she believes, is the result of not only her hard work but also the unwavering support of her family and friends, as well as a bit of luck.

Ananya’s journey wasn’t without difficulties. Despite achieving her dream in the first attempt, the process demanded intense discipline, long hours of study, and a lot of self-doubt. She focused on creating a well-rounded study plan that emphasized smart work, understanding the focus areas of the UPSC, and regularly evaluating her performance. Ananya also managed stress by watching cricket and reading novels, which helped her stay motivated throughout the rigorous preparation period. Her preparation for the interview was especially challenging as it tested her confidence and required her to develop a calm and collected demeanor.

For Prelims:
Ananya’s approach to prelims involved covering a wide range of materials and focusing on multiple revisions. She emphasized understanding the types of questions UPSC asks and structuring her studies accordingly. She did not follow a rigid schedule early on but ramped up her efforts as the exam date approached, dedicating up to 12-14 hours of study per day.

For Mains:
For Mains, Ananya's strategy was rooted in thorough revision and smart work. She balanced her time between content preparation and answer writing. She focused on Anthropology as her optional subject and developed a clear understanding of how to structure answers effectively, which was key to her success.

For Interview:
Ananya admitted that the interview was the most challenging part of the process. She said the interview tested her confidence, and she had to remain composed throughout. While the preparation required her to build on her personality, she also took mock interviews to refine her communication skills.