Komal Punia Rank-6

Komal Punia, hailing from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, achieved AIR 6 in the UPSC CSE 2024. An alumnus of IIT Roorkee with a degree in Engineering Physics, she demonstrated remarkable perseverance by improving her rank from AIR 474 in 2023 to AIR 6 in 2024. Her journey reflects a blend of academic excellence and unwavering determination.​

Komal's academic journey is marked by excellence. She completed her schooling at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Saharanpur, securing 97% in her Class XII examinations. At IIT Roorkee, she pursued Engineering Physics and received several accolades, including:

• Indian Academy of Sciences Summer Research Fellowship (2019)
• Future Research Talent Award from Australian National University (2020)
• Best Project Award at IIT Roorkee (2021)
• IITR Heritage Foundation Excellence Award (2020)
• Samsung Star Scholar Award (2017)
• Om Bala Thapar Cash Prize (2021)

These achievements underscore her commitment to academic rigor and innovation.

• 2022: Cleared Prelims but did not qualify for Mains.
• 2023: Secured AIR 474; joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) and began training at SVPNPA.
• 2024: Reattempted with a focused approach and secured AIR 6.

• Consistent Performance: Qualified in all three attempts, demonstrating a disciplined and effective preparation strategy.
• Study Materials: Emphasized NCERT textbooks and standard reference books for foundational knowledge.
• Current Affairs: Regularly read newspapers and referred to monthly magazines for comprehensive coverage.
• Mock Tests: Practiced extensively with mock tests to assess preparation levels and improve time management.

• Optional Subject – Physics: Chosen due to her academic background, acknowledging the subject’s high difficulty level despite her strong foundation.
• Answer Writing Practice: Focused on structuring answers with clear introductions, body, and conclusions.
• Peer Discussions: Engaged in discussions with fellow aspirants to gain diverse perspectives and refine understanding of complex topics.
• Revision: Emphasized multiple revisions of notes and key materials to ensure retention and clarity.

• Mock Interviews: Participated in mock interviews conducted by reputed coaching institutes to simulate the actual interview environment and receive feedback.
• Current Affairs: Stayed updated with national and international developments, forming opinions on various issues to articulate during the interview.
• Personality Development: Worked on communication skills, body language, and confidence-building exercises to present herself effectively.
• Self-Reflection: Engaged in introspection to understand personal motivations, strengths, and areas of improvement, ensuring authenticity during the interview.