Yaksh Chaudhary UPSC 2021-22 Rank-6

Yaksh Chaudhary, who secured All India Rank 6 in the 2021 UPSC Civil Services Examination, hails from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. He pursued B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Guwahati. Driven by a deep desire to serve society, especially influenced by his rural upbringing, Yaksh decided to enter civil services during his college days. He initially cleared the UPSC CAPF examination in 2019, securing the post of Assistant Commandant, but continued to aim for the IAS. His journey toward cracking the UPSC exam reflects perseverance, as he succeeded on his third attempt. His strategy included extensive reading of current affairs, consolidation of study material, and reliance on structured mentoring.

Detailed Information

Yaksh completed his schooling from Sarvodaya Saraswati Academy in Amroha, where he excelled academically. He scored 86% in Class 10 and 81.4% in Class 12, ranking second in his district. After completing his twelfth-grade year, he relocated to Kota to embark on his IIT JEE preparation. Upon successfully passing the IIT exam, he secured admission to IIT Guwahati and completed his B.Tech. in civil engineering. During his college years, he developed a desire to serve society and began aiming for the UPSC civil services, although he could only start his preparation in full force after graduation.

Yaksh's rural upbringing had a significant influence on his decision to join the civil services. He frequently interacted with bureaucrats in his region and observed the challenges faced by his community, particularly in agriculture. This gave him a clear sense of what could be done to improve conditions for rural communities. His desire to contribute to meaningful social change through public service led him to the UPSC exam, where he aimed to gain a platform to help implement these changes.

Yaksh's UPSC journey was not without setbacks. He initially cleared the CAPF exam in 2019 and was appointed Assistant Commandant, but his real goal was the IAS. His first two attempts at the UPSC CSE did not yield success, and he had to balance his preparation with his responsibilities in the CAPF. The COVID-19 pandemic also disrupted his preparation, forcing him to return home and adapt to online learning. Despite these challenges, Yaksh remained focused and committed to his goal, ultimately securing AIR 6 on his third attempt.

• He initiated his UPSC preparation in Delhi but had to return home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Despite the setback, he continued his full-time preparation from home.
• He opted for online classes, which provided him access to high-quality learning resources along with the flexibility to study from anywhere.
• He dedicated a substantial amount of time to practice for the prelims and consistently worked on enhancing the structure of his answers for the mains.
• His journey in UPSC preparation began four years ago with a focus on studying NCERTs.
• Recognizing the critical importance of current affairs in the IAS exam, he diligently kept up with daily newspaper readings to stay well-informed about national and international events.
• He also enrolled in online mock test series for both prelims and mains, demonstrating a meticulous approach to his study materials.
• He compiled and revised his study materials multiple times to ensure a comprehensive understanding.
• He emphasized the need for patience and unwavering focus throughout the preparation process, constantly striving for improvement in his performance.
• Additionally, he took guidance from experienced teachers and mentors right from the outset.
• While his overall strategy was not radically different, he implemented it with a unique touch, adapting it to his own needs and circumstances.

For Prelims:

• Yaksh emphasized practicing a lot of mock tests, which helped him understand the type of questions asked and how to manage time effectively.
• He placed significant importance on current affairs, reading newspapers daily and using online platforms like Unacademy for preparation.
• He also meticulously revised NCERTs and consolidated study materials, which allowed him to focus on key concepts.

For Mains:

• Yaksh dedicated time to improving his answer-writing skills. He regularly practiced structuring his answers and joined test series to gain insights into how his answers could be refined.
• His strategy for Mains included making concise notes and focusing on revision to ensure clarity of concepts
• He focused on understanding the demand of questions, which helped him present balanced and comprehensive answers.

For Interview:

• Yaksh's interview preparation involved mock interviews, where he worked on improving his confidence and handling situational questions.
• He also drew on his practical experiences from his interactions with bureaucrats in his home district, which added depth to his understanding of administration.