Meet woman who cleared UPSC exam at 21, bagged AIR 13 but didn't become IAS due to...

The UPSC Civil Services Exam is widely regarded as one of the most challenging exams in India. Success in this exam demands immense dedication and rigorous study, with many aspirants striving to become IAS, IPS, or IFS officers. Most candidates take the exam post-graduation and often succeed after two to three attempts, with many aiming for the prestigious IAS position due to the limited number of available seats.

However, some candidates opt for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) over the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) even after securing high ranks. One notable example is Vidushi Singh, who achieved All India Rank (AIR) 13 in the UPSC CSE 2022. Originally from Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, she was born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Vidushi passed this highly competitive exam on her first attempt at the age of 21 without any formal coaching. She began her UPSC preparation during her undergraduate studies in 2020 and graduated with a BA Honours in Economics from the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University, in 2021.

During her graduation, Vidushi laid a strong foundation by studying NCERT textbooks and other essential materials. She soon realized that she did not need coaching and instead focused on numerous test series and mock exams from June 2021 to December 2021. Her hard work paid off when she scored 1039 marks in the final list of the UPSC CSE 2022, including 184 marks in the interview round. She chose Economics as her optional subject.