Interview with IAS Topper

Jaipur's Gaurav Agrawal has got the first rank in the exam with Economics as his optional subject. He holds Bachelor of Technology (Computer Science) degree from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow..This was his second attempt. . More...

When told she had topped the civil services examination, Haritha V Kumar thought her friends were pulling her leg. "I could not believe it was true," the Indian Revenue Service probationer, who topped the Civil Service Examination 2012 on her fourth attempt, said.

Haritha Vijaya Kumar, a B Tech graduate from Thiruvananthapuram emerged topper and list contained names of four Malayalees among the top ten.

Haritha Vijaya Kumar is currently in Faridabad as a part of a training for the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). Her father, Vijaya Kumar told Manorama Online that Haritha was very much dedicated to the Civil Services Examination from early days.

She had passed the preliminary examination in her first attempt, but missed narrowly in the mains.In her second attempt she got 179th rank and opted for IRS. The first rank came in her fourth attempt. Read full report

Two top slots in the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examinations 2011 have been achieved by women candidates. According to the results announced on Friday, Shena Aggarwal, who holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, has topped the examination. Whereas, Rukmani Riar, a Master of Arts (Social Entrepreneurship) from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, has got second rank.

While the third position is bagged by Prince Dhawan, who had done Master of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2011 was conducted on June 12, 2011. As many as 4,72,290 candidates applied for this examination, out of which 2,43,003 wrote the test.

According to a release by the Department of Personnel and Training, 11,984 candidates were declared qualified for the main written examination held in October-November, 2011 out of which 2,417 candidates were selected for the personality test conducted in March-April, 2012. More.....

The results of Civil Service exam 2010 declared. Chennai-based law graduate S Divyadharshini topped the list, followed by Computer Engineer Sweta Mohanty from Hyderabad. R V Varun Kumar, a Chennai-based dentist, got the third rank, and also emerged as the topper among male candidates.

A total of 920 candidates made it to the final list of selected candidates from the 5,47,698 who appeared for the examination. The top 25 successful candidates include 20 men and five women. Of the 25, 15 are engineers, five have medical science background and the others belong commerce, management, humanities, science and social sciences streams. More...

Dr. Shah Faisal- Civil Service Topper New Delhi, May 6 (PTI) A doctor from Srinagar has topped the Civil Service Exams 2009 as 875 candidates qualified the test conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the results of which were announced today.

Shah Faesal, an MBBS degree holder from Srinagar, topped the prestigious examination in his maiden attempt.

A total of 875 candidates, including 680 men and 195 women, have been recommended for appointment to IAS, IFS, IPS and other central services, the UPSC said in a statement.

A total of 4,09,110 candidates applied for the test while 1,93,091 appeared in the preliminary examination. Of them, 12,026 candidates qualified for the main written test while 2432 candidates were shortlisted for personality test which was conducted in March and April, 2010.

Prakash Rajpurohit, a B Tech holder from IIT, Delhi, came at the second spot, while Iva Sahay, MA (Geography) from JNU, secured the third rank. While Rajpurohit made it in the second attempt, Sahay got success in her first attempt.

The top 25 rank holders comprise 15 male candidates and 10 female candidates, the UPSC said. More...

An inspiring and incredible achievement
After 15 yrs of trying, deaf candidate gets into IAS

Maniram Sharma has won a 15-year-old battle for justice. On Thursday ( 8th October 2009 ), this deaf IAS candidate learnt he has made it to the Civil service. With this, Maniram has not just won a personal battle but a milestone victory for disabled persons like him who have been kept away from the premier government service.

Maniram's case has been highlighted by Times of India over the past couple of years — how his efforts were thwarted on one ground or the other, till he finally went through surgery to make his aided hearing so good that he gave his IAS interview this time by the oral question-and-answer method. Despite this, his induction into the service was just not happening. ( Read the story .... )

IAS TOPPER 2009- Civil Service Examination

Shubhra Saxena
(Women Candidate) UPSC 2009 Topper

Miss Shubhra Saxena (Roll No.159306), has topped the Examination. She has done B.Tech from IIT, Roorkeee. She attributed her feat to her "loving" parents and husband, saying they "were very much supportive when I expressed my desire to appear for civil services."Born in Uttar Pradesh's Bareli, Saxena had most of her education in Jharkhand as her father was an engineer with Coal India.
"I always wanted to serve the people. My family sacrificed a lot. I had to stay away from my husband and stay with my mom... they were very helpful," the former IT professional said."I always had faith in myself... so I won. Once a person understands the concept it is very easy to crack the exam. And more important is the ability to believe in yourself," she said.
Saxena said her husband was her "biggest supporter" in the past four years while she was preparing for the civil services exam.This is her 2nd attempt.

Interview : UPSC topper Shubhra's Interview with IBN

The topper of the Civil Services examination, Shubra Saxena credits hard work and God's grace for her win. Shubhra Saxena spoke to CNN-IBN after her win.

CNN-IBN: Congratulations on your spectacular success. Tell us, was it very hard to prepare for this examination?

Shubhra Saxena: First of all, thank you. Regarding how hard it was, yes, it was hard. Cracking the Civil Services exam is a tough job. But then I think that every aspirant is working very hard towards it. So it is labour as well as God's grace that has landed me at the top spot.

CNN-IBN: Shubhra, I am told that this is your second attempt at the UPSC exam. What did you think worked for you, went right for you during this exam?

Shubhra Saxena: My first attempt was in a bit of haste. I was working till the end of 2006 and I decided to write my first Pre in 2007. So I think I did not have much of a time to prepare.

CNN-IBN: Why did you try this exam when you were already employed?

Shubhra Saxena: I think it was my dissatisfaction at whatever I was doing and the motivation to do something for the society that inspired me to write this exam.

CNN-IBN: What is your message now to future Civil Services aspirants?

Shubhra Saxena: Well, work hard and believe in yourself. Everything is possible. I am not unique that I made it here. I am just a part of the crowd. Last year I did not even make it. If you work hard, anything is possible.

CNN-IBN: Thank you for speaking to CNN-IBN

Courtesy:- IBNLive

Article : UPSC topper wants to serve rural India

Girls have bagged the top three ranks in the Civil Services Examination 2008 with Noida's Shubhra Saxena topping the test, results for which were declared in New Delhi on Monday.

While Sharandeep Kaur Brar has been placed second, Kiran Kaushal secured the third position.

It was the urge to serve the country's rural population that made 30-year-old Shubhra Saxena to quit her well-paid IT job four years back and prepare for civil service examinations.

"It is a very good feeling. Every person achieves victory on their own pace," an elated Saxena said, minutes after the news trickled in that she topped the 2008 civil services examination.

She attributed her feat to her "loving" parents and husband, saying they "were very much supportive when I expressed my desire to appear for civil services."

The software engineer, an alumnus of IIT-Rourkee, said she quit her well-paid IT job as she always had a urge to serve the rural population, who are deprived of even basic facilities such as education and drinking water.

"I wasn't able to serve the people when I was in the IT field. So, I decided to quit and appear for civil services examination," Saxena, who cleared the examination in her second attempt, said.

"My priorities are empowering the rural masses and providing education to them."

Born in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, Saxena had most of her education in Jharkhand as her father was an engineer with Coal India.

A total of 791 candidates have cracked the exam for which written test was conducted in October-November last year and the interview for personality test was held in March-April this year, the UPSC said.

The candidates, who have been recommended for appointment, include 364 from general category, 236 from OBC, 130 from SC and 61 from ST group.

The topper Shubhra Saxena has done her B Tech from IIT Roorkee. This was her second attempt. Second topper Sharandeep Kaur has done her MA from Punjab University.

The top 25 candidates included 10 women. While 12 of them are from Commerce, Management, Humanities, Science and Social Sciences, nine candidates are from streams of Engineering and four from Medical Sciences.

A total of 3,18,843 candidates applied for the examination, while 1,67,035 appeared for the preliminary examination. Of them 11,849 qualified for the Mains but only 2,140 could make it to the personality test.

Courtesy:- NDTV

Mr. Sorabh Babu Maheshwari (23) achieved 1st position among the successful candidates of the Civil Services Examination, 1999-2000. He has done B.E. (Mech.)

We publish below an exclusive interview he gave to Competition Success Review.

CSR: What is the secret of your success in the Civil Services Examination?

Sorabh Babu Maheshwari : There are myriad of factors responsible; to sum up God's grace, family's support and encouragement, planned studies, hard work, inner motivation can be cited as the main factors.

Q. How much time do you think one requires for serious preparation for this examination ?

Q. Which journals and newspapers have you been reading for the General Knowledge and other papers ?

A. Competition Success Review, General Knowledge Today, The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, Frontline and a regular reader of India Today

A, Questions posed before a candidate are very well framed and answers to them should be made taking into consideration all possible views and a balanced approach is expected from a candidate.

A. The path towards this coveted service passes through many ups and downs. To carry oneself along these pulls and pushes requires strong inner motivation and decision to aspire for Civil Services should come from within.

Q . Competition Success Review, the largest selling youth magazine in English, has been extremely helpful because...

A. ...it helped in providing ready, easy-to-use material thus saving time. Topics, which are unique to this magazine e.g.,IAS Topper Talks To You, Essays, Personality. Tests proved extremely helpful while preparing as they give good insight into these issues.

A. the unique blend of service opportunities which Civil Services offers. Diversity of job, being a party in policy implementation, bigger responsibilities, social esteem and to do good to common masses were some factors which made me to go in for Civil Services.

A. A larger part of success is attributable to them. Without the constant support, encouragement and boost up by family members and friends at times, this day was not possible.

Q. Had you not been selected in the Civil Services Examination, what would have been your reaction ? Which other service career would you have gone in-opted for?

A. Combined effort of everything went in my favour. I dedicate my success to my parents and elder brother and now find myself at a platform with even bigger responsibilities and challenges as never before.

A. To my eldest brother especially who has been a constant source of motivation throughout my life span. Without whose support, I could not have achieved this.

A. Having studied Mechanical Engg. in my graduation for 4 years, I found it a natural choice and I felt quite comfortable with Mathematics.

A. I made a list of topics to be read, then gave them a priority based on their importance and started from the top giving due time to each of them. This approach was mandatorv for me as I am already in job and did not have ample time.

Q. Competition Success Review is the largest read youth magazine in English. How do you visualise the role of this magazine in moulding the careers of the youth ?

A. Since my childhood, Civil Services ,specific issues particularly the column of 'IAS Toppers Talk To You' inspired me a lot to go for Civil Services as my career.

Q. How did Competition Succeess Review help you in your preparation for the interview?

A. Supplements like 'My Personality Test', 'Facing The Interview Board', 'Improve Your Personality' and 'Group Discussion' give quite an original view of the personality test and help us in assessing our deficiencies beforehand and taking corrective measures.

A. Competition Success Review is indispensable for aspirants to Civil Services and other competitive exams. It is helping, candidates a lot. It is a part of study material.

A. More information ' i less space is the buzzword for General Know1cdgr Today. It provides quite handy, ready-to-use facts, database and information and as such is quite useful during revision hours.

Q. What do you think is the better way of preparation between selective, intensive study and wide, extensive study ?

Q. Is the pattern of the examination appropriate for selection ? Would you recommend any improvement?

A. By and large, the pattern of examination is good. Efforts, however, should be made to reduce the shell time of the whole process in line with other exams.

A. Current policy of restricting attempts checks non-serious candidates and prevents flooding up of the exam. This should continue. ,

Q. With the resumption of Essay paper in UPSC examinations, we are giving four senior essays every month. Is this focusoriented, analytical, feature helpful for the TAS aspirants ?

A. Definitely yes. Best way to prepare for Essay paper is through careful reading of these well-crafted essays by top slot authors. It sharpens the writing ability and boosts confidence.

Q. How do you think Competition Success Review could be more useful to the candidates appearing in the Civil Services and various other competitive examinations ?

A. At present, it focusses only on General Studies aspects. Recent trends and practices in various Optionals should be published to make candidates more aware. Some more model question papers should also be given.