Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 1: The Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is regarded as one of India’s toughest academic challenges, opening doors to the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, and Indian Police Service. Among the top scorers in the 2024 examination is Aakash Garg, who secured All India Rank 5 in only his second attempt.

Aakash, a resident of North West Delhi, completed his schooling at CRPF Public School in 2018 and went on to pursue a BTech in computer science from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, graduating in 2022. He hails from a middle-class family where education was prioritised, with his father serving as a government employee and his mother a homemaker.

His first attempt at the UPSC exam in 2023 ended at the preliminary stage. Viewing the setback as a learning experience, he revised his strategy, strengthened his fundamentals, and adopted a more structured preparation plan. In his second attempt in 2024, he cleared all three stages—Prelims, Mains, and the Personality Test—securing AIR 5 with a total of 1032 marks, including 201 in the interview.

Despite his engineering background, Aakash chose sociology as his optional subject, citing its concise syllabus and overlap with general studies. He prepared with standard textbooks, class notes, online resources, and consistent answer writing practice.

For prelims, his focus remained on NCERT texts, standard references such as Laxmikanth for polity and Spectrum for history, along with daily current affairs reading. For mains, he practiced structured answer writing and essays, ensuring multiple rounds of revision. For the interview stage, he attended mock sessions and worked on clarity of thought and articulation.

Aakash also integrated technology into his preparation, using digital tools for note-making, revision tracking, and time management. He credited his success to discipline, adaptability, and emotional balance, supported by his family.

Sharing advice for aspirants, Aakash stressed the importance of consistency, answer writing practice, choosing the right optional subject, and maintaining mental well-being.

From failing to clear prelims in his first attempt to securing a top-five rank in his next, Aakash’s journey highlights the value of resilience, smart strategy, and self-belief. His achievement is an inspiration to thousands of UPSC aspirants across the country.