Daijiworld Media Network - Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh, Feb 10: Leaving behind a secure and successful career in corporate law, Kshitij Aditya Sharma scripted an inspiring UPSC success by securing All India Rank 58 in the Civil Services Examination 2024, a significant improvement from AIR 384 in 2023.

Kshitij managed to get rank 58 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, fulfilling a dream that most people wish to achieve. But this wasn't his first shot at the UPSC civil services exam. Kshitij was already an IRS officer, but since his goal of becoming an IAS remained unfulfilled, he wanted to try once again.

A native of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Kshitij is a graduate of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, and previously worked as a legal associate at Trilegal, Mumbai, handling corporate litigation for over two years. Despite professional stability, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered deep introspection, prompting him to reassess the purpose of his work.

In October 2021, he resigned from his job to prepare full-time for the UPSC examination. Choosing Law as his optional subject, Kshitij faced an initial setback when he failed to clear prelims in his first serious attempt. However, he reworked his strategy, focused on conceptual clarity, standard textbooks, and closely followed legal current affairs, including Supreme Court judgments and key legislations.

His disciplined preparation, consistent revision and strong command over his optional subject reflected in both the mains and the interview stages, where law-related questions formed a major part of the interaction.

Acknowledging the mental challenges of the UPSC journey, Kshitij credits routine, clarity of purpose and balance for helping him stay focused. While keeping a backup option in mind, he ensured complete commitment to his civil services goal.

With AIR 58, Kshitij Aditya Sharma’s journey stands as a motivating example of choosing purpose over comfort and turning setbacks into stepping stones toward success.