Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 14: Success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination is not always about studying for endless hours or referring to numerous books. It is about having a clear strategy, choosing the right resources and maintaining consistency. Utkarsh Yadav, who secured All India Rank 32 in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 in his second attempt, demonstrated how systematic preparation and focused efforts can produce remarkable results.
A graduate in Geography and Economics from the University of Delhi, Utkarsh secured 852 marks in the written examination, including an impressive 292 marks in Geography optional, one of the highest scores in the subject.
His preparation was guided by a simple principle: understand the examination before preparing for it. Instead of randomly studying different subjects, he focused on analysing the UPSC syllabus and previous years' question papers (PYQs) to understand the examination pattern and identify important areas.
Geography was a natural choice for Utkarsh as he had studied the subject during graduation and was comfortable with its concepts. He gave considerable importance to his optional subject and followed a structured approach involving standard sources, concise notes, previous years' questions and regular answer-writing practice.
One of his most effective strategies was multiple rounds of note-making. He initially prepared detailed notes and gradually shortened them by removing information he had already memorised. This helped him develop concise revision material and cover the syllabus more efficiently.
He also used technology, including artificial intelligence tools, to enrich his answers with relevant examples, case studies, theories and additional information. However, he emphasised the importance of developing basic content and conceptual understanding before using such tools for value addition.
Utkarsh followed a consistent structure while writing Mains answers. His approach included a suitable introduction and conclusion, subheadings addressing the specific demands of the question, and relevant diagrams and illustrations wherever necessary.
He developed this technique by practising previous years' questions under strict time limits and evaluating his answers to identify areas for improvement.
For Ethics and Essay papers, he focused on understanding key concepts, organising ideas and presenting answers in a clear and structured manner. During interview preparation, he studied his Detailed Application Form (DAF), prepared for possible questions with the help of AI tools and participated in mock interviews and practice sessions with peers.
Utkarsh devoted around four months to dedicated Prelims preparation, three months to Mains preparation, six months to his optional subject and approximately one month to interview preparation. He managed his schedule through daily, weekly and monthly targets, ensuring adequate time for revision and practice.
He credited his parents, teachers, friends and the Almighty for supporting him throughout his journey. Their encouragement and guidance helped him remain focused during the demanding preparation process.
Utkarsh's achievement offers an important lesson to UPSC aspirants: success does not depend on the number of books collected or hours spent studying, but on how effectively one understands the syllabus, uses resources, revises and practises.
His journey demonstrates that disciplined preparation, continuous self-improvement and a well-defined strategy can turn the challenging dream of joining the civil services into reality.