The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the results of the 2024 Civil Services Examination on April 22, 2025. Out of nearly 13 lakh aspirants who appeared for the exam, only 1,009 candidates made it to the final list for prestigious services like IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS.
Among these exceptional achievers is Aayushi Bansal, who secured an impressive All India Rank 7. She scored a total of 1027 marks in UPSC 2024, rising through the ranks across her three attempts — securing AIR 188, then AIR 97, and finally breaking into the top 10 with AIR 7.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at Aayushi’s educational background, personal life, UPSC attempts, age, and the strategies that helped her succeed.
Aayushi Bansal’s Biography Overview Table
The following is an overview biography of Aayushi Bansal in a table format:
| Name | Aayushi Bansal |
| Age | Not Specified |
| Hometown | Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh |
| Early Schooling | Completed her 10th from Gwalior |
| Graduation | B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur |
| Number of attempts in UPSC | 3 |
| UPSC Rank 2022 | AIR-188 |
| UPSC Rank 2023 | AIR-97 |
| UPSC Rank 2024 | AIR-7 |
| Optional Subject | Sociology |
Aayushi Bansal Educational Background
Below is a detailed overview of Aayushi Bansal’s educational journey, starting from her 10th standard up to her UPSC preparation — showcasing the academic path that laid the foundation for her success.
| Qualification | Location | Detail |
| Early Schooling (Up to 10th Grade) | Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh | Aayushi studied up to 10th grade in her hometown, Gwalior. Her school or board isn’t specified. Her father passed away when she was in 5th standard, around age 10. |
| Higher Secondary Education (11th and 12th Grade) | Delhi | After 10th grade, Aayushi moved to Delhi to prepare for the IIT entrance exams, motivated by her passion for math and IIT’s prestige. She joined a local school and JEE coaching, balancing both while living alone for the first time. |
| Undergraduate Education | IIT Kanpur | Aayushi earned a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur. After a strong JEE Mains performance but a lower Advanced rank, she reattempted the exam, secured admission, completed her degree, and later began her career before preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. |
Aayushi Bansal Early Life
- Aayushi Bansal was born in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
- Her father, an LIC employee, passed away when she was 10 years old.
- Her mother, also an LIC employee, raised Aayushi and her younger brother as a single parent.
- Despite societal pressure to limit her education, her mother provided unwavering support.
- She learned from her father to prioritize health and education, fostering her resilience.
Aayushi Bansal Attempts
Aayushi Bansal secured All India Rank 7 in her third attempt at the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024. Her journey is a remarkable story of ambition, self-belief, and continuous growth.
| Attempts | Year | All India Rank | Detail |
| First Attempt | 2022 | 188 | Earned a position in IPS under the Karnataka Cadre. |
| Second Attempt | 2023 | 97 | Broke into top 100, still continued to work hard for next attempt |
| Third Attempt | 2024 | 7 | Standing among top 10, securing an IAS position |
Aayushi Bansal Optional Subject
Aayushi Bansal selected Sociology as her optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024 Mains, a popular choice among aspirants due to its relevance to General Studies and strong scoring potential.
Aayushi Bansal UPSC Strategy
Aayushi Bansal shared these strategies herself in interviews and podcasts—here’s how she did it.
Also, check out other UPSC toppers‘ strategies for more insights.
Prelims Strategies
| Strategy/Advice | Details |
| Analyze Syllabus and Past Questions | Studied the UPSC syllabus and previous years’ questions to understand exam demands and prioritize high-yield topics, optimizing limited preparation time. |
| Use Limited Resources | Curated a concise book list and revised the same materials multiple times to ensure deep understanding, avoiding the accumulation of new books. |
| Practice Mock Tests | Took numerous mock tests to improve speed, accuracy, and prelims performance, identifying and addressing weak areas. |
| Balance Time Allocation | Dedicated half her study time to General Studies and prelims subjects, and the other half to her optional subject, ensuring integrated preparation. |
Mains Strategies
| Strategy/Advice | Details |
| Focus on Optional Subject | Prioritized Sociology (optional), completing its syllabus by December-January, leveraging its overlap with GS-1 (society) for richer answers. |
| Practice Answer Writing | Intensified answer writing post-prelims to improve structure and time management, especially for GS-2 and optional after 2022 attempt. |
| Conduct Exam Simulations | Practiced writing five papers consecutively at home to build stamina for the three-day, five-paper mains exam schedule. |
| Target Weak Areas | Analyzed 2022 marksheet to identify low-scoring papers (e.g., optional, GS-2), revisited core texts, and studied toppers’ copies to improve scores. |
| Use Subject-Specific Language | Tailored answers to each GS paper’s demands, e.g., using sociological perspectives for GS-1 society answers to enhance quality. |
Interview Strategies
| Strategy/Advice | Details |
| Showcase Authentic Personality | Focused on presenting her true self, emphasizing thought process and personality over memorized answers, viewing the interview as a personality showcase. |
| Master Current Affairs | Read two to three newspapers daily (e.g., The Hindu, Indian Express) to build a strong analytical framework and stay updated |
| Reflect on DAF | Deeply reflected on her Detailed Application Form (DAF), aligning answers with her background, aspirations, and vision for civil services. |
| Stay in Interview Mode | Maintained a constant “interview mode” for months, anticipating questions and refining responses during daily interactions. |
Aayushi Bansal’s UPSC General Strategies and Advices
| Strategy/Advice | Details |
| Maintain Self-Belief | Urged aspirants to trust their potential daily, even during setbacks like low test scores, to sustain motivation. |
| Face Fears | Tackled feared subjects like economics by dedicating extra time and tests, turning weaknesses into strengths. |
| Prioritize Self-Study | Emphasized self-study over coaching, advocating self-analysis and improvement as the core of preparation. |
| Be Consistent | Recommended studying daily, even for two hours on low-motivation days, to maintain momentum. |
| Limit Resources | Recommended studying daily, even for two hours on low-motivation days, to maintain momentum. |
Parting Thoughts
Aayushi Bansal’s journey from Gwalior to securing AIR 7 in UPSC CSE 2024 is truly inspiring. Her story shows that success in one of India’s toughest exams isn’t just about hard work—it’s about smart preparation, self-belief, and resilience. By focusing on self-study, using limited resources wisely, and learning from setbacks, she turned challenges into opportunities. Her message is clear: believe in yourself, stay consistent, and chase your dreams with dedication. Let her journey remind you that with the right mindset, anything is possible.
Frequently asked questions about Aayushi Bansal UPSC Topper
Who is Aayushi Bansal?
Aayushi Bansal is the UPSC Topper of 2024. She secured All India Rank 7 with total Marks Obtained 1031.
How many attempts did Aayushi Bansal gave?
Aayushi appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Exam in 2022, 2023, and 2024, securing AIR 188, 97, and finally Rank 7, respectively.
What was Aayushi Bansal’s optional subject in UPSC Mains?
Aayushi Bansal chose Sociology as her optional subject in UPSC Mains. Her deeper understanding of the society and compassion for civil service made the subject a strategic choice for her.
Where was Aayushi Bansal UPSC Topper AIR 7 born?
Aayushi Bansal was born and raised in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. She and her brother were raised by their single mother after their father’s dead when Aayushi was 10 years old.