Who is Shakti Dubey? UPSC CSE AIR-1. Know her story!

Shakti Dubey, who achieved the All India Rank 1 in the UPSC examination, is an inspiration to young minds across our country, regardless of their educational backgrounds. After five attempts, Shakti finally secured her position as the UPSC Topper. Discover her story, the challenges she faced, her educational background, and her bits of advice to the young aspirants in this blog.

Shakti Dubey Biography Overview Table

Educational Background

Despite coming from a strong science background, Shakti Dubey broke the mold by cracking the humanities-heavy UPSC exam and securing All India Rank 1 in her fifth attempt. Her journey is a testament to her adaptability, intellectual range, and relentless dedication. With each step, she proved that no stream can limit one’s potential when backed by determination and smart preparation.

• Schooling: Completed primarily in Prayagraj, fostering a disciplined academic foundation.
• Undergraduate: Earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Allahabad, honing her scholarly approach.
• Postgraduate: Obtained a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 2018, solidifying her expertise in life sciences.

Shakti Dubey’s Civil Service Exam preparation journey began in 2018 after she completed her postgraduate.

Early Challenges in the UPSC Journey

Shakti Dubey’s journey to becoming UPSC AIR 1 wasn’t easy, especially in the beginning. She had a science background, so diving into subjects like history, geography, and polity felt like starting from scratch. The early years of her preparation were filled with struggles and moments where she questioned if she could crack this exam. Even after years of hard work, setbacks kept coming, and they hit her hard emotionally. Here’s a look at what she went through:

• Tough Time with Humanities: With a degree in biochemistry, Shakti found humanities subjects overwhelming. These were a big part of the UPSC syllabus, and getting a grip on them was a real challenge.
• First Three Attempts Failed: Starting her prep in 2018 at Vajiram and Ravi, Shakti could only clear the prelims in her first three tries. She called these failures “heartbreaking,” and they made her doubt her abilities.
• Constant Self-Doubt: Not moving past prelims led to a lot of second-guessing. She wondered if she was even cut out for the UPSC, questioning her strategy and whether she should keep going.
• Close Call in 2023: In 2023, she cleared prelims and mains but missed the final cutoff by just 12 marks. This near-miss brought fresh doubts about whether her approach was right or if she could push through.

These early hurdles and moments of doubt tested Shakti’s resolve. But instead of giving up, she used them to rethink her strategy and come back stronger. Her story shows how she turned heartbreak and uncertainty into the drive that led to her incredible success.

Turning Point in Shakti’s UPSC Journey

In 2023, Shakti Dubey’s UPSC journey hit a critical juncture that changed everything. After clearing the prelims and mains, she fell short of the final cutoff by just 12 marks—a heartbreaking miss that could’ve broken her spirit. Instead, it lit a fire in her. She took a hard look at her mistakes, especially her weak performance in her optional subject, Political Science and International Relations (PSIR). Shakti doubled down on self-study, sharpened her answer-writing skills, and focused on linking current affairs to her answers. This moment of clarity and resolve turned her near-failure into the fuel for her stunning success, leading to AIR 1 in 2024.

Shakti Dubey’s UPSC Preparation and Strategies

Cracking the UPSC exam is no easy feat, and for Shakti Dubey, it took five attempts, immense introspection, and constant course correction to finally secure AIR 1. Her preparation journey is a blend of structured guidance, strategic thinking, and relentless self-study. Here’s how she did it:

Building the Right Foundation

Shakti began her UPSC journey with a foundation course at Vajiram and Ravi, which played a key role in familiarizing her with subjects she hadn’t studied before, simplifying economics and geography—subjects that once felt daunting. This phase gave her a solid academic base and a much-needed confidence boost. She also learned to pick relevant information from news, social media, and even ads, cleverly using them as case studies in her answers.

Mastering Mains with Strategy

Her experience in the 2023 mains taught her valuable lessons. While she managed to score 435 in General Studies papers thanks to test series and regular feedback, her performance was dragged down by her optional subject.

In 2024, Shakti turned things around:

• She joined the Mains Sure-Shot Program with 12 full-length tests to ensure complete revision and practice.
• She worked on structuring answers better, integrating current affairs, and avoiding irrelevant examples.
• A key insight came from using references like the Chola dynasty in the context of G20 discussions, which made her answers stand out.

Cracking the Optional (PSIR)

Shakti’s journey with the optional subject wasn’t smooth.

• Her first attempt had no optional prep, and a later attempt with anthropology didn’t work due to a lack of interest.
• Eventually, she chose Political Science & International Relations (PSIR), aligning it with her interest in polity and current affairs.

Her 2023 score in PSIR was low (231), primarily because she focused too much on notes and neglected past-year trends. In 2024, she refined her strategy:

• Updated notes with current events.
• Created one-pagers for key thinkers like Plato.
• Mapped recurring themes from previous papers.

These changes brought a significant improvement in her performance.

Facing the Interview Board

Her first interview in 2023 was a wake-up call. Unprepared for unexpected questions (like those on poetry), she realized the need for balance and composure.

By 2024, she prepared extensively:

• Discussed potential questions on topics like the Kumbh Mela and her father’s police background.
• Took opinion-based mocks that tackled current topics like Delhi elections, urban apathy, and India-China relations.
• The positive environment during her final interview helped boost her confidence and performance.

Shakti’s General Advice to Young UPSC Aspirants

Shakti Dubey, AIR 1 in UPSC CSE 2024, shared practical tips for aspirants.

Stick to Limited, Reliable Resources

Avoid the trap of collecting too many books or study materials. Instead, focus on a handpicked set of trusted sources and revise them repeatedly. Mastery comes from depth, not quantity.

Prioritize Syllabus & Previous Year Questions

Make the UPSC syllabus and previous year questions (PYQs) your compass. They help you understand what to study, how much to study, and what the exam truly demands.

Master the NCERTs & Revise Consistently

Build your foundation with NCERTs from Classes 9 to 12—they’re non-negotiable. Focus on revising them multiple times rather than constantly picking up new material.

No New Topics:

Resist the urge to start anything new—this phase is for consolidation, not exploration.

Mock Tests (First 15 Days):

Attempt a few full-length mock tests to assess your readiness and improve time management. But avoid any mock tests for the last 10 days before the exam, as any bad score can dent your confidence.

Conclusion

Shakti Dubey’s journey from a biochemistry graduate to UPSC AIR 1 in 2024 proves that with perseverance and smart preparation, anyone can crack UPSC, regardless of their educational background. Overcoming early failures and a near-miss in 2023, she strategically used minimal resources, self-study, and coaching to master the syllabus and excel in PSIR. Her story inspires aspirants to stay focused, learn from setbacks, and chase their UPSC dreams with unwavering determination and discipline.