https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

AIR 17 Sanskriti Trivedy’s Final Shot at UPSC Hits the Bullseye

Despite already securing Rank 352 and joining IDAS, SanskritiTrivedy didn’t give up on her dream. In her sixth and final UPSC attempt, she bounced back from previous failures - including not clearing prelims just a year ago - and stunned herself by securing All India Rank 17, proving that discipline, honesty, and persistence can turn even the toughest journey into a success story.
Indian Masterminds Stories

On April 22nd, while the internet buzzed with speculations about the UPSC results, SanskritiTrivedy tried to calm her nerves in the pleasant hills of Shimla. She was there on a week-long trip with fellow probationers as part of her Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) training. Laughter filled the air as she chatted with friends, but inside, the familiar jitters were creeping in.

After hours of waiting, she convinced herself that maybe, just maybe, the result wouldn’t come that day. She shifted focus to other things, trying to enjoy the moment. But then, a friend walked in with a grin and gave her the shock of a lifetime – Sanskriti had not only cleared the exam, but had secured All India Rank 17 in UPSC CSE 2024.

“I just froze,” she recalls, laughing. “I couldn’t believe it. I had imagined clearing it, but 17th rank? That was never in the picture!”, she told to Indian Masterminds

A FAMILIAR FACE IN THE HEADLINES

This wasn’t Sanskriti’s first time cracking the UPSC exam. In 2023, she had already made news by securing Rank 352 and joining the IDAS. But what made her stand out then was her fearless honesty – she declared publicly that she would attempt the exam again.

And she did. This was her sixth and final attempt, and it was the one that finally got her the dream service she had been striving for.

WINGS FROM DELHI

Hailing from Jamui, Bihar, Sanskriti grew up in Ranchi, Jharkhand, where her father, a civil engineer in a public sector company, was posted. Her  schooling was completed from Ranchi, and by the time she reached 11th grade, she had made up her mind – civil services was the path.

She pursued Political Science from Gargi College, Delhi University, followed by a master’s degree in International Relations from JNU. Her academic foundation would later shape her optional subject – Political Science and International Relations (PSIR)-in the UPSC exam.

FROM MISSED PRELIMS TO IDAS

The road wasn’t smooth. Sanskriti failed to clear prelims in her first two attempts. In 2021, she reached Mains but couldn’t go further. Then in 2022, she cracked it and got Rank 352.

Though proud of making it, she wasn’t fully content. “I had a good job and was undergoing training, but I knew I had to give it one last try,” she says.

But fate tested her again-she failed to clear Prelims in 2023. Many would have given up. She didn’t.

Sanskriti Trivedy, AIR 17, UPSC CSE 2024

LESSONS FROM MISTAKES

Sanskriti is candid about what went wrong in her earlier attempts.

“One big mistake was ignoring revision. Prelims needs constant practice,” she says. “The syllabus is vast. I didn’t give enough attention to previous year questions and test series in the beginning-and that cost me.”

She also admits she underplayed Essay and Ethics papers in Mains. “Those two areas really pull your rank up or down,” she adds.

Her advice? “Stick to the syllabus. Solve PYQs. Have an integrated strategy. Don’t prepare for Prelims and Mains as two different worlds.”

HER DAF ADVICE : Be Real

Sanskriti also has a word of caution for aspirants filling out the DAF (Detailed Application Form) for the interview.

“Don’t write anything that isn’t true. You can improve your personality, but you can’t change it overnight. Be honest. Even if you don’t have some flashy hobby, it’s okay. That doesn’t define your entire personality.”

ROLE OF PARENTS              

Her parents were her pillars throughout. During her low moments, especially after missed prelims or unsatisfactory ranks, their support kept her going.

“This exam will test everything—your patience, your belief, your discipline. You’ll have weak moments, but you have to rise again.”

She doesn’t endorse rigid routines but believes in controlling each day. “If you’ve decided to complete something today, make sure you do it. That kind of daily discipline matters more than any fancy timetable.”

A WORD OF CAUTION

Despite her deep commitment, Sanskriti never blindly idealized UPSC. She was clear about her Plan B – academia.

“If it didn’t work out, I would have pursued teaching. You should love this journey, but not worship it blindly,” she says.

Her final message to aspirants? “Treat UPSC like any other exam. If you’re doing it, be 100% sure of why you want to become a civil servant.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
IAS Sushil Kumar Patel Empanelled as Joint Secretary; IAS Ayush Goel Gets Inter-Cadre Transfer to Punjab
international big cat alliance IBCA
India Grants UN-Level Privileges to International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to Boost Global Conservation Efforts; 35 Nations Join
Central Administrative Tribunal, CAT
20-Year Battle: IPS Officer’s Daughter Moves CAT Over ₹43 Lakh Interest on Delayed Pension; Punjab Asked to Respond
Auraiya SDM viral video
UP Govt Suspends Auraiya SDM Rakesh Kumar Over Bribery Video; 'Envelope in Drawer' Sparks Controversy
MP-Police-
Madhya Pradesh Govt Transfers 9 IPS Officers; Vinod Kumar Meena Appointed SP, Mandsaur
DFCCIL logo
DFCCIL Invites Applications for Director (Finance); Post Vacant Since Feb 2025 - Details Inside
Punjab-Haryana-High-Court-resized
Punjab-Haryana HC Seeks Govt Response on PPS Officers with FIRs Holding IPS Cadre Posts
Mauvin Godinho
Goa's Mormugao Port Revives Container Services in Goa, Set to Boost Industry & Cut Logistics Costs
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
FEMINA
Women Warriors on the Cover: Femina India Celebrates Army’s Finest in August 2025 Special - Watch the Cover Shoot Inside
Femina India’s August 2025 cover pays tribute to ten Indian Army women officers, showcasing courage,...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
IAS Sushil Kumar Patel Empanelled as Joint Secretary; IAS Ayush Goel Gets Inter-Cadre Transfer to Punjab
international big cat alliance IBCA
India Grants UN-Level Privileges to International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to Boost Global Conservation Efforts; 35 Nations Join
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT