In a quiet household shaped by love, loss, and responsibility, Ashish Sharma grew up as the youngest among three siblings: two sisters and parents who anchored his early life. But one absence would come to define everything that followed.
When Ashish was just ten years old, he lost his mother.
Years later, her voice still echoed in his choices. The dream of becoming a civil servant wasn’t born out of ambition alone; it was inherited.
“It was my mother’s dream… from my 10th standard only, I decided that I would appear for this exam,” he shared in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.
What began as her wish slowly became his purpose. And over time, that purpose became the one thing he refused to let go of.
FROM GWALIOR CLASSROOMS TO A NATIONAL STAGE
Ashish’s academic journey began in Gwalior, where he studied at G.D. Goenka School before moving on to Jiwaji University. His graduation subjects: political science, history, and sociology, were conventional choices, but they didn’t fully engage him.
When it came to the UPSC optional, he chose to step away from familiarity.
Anthropology became his subject, not just because of its overlap with his Class 12 biology background, but because it offered something new.
“I wanted to read a new subject… something different from the common ones,” he stated.
It was a decision that would later play a decisive role in his success.
FIVE ATTEMPTS, THREE INTERVIEWS, ONE BREAKTHROUGH
Ashish’s UPSC journey wasn’t a straight climb; it was a long, demanding stretch of six years filled with near-misses and self-correction.
He cleared prelims and mains in his very first attempt, even reaching the interview stage. But he missed the final list by just 20 marks.
That gap stayed with him.
Over the next few years, he appeared for the interview twice more: in his first, third, and finally, fifth attempt. Each time, he came closer. But the result he wanted remained just out of reach.
Until 2025.
His fifth attempt, also his second-last chance, became the turning point.
THE SHIFT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Ashish knew where he was falling short: the mains examination. Instead of overhauling everything, he focused on one crucial aspect: answer writing.
Earlier, he limited himself to 6–7 points in a 10-marker. This time, he pushed it to 10–12 points, ensuring depth, clarity, and structure.
He studied toppers’ copies closely, not to imitate blindly, but to understand what worked.
“I read a lot of toppers’ copies… picked diagrams, points I liked, and adapted them.”
His answers became richer with flowcharts, maps, and diagrams: elements that made them stand out on paper.
The results were visible.
In anthropology, his score jumped significantly, from around 250 in previous attempts to a 35-mark increase this time. He also changed his core sources and began incorporating contemporary examples into his answers.
That combination made the difference.
THE INTERVIEW THAT BROUGHT A SMILE
Even in a high-stakes environment like the UPSC interview, there was a moment that stayed with him, not for its difficulty, but for its warmth.
Midway through the interview, a board member mentioned that Ashish shared his birthdate with Lord Ram, according to cosmology.
“He said it has nothing to do with the interview… just wanted me to feel happy,” Ashish told Indian Masterminds.
It was unexpected. It was human. And it eased the intensity of the moment.
Of course, the board also explored serious topics like his hometown, Morena, and its historical association with dacoits. But Ashish handled it all with calm and clarity.
THE WEIGHT OF A DREAM, THE ABSENCE THAT STAYED
Behind the strategy, the marks, and the rank, there was something deeper driving Ashish.
The loss of his mother at a young age wasn’t just a memory; it was a constant presence in his journey.
“That was a major pain of life… and with that, the UPSC thing got more ingrained in my mind.”
There were no financial struggles holding him back. But emotionally, the journey carried a weight that few could see.
Clearing UPSC wasn’t just an achievement; it was a moment of closure, a quiet fulfillment of a promise made years ago.
LESSONS FROM THE EDGE OF UNCERTAINTY
Ashish’s journey also came with hard-earned lessons, ones he now shares with those walking the same path.
His biggest advice? Have a backup plan.
He didn’t.
And the absence of one made the six-year journey more stressful than it needed to be.
“There comes a time when you doubt if you’ll clear it… having a plan B can ease your mind.”
He also calls out one of the biggest distractions for aspirants today: social media. A simple suggestion, but one that comes from experience: keep it at a distance.
MORE THAN A RANK
AIR 186 is a number. But for Ashish Sharma, it carries the weight of years, the memory of a mother, and the quiet strength of not giving up when things didn’t go his way.
This isn’t just the story of clearing an exam.
It’s about holding on to a promise long after the person who made it is gone, and finally, being able to say: it’s done.
