https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Started from Zero and Scored AIR 80: A Science Student’s Struggle with Social Sciences in UPSC

Indian Masterminds Stories

Clearing UPSC CSE can be quite cumbersome, especially if one has never been a fan of social sciences. Today, Indian Masterminds presents the story of 2019-batch IAS officer Khushboo Gupta, who was a science student all her life but managed to chalk out a strategy to fall in love with polity and history, too. Read on to know how she did it!

ONLY CIVIL SERVANT OF HER TOWN 

Currently posted as SDO, Munger, Ms. Gupta cracked UPSC CSE in 2018 and secured AIR 80. She hails from a small town named Bhadaur in Punjab. She is the only civil servant of her town in last 40 years. 

Talking about it in an interview to media, she says, “When you come from a small place, then dreaming too high feels risky. Due to lack of exposures, you aren’t confident enough to secure a place of high stature. Even when I decided to appear for CSE, I was still in doubt about my success. I used to think that I might crack prelims or even reach to interview stage but securing a rank in final list seemed far-fetched. Even then I thought to give this a try.”

HAVE PROPER REASON FOR CHOOSING 

After completing her B.Tech and then M.Tech from IIT Delhi, Ms. Gupta had majorly three options for career. Either she could have chosen to do PhD from abroad or a job in MNC. The third and final option was to appear for Civil Services Exam. 

She was confused and went to her father. “My father has always been supportive. He emphasised that I should do what I please but have a proper reason for doing or not doing it. On his advice, I took a pen and paper and made a list of why and why not I should be choosing one from the three. In that list, civil services featured out and I started my preparation from May 2016.” 

Ms. Gupta secured AIR 80 in UPSC CSE 2018

Ms. Gupta also mentions that her personality traits matched with a civil servant, so that also weighed in. She has never been a fan of working in a cubicle and had always wanted to work to make changes on the ground. 

STARTED FROM ZERO 

Since the start, she was a science student and was never interested in social sciences as such. But, while preparing for civil services, one needs to have command over social sciences as well. There is no escape route. 

Remembering the early days of her preparation, she said, “I started reading civics of Class 6. You’ll be surprised that I asked my cousin whether constituent assembly is another name for Parliament. You can imagine that I started from zero.” 

HOW TO DO IT

According to her, anyone who has got hold of the inertia of not wasting time can make it in UPSC CSE. The only thing required for it is consistency, hard work and a positive attitude. 

“You can be in box 1 or 2 or 100 but you can always make it if you’re constant with your process and strategy that you follow.” 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Bihar Elections 2025: CEC Gyanesh Kumar Addresses 5 Key Issues - SIR, Fake Voting, Freebies & More
BSNL
BSNL Surpasses Airtel in Mobile Subscriber Growth After Nearly a Year; Jio Leads with 19 Lakh Additions in August
NTPC_Tapovan Donates_Ambulance_
NTPC Hands Over ₹30 Lakh Advanced Life Support Ambulance to Chamoli District Hospital to Boost Emergency Healthcare
NTPC_Barauni_signed_agreement_
NTPC Barauni to Install 89 High-Mast Lights Across Begusarai to Boost Safety and Community Development
BPCL_bags_Excellence_Awards_
BPCL Wins Top Honours for City Gas Distribution and Customer Service at 19th PNGRB Foundation Day
Allahabad high court
SC Collegium Approves Appointment of Vinai Kumar Dwivedi as Judge of Allahabad High Court
JK Cement Health Camp Panna
Free Health Camp Organised for Forest Personnel During Wildlife Week 2025 by South Panna Forest Division
REC Mobile Medical Units
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav Flags Off REC’s ₹5.71 Cr Mobile Medical Units to Boost Rural Healthcare in Rajasthan
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Discover how IDES officer Saquib Alam left his corporate job at Mahindra, overcame six UPSC attempts,...
Utkarsh Ujjwal IAS
IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal Shares Key Advice for UPSC Aspirants: Work Ethic, Failure, and Focus
Read the inspiring journey of IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal, 2023 batch, Gujarat cadre. From IIT Guwahati to clearing...
Sagar Datta Majumdar UPSC CSE 2024 AIR 317
“Don’t get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-doubt,” says UPSC Achiever Sagar Datta Majumdar
Discover how Sagar Datta Majumdar from Agartala, Tripura, cracked UPSC CSE 2024 with All India Rank 317....
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Bihar Elections 2025: CEC Gyanesh Kumar Addresses 5 Key Issues - SIR, Fake Voting, Freebies & More
BSNL
BSNL Surpasses Airtel in Mobile Subscriber Growth After Nearly a Year; Jio Leads with 19 Lakh Additions in August
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT