In a tale of resilience and determination, Vaidehi Gupta’s journey to success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023 is nothing short of inspiring. Despite facing numerous challenges, including managing a full-time job at Infosys while preparing for the prestigious exam, Ms. Gupta persevered with unwavering dedication.
Her days were marked by early morning study sessions, squeezing in 6-8 hours before her evening shift that stretched late into the night. Despite the grueling schedule, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of her dream. However, her resolve faced an unexpected test when her UPSC candidature was unfairly canceled due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Undeterred, Ms. Gupta took her fight to the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court, where she successfully advocated for justice and reinstatement of her candidacy. Ms. Gupta’s story is a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and standing up against adversity to achieve one’s goals.
During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, she not only recounted her arduous journey but also shed light on her unconventional choice of IAAS as her second preference, a decision that sets her apart from many others.
FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
Born to a businessman father and a homemaker mother, Ms. Gupta completed her B.Tech. (IT) from Guru Govind Singh College, Indraprastha University. She was in her second semester when a friend in the family cleared UPSC and was selected for IPS in 2017. “My mother then told me to try for it at least once. So, I started with researching the UPSC, and the more I learned about it, I got excited to attempt”, said Ms. Gupta.
She gave her first attempt in 2020 and cleared Mains. However, due to COVID, she neither got her degree nor the marksheet from last semester. This is why UPSC canceled her candidature, but she couldn’t let the chance go. She understood well that UPSC is unpredictable, and one can never know when you get the chance to write Main or face the interview. So, with the support of other candidates, she filed a case in the Supreme Court and got relief.
She faced the interview but didn’t get selected. In 2021, she made another attempt but couldn’t clear prelims, and in 2022, she couldn’t clear Mains. This year, she cleared all the hurdles and was selected with AIR 219. When asked about another attempt, she replied, “I want to be an IAS, but I am happy with what I have. Right now, I am looking forward to the foundation course in LBSNAA and meeting new people. I might give another attempt later, but not this year,” says the topper.
CHOOSING IDAS AS PREFERENCE
Diverging from the traditional choices made by many other toppers, Ms. Gupta has charted her path by selecting IAS as her primary preference and IA&AS (Indian Audit and Accounts Service) as her second choice in the UPSC examination. IA&AS is a central civil service under the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Officers serve in an audit managerial capacity, responsible for auditing government accounts and public enterprises. Ms. Gupta’s decision stems from thorough research into the various services offered under the UPSC CSE. She was particularly drawn to IAAS due to the opportunity it presents to collaborate with numerous international agencies, offering a diverse and enriching work experience. Moreover, the evolving nature of the service’s profile and its wide-ranging exposure further solidified her choice. Ms. Gupta’s decision underscores her forward-thinking approach and highlights the appeal of IDAS as a dynamic and rewarding career option within civil services.
LEARNINGS
Ms. Gupta embarked on the UPSC journey with Political Science and International Relations as her optional subjects. Despite her dedication, she faced a setback in her interview scores, garnering 149 marks. Reflecting on this outcome, she humbly acknowledged that while she enjoyed the interview experience, the panel’s perspective may have differed. Ms. Gupta humorously suggested the need to cultivate hobbies, recognizing their potential to add depth to her personality.
Balancing her preparations with a demanding job left little time for leisure, yet she prioritized staying connected with family and friends. Ms. Gupta expressed a desire to carve out time for herself, nurturing a hobby with unwavering dedication. While she acknowledges that hobbies may not directly influence interview scores, she believes they enrich one’s persona and can serve as engaging conversation topics during the UPSC interview.
In her pursuit of excellence, Ms. Gupta underscores the importance of holistic self-development, emphasizing that cultivating hobbies not only enhances personal fulfillment but also contributes to a well-rounded and engaging interview presence.
HAVING A BACKUP
Ms. Gupta remained steadfast in her job while simultaneously preparing for the UPSC exam, recognizing the benefits of having a stable income and mental space. “Having a job provides a safety net during times of failure and grants financial freedom, which alleviates the stress of the journey,” she explains.
Her advice to aspirants echoes her pragmatic approach: “Given the low success rate of the UPSC, it’s essential not to invest everything in this one endeavor. Having a backup plan is crucial.” Drawing from the observations of fellow aspirants, she cautions against placing excessive expectations on the exam’s outcome. “Even after reaching the interview stage, only a fraction of candidates secure a spot in the final list,” she notes. Ms. Gupta advocates for aligning one’s expectations with the realities of the exam format and emphasizes the importance of preparing oneself accordingly.
