https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How an Architect Ashi Sharma Redesigned Her Future

After shifting from architecture to civil services, Ashi Sharma cracked the UPSC with AIR 12 in her third attempt, proving that focused strategy and learning from setbacks can lead to remarkable success.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Ghaziabad’s Ashi Sharma, 27, has secured All India Rank 12 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, making her mark in her third attempt. With a background in architecture and an analytical mindset shaped by science and design, Ashi’s transition to civil services was driven by her growing interest in public engagement and policy. Her story is a clear example of how thoughtful decisions, structured preparation, and the ability to learn from each attempt can lead to outstanding success.

REDRAWING CAREER PLANS: THE SHIFT FROM ARCHITECTURE TO UPSC 

Growing up in the Delhi NCR, Ashi attended Apeejay School, Noida, where she studied Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Economics. This diverse academic foundation led her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal, graduating in 2021. It was during the Covid-19 pandemic that Ashi re-evaluated her career aspirations. The desire to engage with a wider range of challenges and contribute directly to society steered her towards the UPSC examination. “Civil Services offers an opportunity to serve society in diverse roles,” she explains.

Her initial foray into the examination in 2022 proved to be a learning experience. Despite her preparations, she couldn’t clear the preliminary stage, falling short of the cutoff by four marks. Undeterred, Ashi approached her second attempt in 2023 with a more strategic mindset. This time, she successfully cleared the preliminary, main, and interview stages. However, the final hurdle remained, as she missed the final selection by 20 marks. These setbacks, rather than discouraging her, fuelled her determination for her next attempt.

Ashi’s academic background in architecture, a field not typically seen among UPSC top rankers, offered her a unique perspective. “A varied academic background is helpful while serving in Civil Services. I have not come across many candidates with a background like mine. I hope to use my knowledge of architecture in performing my duties as an officer,” she says. Her parents, initially perhaps uncertain about this career shift, gained confidence as they witnessed her focused approach and understanding of the examination process. “I had never talked about attempting the UPSC exam while growing up. But once I found my footing and figured out how to go about it, my parents gained confidence,” Ashi recounts.

STRATEGY, SETBACKS AND STEADY PROGRESS 

For her optional subject, Ashi chose Public Administration. Recognising that Architecture was not an option, she selected a subject that offered synergy with the General Studies papers. “The subject overlaps with the General Studies papers, which reduces the efforts. It is a logical subject and relevant for officers in public services,” she explains. While Public Administration is often considered a high-scoring subject, Ashi notes a recent trend of fewer top scorers opting for it.

Ashi’s daily study routine involved approximately eight hours of dedicated effort, balancing the vast syllabus of general studies, her chosen optional subject, and staying abreast of current affairs. “Time management is important, which you learn over time. Newspaper reading took up a large part of my day,” she says. Her schedule included attending general studies classes for three hours and optional subject classes for two hours, followed by two to three hours dedicated to reading two newspapers. Integrating online courses into her routine eventually allowed her to gain better control over her schedule and find personal time.

One significant hurdle Ashi faced was the limited feedback in the UPSC Mains examination. “In UPSC Mains, you only receive your total marks, leaving you unaware of what went wrong in specific answers. This makes it hard to tweak your preparation strategy,” she points out. Despite this challenge, she found valuable guidance through coaching at Study IQ.

WHAT WORKED: STUDY APPROACH AND OPTIONAL SUBJECT CHOICE 

Ashi emphasised the importance of foundational knowledge from NCERT books for beginners. Her preparation strategy involved meticulous note-taking from newspapers and a focused approach to study material. “I used to take notes on all the current events reported in the papers. In addition to my class notes and NCERT books, I enhanced my understanding by referring to government and third-party reports, such as those from NITI Aayog, whenever they were mentioned in the news. I focused on a few core resources and revised them multiple times instead of constantly searching for new materials,” she advises future aspirants.

When the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 results were announced, the appearance of her name with an All India Rank of 12 brought an initial feeling of disbelief, quickly followed by immense relief and joy. The years of dedicated effort had culminated in remarkable success. Ashi’s journey from designing structures to potentially shaping policy showcases the power of a clear goal, diligent preparation, and the ability to learn and adapt from setbacks.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Uttar Pradesh CM resized
UP Govt Promotes Three 1994 Batch IAS Officers to Additional Chief Secretary Rank
IFFCO DharAmrut
IFFCO to Launch ‘DharAmrut’: A Next-Gen Bio Stimulant to Boost Crop Yield and Plant Health
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
Haryana Re-employs Retired IPS Officer Alok Kumar Roy as DG Prisons Despite Availability of Senior Officers
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
Rajasthan Govt Seeks Recall of IAS Officers Rohit Kumar and Siddharth Mahajan from Central Deputation
Western Railway's Female Mechanics Drive Critical EMU Maintenance
Vijayadashami Boosts Women's Empowerment: Western Railway's Female Mechanics Drive Critical EMU Maintenance
IDES Officer Shobha Gupta
IDES Officer Shobha Gupta Appointed Director General of Defence Estates; Will Oversee 18 Lakh Acres of Defence Land
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
Controversies Lead to Transfer of 8 Out of 24 IAS Officers in Madhya Pradesh; Key Collectors Removed Following Disputes with Legislators
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
Senior Bureaucratic Movements Cleared by ACC: Repatriations, Curtailments, and Extensions Notified
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
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
Uttar Pradesh CM resized
UP Govt Promotes Three 1994 Batch IAS Officers to Additional Chief Secretary Rank
IFFCO DharAmrut
IFFCO to Launch ‘DharAmrut’: A Next-Gen Bio Stimulant to Boost Crop Yield and Plant Health
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT