https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Fifth Attempt, AIR 4: Shah Margi Chirag’s Steady Climb to Success | Exclusive

After five attempts, Margi Chirag Shah secured AIR 4 in UPSC CSE 2024. Her journey reflects focus, simplicity, and steady effort, guided by limited resources and strong mentorship.
Indian Masterminds Stories

When Margi Chirag Shah saw her name in the UPSC CSE 2024 results, she was expecting a rank — but not AIR 4. It wasn’t her first try, not even her second. It was her fifth attempt.

Margi’s journey to the top wasn’t quick or flashy. It was patient, layered with learning, and full of quiet resolve. “One of my friends introduced me to civil services,” she shared in an exclusive interview with Indian Masterminds. “As I explored it more, I realised the kind of impact you can create in people’s lives through this career.”

That understanding was enough to make her stay on this path — no matter how long it took.

PREPARATION EVOLVED WITH EACH ATTEMPT 

For Margi, each attempt taught her something new. Early on, her focus was more on Prelims, but over time, she realised the importance of building a deeper understanding of the syllabus for every stage of the exam.

One thing remained constant: she never overloaded herself with too many sources. “My sources were always very limited,” she says. She chose one current affairs magazine, stuck to the standard recommended books, and refined her knowledge instead of expanding it unnecessarily.

She began rigorous answer writing in 2021, a practice that helped her prepare well for the Mains. During the interview stage, she found value in group discussions, which helped her develop balanced opinions and improve her communication.

A STRONG FOUNDATION AT HOME 

Margi comes from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Her mother is a teacher, and her father passed away in 2017. That loss was a defining moment in her life, but she kept going.

She has a background in computer science engineering and chose not to take up a job during her preparation. Instead, she focused fully on the exam. During this time, she also cleared the Gujarat Public Service Commission and secured Rank 55, getting selected as a State Tax Officer.

SELF-STUDY AND THE RIGHT GUIDANCE 

Margi began her journey with classroom coaching but soon shifted to self-study. What made the difference, she says, was the presence of a mentor who guided her through the later years of her preparation.

“After the initial coaching, I relied more on self-study,” she told Indian Masterminds. “But my mentor played a very significant role in helping me stay focused and improve.”

When the results were announced, Margi and her family were thrilled. A rank was expected, but not in the top five.

“Everyone was overwhelmed,” she shares. “We didn’t imagine it would be a single-digit rank. It was a happy surprise.”

MESSAGE TO ASPIRANTS

With Prelims approaching, Margi has one key suggestion for fellow aspirants: don’t switch strategies at the last moment.

“Stick to the sources you’ve already studied,” she says. “Don’t get distracted by new materials in the market.”

She also stresses the importance of mental clarity: “Presence of mind is everything in those two hours. Stay calm, stay sharp.”

And for those preparing in the long term, her advice is straightforward — be consistent and do the work. That’s what helped her reach where she is today.

Margi Chirag Shah’s story isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about giving each attempt your best, learning from every setback, and believing that effort counts — even when it doesn’t show right away.

She may have taken five attempts, but her achievement speaks for itself. And for every aspirant walking a similar path, her journey quietly says: it’s okay if it takes time — just don’t stop.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
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
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT