At just 22 years old, hailing from the backward district of Mehboobnagar in Telangana, Donuru Ananya Reddy, has achieved a remarkable feat. She secured All India Rank 3 in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023, becoming an inspiration not just for aspiring civil servants but for youngsters across the country.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, she shared details about her preparation.
A SEED PLANTED BY INSPIRATION
Ananya’s journey towards the UPSC began with a simple conversation. Her grandfather, recognizing her potential, planted the seed of pursuing the civil service and becoming a “collector” someday. This seemingly light-hearted conversation sparked a fire within her, leading her down a path of dedication and perseverance.
HUMANITIES STUDENT WITH A FOCUS ON GEOGRAPHY
Ananya always had an inclination towards the humanities. She opted for these subjects in Class 11 and 12 and later pursued graduation in Geography from Delhi University’s prestigious Miranda House in 2021.
CRACKING THE CODE: SELF-PREPARATION AND FOCUSED STRATEGY
Ananya’s approach to cracking the UPSC CSE was a blend of self-preparation and strategic guidance. While she opted for coaching for her optional subject, Anthropology (chosen for its concise and scoring nature), she relied primarily on self-study for the rest of the syllabus.
Her strategy focused on understanding the UPSC’s demands by analyzing previous years’ papers. She kept her reading sources limited and emphasized brainstorming to solidify her understanding of the concepts.
KEEPING IT REAL
One area where Ananya admitted to not having a specific strategy was the interview round. However, she prepared her Detailed Application Form (DAF) meticulously and adopted a policy of complete honesty, even when faced with questions she couldn’t answer.
“During the course of preparation, I thought that is something that I wished to do in life. The public service and the social work that an IAS does could benefit the mass population at the same time and I wanted to be a part of it. I was ready to go to any extent for it, even if it took me 4-5 attempts to clear it. I did not even imagine that I could be able to secure AIR-3 that too in my first attempt,” shared Ananya.
She was mentored under the leadership of Telangana IPS officer, Mr. Mahesh Bhagwat, who has been continuously guiding young aspirants on their journey to civil service.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE: THE MENTAL GAME
For Ananya, the biggest challenge during her UPSC preparation wasn’t the vast syllabus or rigorous study schedule. It was the mental strain associated with the exam’s demanding nature and inherent uncertainty. She prepared herself mentally for any outcome, including failure, ensuring her resolve remained strong.
“I have a very good group of friends. Like other aspirants, I did not keep myself away from social media completely. I tried maintaining a fine balance between my social life and preparation which I believe, kept me sane. I also faced a problem with the time crunch. The key is to smartly prepare the syllabus and leave out anything that doesn’t seem important,” she told Indian Masterminds.
A SURPRISE INTERVIEW AND A DREAM COME TRUE
The UPSC interview round often throws curveballs at unprepared candidates. Ananya’s experience was no different. Instead of the expected questions about her background and hobbies, she faced a barrage of scientific and technical questions related to international relations, economy, and environmental geography, along with some situational scenarios.
Despite the unexpected format, Ananya maintained composure and tackled the questions head-on. And she became successful, as she not only cracked the UPSC CSE on her first attempt at the mere age of 22 but also secured AIR-3!
“I was open to literally any rank on the sheet. I just wanted my name to appear on the list. Rank 3 was way beyond my imagination. It’s a happy day for me and my family, and everybody is on cloud 9,” she shared.
Having secured AIR 3, Ananya is now set to pursue her dream service: the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). This service, she believes, offers the most opportunities for fieldwork and aligns perfectly with her aspirations to contribute directly to the nation’s development.
BEYOND THE RANK: MAKING CIVIL SERVICES ACCESSIBLE
Ananya hopes her achievement breaks the stereotype of civil services being an exclusive domain. She envisions a future where the administration is closer to the people, fostering a sense of accessibility and openness.
“I want to be very approachable and become a people-friendly administrator and walk with my people. This is my aim for the future.”
HER MESSAGE FOR THE ASPIRANTS
The message that she would like to give to the aspirants is – “There is no one way of preparing for this exam. Just enjoy the process, set benchmarks for yourself, understand the demands of the exam, and go forward. Please don’t lose hope. This exam has a lot of uncertainty and failures would be common. Work hard and sincerely and it will help you in the long run.”
Ananya’s story is a testament to the power of dreams, unwavering dedication, and a well-defined strategy. It serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring civil servants, particularly those from rural backgrounds, demonstrating that with hard work and focus, the UPSC dream can become a reality.
