Saurabh Sharma, a 22-year-old resident of Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, has aced the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) in his very first attempt, bagging an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 23. This achievement is particularly inspiring considering his age and background – a graduate from the prestigious IIT Delhi and a former business analyst at McKinsey & Company.
This young and proud officer shared his journey exclusively with Indian Masterminds.
INSPIRED FROM IPS BROTHER
Born in Fatehpur, Saurabh’s family roots lie in Bihar. After graduating from IIT Delhi in 2022, he landed a coveted role at McKinsey & Company. “I worked there for over a year as a Business Analyst,” Saurabh shared with Indian Masterminds.
However, his dream lay in serving the civil service. With a strong desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives, and perhaps inspired by his own brother, a 2018 batch IPS officer Pushkar Sharma of Chhattisgarh cadre, he decided to take the plunge and devote himself to UPSC preparation in April 2023.
ROBOTIC EXECUTION FOR PREPARATION
“I started preparing for civil service examinations from my college itself,” Saurabh shared. The journey wasn’t easy. While working, it wasn’t possible for him to give the required time to his preparation. After resigning from his job, he went all in, following a disciplined and strategic approach. “I didn’t do any special preparation, it was a very robotic execution of all the plans and targets which I made,” he shared.
THE STORY BEHIND SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL
He opted for Sociology as his optional subject, a field that had piqued his interest during his humanities courses in college.
“Sociology became my gateway to understanding society. Initially introduced to the subject as an elective in college, I found myself drawn to it. The more I delved into its intricacies, the more captivated I became. What began as a requirement for humanities courses soon transformed into a passion,” Saurabh shared. He enrolled in five sociology courses, each one deepening his appreciation for the field. It became clear to him that if he wanted to truly comprehend the complexities of society, sociology was the path to follow.
SUCCESS AT AN EARLY AGE
Saurabh credits his success to a combination of factors – laying a strong foundation in the early stages, focused preparation after leaving his job, and effective stress management techniques like Vipassana meditation and running. “It was an utmost surprise for my family and me that I cleared UPSC CSE with AIR 23 in my very first attempt,” Saurabh Sharma shared.
His journey stands as a testament to the strength found in determination, perseverance, and a focused outlook. It shines as a guiding light for those aspiring to serve in the civil sector, demonstrating that achievement knows no boundaries of origin or profession.
“If you do a lot of hard work, eventually you will get what you want,” he concluded.
