Aishwaryam Prajapati’s journey is not just a tale of academic achievement but also a testament to the power of unwavering commitment and sacrifice.
Aishwaryam recognized the importance of focused preparation early on in her UPSC journey. Determined to create an environment conducive to her studies, she took the bold step of renting a room near her home, away from the distractions of daily chores. This decision set the tone for her rigorous preparation regime.
The fear of exam was also another ghost that she banished by solving a number of test series.
Exclusively speaking with Indian Masterminds, Aishwaryam recounted her inspiring journey.
FROM L&T to IAS: JOURNEY SO FAR
After completing her engineering in 2020, Aishwaryam took upa job in Larsen & Toubro, for almost one year. But her UPSC desire forced her to left the job in 2021, and then, she moved to Prayagraj and started preparation.
She gave her first attempt in UPSC CSE-2022, but could not crack even prelims.
In her second attempt of UPSC CSE-2023, she cracked the prestigious exam with All India Rank 10th and going to become IAS officer.
Meanwhile, she also attempted two UPPCS attempts in 2022 and 2023, but was unable to crack it.
She said, “My greatest challenge was my fear of exams. During my first prelims, I even fell ill due to this anxiety. I realized that not taking enough practice tests was a major factor contributing to this fear, making it difficult for me to handle the pressure of the exam. Subsequently, I took about two months to analyze my situation and then dedicated my efforts to rigorous test preparation.”
BACKGROUND
She hails from Lucknow, UP. Her father is an Associate Professor in Institue of Co-operative & Corporate Management, Research & Training (ICCMRT), Lucknow, while mother a homemaker. She has two younger sisters.
She studied till 12th from Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial Schools, Indira Nagar, Lucknow. Then, she did B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from NIT Uttarakhand in 2020.
UPSC PREPARATION
She never joined any coaching, except for giving test series.Initially, Aishwaryam prioritized reading NCERT books and thoroughly revising them before delving into other standard textbooks.
She put significant emphasis on revision, going through each book approximately 10 to 15 times.
Additionally, she dedicated time to participating in various test series offered by coaching institutes, focusing on honing her exam-taking skills.
Aishwaryam maintained a rigorous study schedule, dedicating 8 to 10 hours daily to her studies.
She adopted a methodical approach, focusing on one subject at a time. After reaching her target for that subject, she would take a test to assess her understanding before moving on to the next topic. Following this, she prioritized revision to solidify her learning before progressing further.
RENTING A ROOM
During the first year of her preparation, which began after leaving her job in 2021, she resided in Prayagraj and undertook her studies there, ultimately sitting for her first attempt from this location. However, after a year, by the end of 2022, she relocated to Lucknow.
Seeking an environment conducive to better preparation, she rented a room near her residence to focus solely on her studies.
She explained, “Studying at home proved challenging for me. With a younger sister and a pet at home, disruptions were frequent, making focused studying difficult. Hence, I opted for a separate room to ensure uninterrupted study time.”
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Her interview proved quite intriguing, although she didn’t answer some questions. The panel queried her on a wide array of topics, ranging from her engineering background to her hobbies, current events, and international relations.
Regarding her previous role at L&T, one board member inquired about her responsibilities and the reason for her departure, as well as whether there should be a contractual bond preventing employees from leaving within a year.
Another member, aware of her singing hobby, requested her to sing a song. Subsequently, she renderred ‘O’ Palan Hare,’ a Krishna Bhajan from the movie Lagaan.
MESSAGE
Her message for UPSC aspirants is very clear. She said, “Limit your intake of new material and prioritize revision. With Prelims 2024 fast approaching, concentrate your efforts on preparing for that.”
“Take practice tests regularly, as many as you can manage. Don’t be discouraged by low scores in that; even I faced few tests initially, but diligence yields improvement over time. The primary benefit of these tests lies in mental readiness for the exam. Instead of letting setbacks demotivate you, focus on finding solutions to overcome them,” She further added.
