This year UPSC results have been unprecedented for the sheer number of women success stories and one such is Smriti Mishra’s, who has been ranked 4^th in the all-India chart that the candidate from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, finds unbelievable and unexpected.

After completing her schooling from Agra, she landed in the national capital and took admission in Miranda House for her graduation in B.Sc. Later enrolled in Delhi University for Law and currently she is in her final year of LLB.

Ms. Mishra had only started preparing seriously for UPSC CSE amid the Covid outbreak. However, in 2021, she failed CSAT. She scored 120 in GS and 63 in CSAT. So getting an AIR-4, in her third attempt was not even part of her dreams.

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OVERWHELMED

“I didn’t actually expected rank 4, however, I knew I’ll make it but this rank actually surprised me in a good way,” she shared with Indian Masterminds. Not only this, but she also shares that as soon as the result was declared she screamed out so loud that her mother thought that something wrong has happened. “As the news broke, everyone was so overwhelmed.”

PREPARATION STRATEGY

To prepare for UPSC CSE, Smriti took regular coaching which helped her in making notes. Simultaneously, she followed standard textbooks, stayed updated with newspapers and magazines. “I made sure to make lots of notes as it helps during revision. It’s just not reading but jotting them down enhances your retention power,” she added.

OPTIONAL

Smriti’s optional subject was Zoology. She chose the subject as she stood second in the university and is pretty good at it. “I was confident enough that I will do well and I even began studying Zoology earlier than GS,” she added.

With Smriti’s background in law, the UPSC Interview panel quizzed her, “What would you choose, Life or Law?” She also faced general ones related to her Detailed Application Form (DAF).

HONEST MANTRA

Smriti advises aspirants to be honest with their efforts. She says that this is an exam which requires a lot of patience. “Do not worry about the results, this will show with time because I have been in this journey for long.”

She urges them to complete graduation before starting off with UPSC preparations. “I really want to work for the upliftment of women and society in general,” says Smriti Mishra, who is one of the 320 women who made their mark from among the total 933 successful candidates in UPSC CSE.