https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Exclusive Interview With UPSC Topper Shubham Kumar, Shares Valuable Tips On How to Crack Civil Services Exam

“Never lose hope, believe in yourself, and practice a lot. You will reach your desired goal.” The young achiever also shares his UPSC preparation strategies.
Indian Masterminds Stories

UPSC 2020 topper Shubham Kumar is right now an extremely sought-after man. In between attending calls of well-wishers and media persons, Shubham took some time out of his busy schedule for Indian Masterminds, and spoke candidly on how to tackle the UPSC exam.

HOW HE PREPARED FOR UPSC

In an exclusive interview with Indian Masterminds, Shubham Kumar shared his preparation strategies and also revealed about his UPSC interview round. He said, “In the initial years, I did some coaching for my preparation. However, apart from that, I always read books that enhanced my knowledge.”

NACS President Retired IAS officer BK Prasad congratulating Shubham Kumar (Credit: Twitter- NACS)

Shubham had a clear strategy for preparation right from the beginning, “I always focused on my core syllabus, limited my sources, and revised my topics regularly. To keep myself updated, I read current affairs daily. Simultaneously, I took a lot of mock tests to prepare myself.”

Shubham shunned social media. He totally stayed away from it during his preparation days. “Till date, I do not have any official account. Although, I have to be a part of it now,” he quipped.

WHAT MADE HIM CHOOSE ANTHROPOLOGY

Being a graduate from IIT Bombay, it is surprising that Shubham chose Anthropology as his optional subject. On being asked why he chose this subject, he said that he always had an interest in social science. However, he never got the opportunity to study it, as he was pursuing engineering from IIT Bombay. “When I started preparing for UPSC, I compared other social science subjects with Anthropology, and I found the syllabus of Anthropology very interesting. It was one of my core interests anyways, and I was certainly good at it. That’s when I realized that I can score good marks in this subject,” he said.

Shubham Kumar celebrating with friends and family after the result (Credit: Social Media)

HOW THE INTERVIEW ROUND WENT

To everyone who is curious to know what type of questions was asked by the panelists in the viva round, this is what Shubham had to say: “My interview round was pretty decent this time. I was mainly asked about my rural background. Few questions were based on the Afghanistan issue and current affairs. While some questions were based on my college and engineering backgrounds. ”He revealed that the chairman of the panel also asked him, what will be his strategies if he was made the DM of his area for two years.

https://twitter.com/ndtv/status/1442307987280855042?s=20

VAULABLE TIPS TO HANDLE PRESSURE

On what tips he wishes to give to UPSC aspirants, Shubham replied, “You have to be confident enough during the period of preparation.” However, he thinks, “it’s totally normal to be fearful because the journey of UPSC is such that one goes through end number of emotions.” Every topper goes through this phase, he assured.

DM Kishanganj Welcomes Shubham Kumar in Bihar (Credit: Twitter-NACS)

Shubham ends on a positive note. “Never lose hope, believe in your syllabus, practice a lot, and focus on your strength. Work hard and you will reach your desired goal,” are his parting words of advice to all UPSC aspirants.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
OMC
Odisha Mining Corporation Wins 22 Awards at CCQC 2025, Showcases Excellence in Quality and Innovation
Allahabad high court
Ex-IPS Officer Files PIL in Allahabad High Court Challenging Chief Minister’s Exemption in UP Lokayukta Act
Punjab-Haryana-High-Court-resized
Punjab & Haryana High Court Initiates Contempt Proceedings Against 9 Police Officers, Including 4 IPS Officers, Over FIR Delay
ONGC-Videsh
Dulal Halder Appointed as Director (Operations) of ONGC Videsh Limited, Poised to Drive Global Energy Expansion
cbi
CBI Leadership Boost: IPS Astha Modi Appointed as SP, Raguramarajan Gets Tenure Extension Till 2026
Rafale Fighter Jets
IAF Considers Indigenous Uttam Mk2 AESA Radar for Rafale Jets in $20 Billion Deal
PM Modi @ Purnea
PM Modi Unveils Rs 36,000 Crore Infra Projects in Bihar's Purnea, Launches Flights, Power Plant, Rail Links; Purnea Airport Terminal Inaugurated
IPS Umesh Kumar Chaurasiya Karnataka DGP
Who Is IPS Umesh Kumar Chaurasiya? From Bihar Village to DGP Rank in Karnataka
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
K M Abharna IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
Meet K. M. Abharna, the IFS Officer Behind Avni’s Case and Vidya Balan’s Sherni Role
IFS Parveen Kaswan Interview
IFS Parveen Kaswan: Frontline Defender of India’s Wildlife and Jaldapara Rhino Protector | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
Irfan Rasool Wani IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
Conserving Kashmir’s Green Heritage: IFS Officer Irfan Rasool Wani on Restoring Wular Lake
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Ishwarlal Gurjar UPSC
10th Grade Failure to Indian Police Service: Ishwarlal Gurjar’s UPSC Success Path
Read the inspiring journey of Ishwarlal Gurjar from a small village in Rajasthan to becoming an IPS officer....
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
Social Media
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...
Tamil Nadu Gaur Rescue
Tiruchirappalli Forest Officials Risk Lives to Rescue Juvenile Gaur; Video Shared by IAS Officer Goes Viral
Trichy forest and fire teams risk lives to rescue a juvenile Indian gaur; IAS officer Supriya Sahu shares...
IAS Medha Roopam
IAS Medha Roopam’s Inspiring Dedication in Flood-Hit Noida Goes Viral: Focuses on Relief, Education Amid Heavy Rains
Books in One Hand, Umbrella in Other: Noida DM Medha Roopam Leads Flood Relief from the Front
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
OMC
Odisha Mining Corporation Wins 22 Awards at CCQC 2025, Showcases Excellence in Quality and Innovation
Allahabad high court
Ex-IPS Officer Files PIL in Allahabad High Court Challenging Chief Minister’s Exemption in UP Lokayukta Act
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
K M Abharna IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
IFS Parveen Kaswan Interview
Irfan Rasool Wani IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT