With an All India Rank 10 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023, IAS Aishwaryam Prajapati has become an inspiration for many aspirants. Her journey mirrors the picture of struggle, planning, and a strong determination to give back to the nation. The article presents her life story, UPSC preparation, marks, study plan, and personal views.

Early Life and Education

Aishwaryam was born in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, in 1997 and brought up in a family of doctors and professors. Her father, Ram Kamal Prasad, is an Assistant Professor at ICCMRT, and her mother, Urmila Prajapati, is a housewife. The parents had a significant influence on her confidence and aspirations.

Aishwaryam had her schooling at Rani Lakshmibai Senior Secondary School, Lucknow, where she was always among the top students. She then pursued her B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from NIT Uttarakhand (2016–2020). After completion of her studies, she was hired by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at Visakhapatnam, where she spent almost a year. She made a difficult but wise decision to resign in August 2021 and devote herself entirely to preparing for UPSC, as she concluded that her true vocation was in public service rather than in a corporate job.

UPSC Journey: From Setbacks to Success

The story of Aishwaryam and her journey through UPSC is a mark of the fact that victory is not always in an instant, but hard work is strongly rewarded.

First Attempt (2022)

Her decision to prepare was in October 2021, which was just months before the Prelims. Since time was limited, she was not able to finish the entire syllabus of Prelims, and consequently, she was not able to clear the first stage. However, her thorough preparation for the Mains and the optional subject was the cornerstone that built the next attempt's foundation.

Second Attempt (2023)

Aishwaryam, through a well-structured routine, focused revision, and mock test practice crossed all the hurdles - Prelims, Mains, and Interview - and got the 10th position in the merit list. Her answer writing skills and clarity of thought contributed greatly to her getting a high score.

UPSC CSE 2023 Marksheet

Her marks show that she maintained the same standard in both the written and the personality test phases.

Optional Subject Strategy: Why Sociology Worked

Aishwaryam chose Sociology as her optional subject and scored 297 in it. The subject suited her analytical mind, and she would often enrich her answers by introducing sociological theories and current examples. Writing the answers, making diagrams, and drawing flowcharts were the major forms of her preparation methods, which she supplemented with daily practice.

Key Preparation Principles for Aspirants

The key study habits are the foundation of her success:

Regular practice of writing answers with concise introductions and significant conclusions
Mixing of the latest news with the answers for GS and optional papers
Self-evaluation and time management through taking mock tests regularly
A regular study schedule with a target set for each week

According to her, UPSC is not only a test of knowledge but also a test of patience, emotional stability, and determination.

Private Life and Goals

Aishwaryam has not lost her connection to her birthplace, Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh, despite her success. Her plan for the future is to participate in social upliftment activities, especially women's empowerment and educational reforms, with her help. She sometimes posts her progress and motivational quotes on Instagram using the handle anurvi_m.