Ravi Kumar Sihag is a name that has been making rounds on social media platforms and news portals, ever since he cracked the UPSC examination with an all-India rank of 18 and became an IAS officer at the young age of 28. He hails from a small village called Tindiam in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, where he grew up amidst the fields and took care of the cows. However, he had a deep passion for studies since his childhood, and he was a brilliant student in school, consistently topping his class.

Early Life and Education

Ravi Kumar Sihag was born on 30th June 1994, and he belongs to the General category. His father was a farmer, and his mother was a homemaker. He completed his schooling till class 7th in his village school, after which he moved to Anupgarh School to complete his 10th and 12th schooling. He excelled in his academics and scored an impressive 95% in class 10th and 97% in class 12th. He pursued his graduation from Anupgarh College and completed it with political science, English literature, and economics, securing 75% marks.

The Road to Becoming an IAS Officer

After completing his graduation, Ravi Kumar Sihag harbored the dream of becoming a government employee. He realized that the IAS is one of the most prestigious and coveted government services in India and decided to pursue it. He took the UPSC examination for the first time and secured a rank of 443, and subsequently appeared three more times, with the fourth attempt being the charm that helped him secure the 18th rank.

UPSC Marks, Optional and Booklist

Ravi Kumar Sihag secured a total of 1022 marks in the UPSC examination. His optional subject was the Literature of Hindi language. He also had a well-planned booklist, which he followed diligently to achieve success in the examination.

Personal Life and Salary

As of now, Ravi Kumar Sihag is not married and has no girlfriend. He is currently in training and has not been posted yet. He stands tall at 6.1 ft and belongs to the General category. His salary as an IAS officer is approximately Rs. 1,14,089.

Ravi Kumar Sihag, a 25-year-old from Haryana, cleared the Civil Services Examination in 2020 with an All India Rank (AIR) of 16 and became an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer. He cleared the prestigious exam in his fourth attempt, which shows his determination and hard work. Let's explore Ravi Kumar Sihag's inspiring journey and learn from his experience.

Choosing an Optional Subject

Choosing an optional subject for the Civil Services Examination is an important decision that affects one's score and ranking. Ravi Kumar Sihag chose Hindi Literature as his optional subject. He struggled to decide on his optional subject and searched on Google about Hindi medium toppers’ copy. He found out that all the Hindi medium toppers use Hindi Literature as their optional subject. Then he decided that Hindi should be his optional subject.

Preparation for Current Affairs

Current Affairs is a crucial part of the UPSC exam, and it is important to stay updated with the latest developments. Ravi Kumar Sihag did not use any newspaper for his current affairs preparation. Instead, he followed the Dhristi current affairs website and wrote down the questions and answers in a notebook. He also used the Vision IAS PT365 book.

Dealing with Depression and Negativity

UPSC preparation is a long and challenging process that can take a toll on one's mental health. Ravi Kumar Sihag faced depression throughout his UPSC preparation. He advises talking to friends or family members who can inspire you when depression and negativity come into your mind. He also suggests leaving your study when depression comes and trying to relax for some time or days.

Study Routine

Ravi Kumar Sihag had a disciplined study routine during his preparation for the UPSC exam. He woke up at 5.30 am and spent 15 minutes on his workout to become fresh. After that, he took breakfast at around 6 am and went to the library around 7 am to start his study. He read from 7 am to 10 am and then took a 25-minute break. He continued his study from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm and took a break for lunch. He resumed his study again at 3.00 pm to 5.30 pm and then took a 20-25 minute break. He started again around 6.00 pm and ended his study at 8.00 pm.

Social Media Detox

Social media can be a distraction during the UPSC preparation. Ravi Kumar Sihag quit Facebook and Instagram for his UPSC preparation. He found that he unknowingly spent more than an hour on social media, which sacrificed his preparation. Therefore, he deactivated all his social media accounts.

Attempts to Clear the UPSC Examination

Ravi Kumar Sihag took four attempts to clear the UPSC examination. In the year 2018, he gave his first UPSC examination and scored 337 all over India but did not get the IAS rank. In the year 2019, he took another try on the UPSC examination and got a 317 rank but did not get the IAS rank. So, he tried again in 2020 and cleared the UPSC with AIR rank 16 and became an IAS officer.

Booklist for UPSC Preparation

Ravi Kumar Sihag followed a specific booklist for his UPSC preparation. For General Studies 1, he used Freedom Struggle– A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum, Bipin Chandra's old NCERT book, Nitin Sangwan's book for Post-Independence India, and Vision IAS notes for World History. For Art & Culture,

he referred to Nitin Singhania's book, Indian Art and Culture. For General Studies 2, he used Laxmikanth's Indian Polity, Ramesh Singh's Indian Economy, and Vision IAS notes for International Relations. For General Studies 3, he used Shankar IAS's Environment book, Mrunal's economy lectures, and Vision IAS notes for Science and Technology. For General Studies 4, he used Lexicon's Ethics book and Vision IAS notes for Ethics and Integrity.

It's important to note that while following a booklist can be helpful, it's not a guarantee for success in the UPSC exam. One's preparation strategy should also include consistent revision, practicing writing answers, and keeping oneself updated on current events.