Who is Laghima Tiwari?
Laghima Tiwari is a marvel of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), which she won, securing All India Rank (AIR) 19 in the 2022 batch. From Delhi Technological University with a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, she broke into the elite group of CSE toppers in her first attempt via a very methodical self-study, unrelenting effort, and a very well-laid-out preparation plan.
Her incredible tale of success has inspired many UPSC aspirants in India.
Laghima Tiwari Biography
Full Name Laghima Tiwari
Profession Civil Servant
Rank in UPSC AIR 19 (UPSC CSE 2022).
Roll Number 0886301
Marks Obtained 1033
Optional Subject Anthropology
Hometown Alwar, Rajasthan
Current Residence New Delhi
Nationality Indian
Examination Medium English
Early Life and Education
Laghima Tiwari is a resident of Alwar, Rajasthan. She was brought up in a very pro-education and public service environment. She completed her schooling at New Green Field School in Saket, New Delhi.
After school, she went on to get a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Delhi Technological University (DTU). In 2021, she graduated and right away began preparation for the UPSC Civil Services Exam.
UPSC Journey
Laghima scored in the UPSC CSE 2022 at the first attempt and placed at AIR 19. Also, it came as a pleasant surprise for her as she did not think she would get into the top 20 in her first attempt.
Her preparation was a result of consistent study, which in turn was of a daily nature as opposed to intense study for large gaps of time. She reports that, which is to say, what works best for her is regular short-term dedicated sessions instead of a few very in-depth marathon study sessions at irregular intervals.
She put in about a year into the UPSC preparation, which she did very methodically through the syllabus and also put lots of stress on revision and answer writing.
Optional Subject
Although from an engineering background, Laghima chose Anthropology as her optional.
Her early experience in Biology from Class 9 to 12 did a great deal to present to her many anthropology concepts easily. She chose the subject out of interest and what she was comfortable with, which in turn resulted in a very strong performance in the exam.
Preparation Strategy
In the case of Laghima’s success, what is most amazing is that she did mainly self-study as opposed to classroom coaching.
Her preparation strategy included:
Building strong fundamentals through standard books
Regular revision of static subjects
Daily current affairs preparation
Consistent answer-writing practice
Practice tests for Prelims and Mains.
Learning from toppers’ interviews and strategies.
She stressed that what is important is consistency over the number of study hours.
Interview Experience
In the Personality Test, Laghima did very in-depth on:
Current affairs
Detailed Application Form (DAF)
Mock interviews
During her UPSC interview, which had put forth questions on her atypical name, environment issues, Project Tiger, Swachh Bharat Mission and a range of issues related to her background and interests.
She is of the opinion that what it takes for success in the interview stage is confidence, honesty, and awareness of current issues.
Family Background
Laghima had a very supportive family, which played a large role in her success.
Family Member Details
Father Satish Chand Tiwari (Teacher)
Mother Kanta Sharma (Homemaker)
Hometown Alwar, Rajasthan
Her dad is a teacher at a government school in Delhi, and her mom is at home with the kids. The family is very proud of her achievement.
One of the prime reasons for her UPSC preparation was to fulfill her late grandfather’s dream of a family member joining the civil services.
Recommended UPSC Books by Laghima Tiwari
Laghima used basic resources for her preparation:
Subject Book
Modern History of India: A concise account of the recent past of Indian civilization, which saw great changes.
Art and Culture: Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania.
Geography Certificate in Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong.
Maps Atlas
Polity Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
Economy Self-prepared Economy Notes
Environment Shankar IAS Environment
Internal Security and Emergency Response.
Advice for UPSC Aspirants
Laghima gives out the following to its aspirants:
Stay consistent every day.
Revamp instead of amassing too much material.
Learn from what you did in practice tests.
Start Mains preparation immediately after Prelims.
Focus on the ideas behind the material.
Keep at it with faith.
According to what she says, sustained over a long time, which in turn produces better results as opposed to a few intense study sessions.
Interesting Facts About Laghima Tiwari
Cleared UPSC CSE in her first try of 2022.
At the age of 23 secured AIR 19.
Graduated from Delhi Technological University.
Chose Anthropology as her optional subject.
Rested mostly on self-study and practice tests.
Of the family legacy which her grandfather left to see a member of our own do well in the civil services.
Advocates consistency over long study hours.
Conclusion
Laghima Tiwari’s UPSC story is that of a determined and hard-working individual who paid off in a big way. From an engineering background to the first attempt success, which saw her secure AIR 19, her story is a great source of inspiration to the large number of UPSC aspirants in the country.
Her stress on disciplined study, regular revision, and balanced preparation is what puts forward the fact that with the right strategy and great dedication, success in the UPSC examination is achieved.
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