RankSheet

UPSC Mains 2024 · All India Rank 9

Aditya Vikram Agarwal — AIR 9, UPSC CSE 2024

Official UPSC marksWritten 854Interview 173Final 1027
8 answer copies
Read Aditya Vikram Agarwal's answer copies →
✦ Strategy & Learnings

How Aditya Vikram Agarwal Cracked the UPSC

Preparation approach, subject-wise strategy, and interview mindset - compiled from public interviews and coaching-institute features.

ⓘ AI-generated from Aditya Vikram Agarwal's public interviews & coaching-institute features - not written or reviewed by them.
5th
Attempt that worked
AIR 9
UPSC CSE 2024 Rank
10-12
Daily answer writing target
7-8
Daily study hours
2020-2023
Attempts 1-4 - Setback
Aditya faced four consecutive failures before achieving success in his fifth attempt.
2024
Attempt 5 - Success
Secured AIR 9 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024.
📚

Prelims Strategy

Focusing on conceptual clarity and revision

Aditya emphasized a disciplined approach to the preliminary stage, prioritizing depth over breadth.

Resource management
Prioritized multiple revisions of standard books like NCERTs, Spectrum, and Laxmikanth rather than chasing new materials.
Mock test practice
Solved 50+ full-length mock tests under simulated exam conditions to master elimination techniques and intelligent guessing.
✍️

Mains Strategy

Structured answer writing and syllabus mapping

The mains preparation was centered on systematic note-making and rigorous daily practice.

Syllabus mapping
Ensured every syllabus topic was covered by 1-2 pages of crisp, concise notes.
Answer writing
Practiced 10-12 answers daily at peak, incorporating value-addition material like committee recommendations and statistics.
Time management
Used a strict time-frame strategy during practice: 7 minutes for 10-mark questions and 10 minutes for 15-mark questions.
🗣️

Interview Approach

DAF analysis and mock sessions

Aditya treated the personality test as a process of self-awareness and balanced communication.

DAF preparation
Prepared answers for every potential question derived from his Detailed Application Form (DAF).
Mock interviews
Attended multiple mock interviews to gain structured feedback on honesty, clarity of thought, and balance of views.
🧘

Routine & Balance

Maintaining mental and physical health

Aditya maintained a consistent routine to handle the psychological pressures of the long preparation cycle.

Daily routine
Followed a disciplined schedule: early morning exercise, followed by library sessions from 8:00 AM to 6:00-7:00 PM.
Hobbies
Used cooking and Kriya yoga to refresh his mind and stay focused during challenging phases.

“UPSC hi ek path nahi hai. Agar aap kisi bhi field mein hain... toh UPSC hi way nahi hai aapko serve karne ka nation. Aap apni field mein best bane.”

— on his philosophy regarding career paths

🎯 If You're Starting Out

  • Prioritize multiple revisions of a single, reliable source over reading many different books.
  • Use previous year question papers (10-12 years) to identify the UPSC pattern and align your answers accordingly.
  • Limit social media usage to avoid 'doom-scrolling' and unnecessary psychological pressure.
  • Maintain a consistent, disciplined daily routine to manage the long-term stress of the preparation cycle.
Where this came fromBiography and marks facts were corroborated across three coaching-institute profiles; strategy details were drawn from one interview video and three corresponding blog posts.
← AIR 7 Aayushi BansalAIR 11 Ettaboyina Sai Shivani →

More UPSC 2024 toppers

← Browse all 1,692 toppers