RankSheet

UPSC Mains 2025 · All India Rank 4

Raghav Jhunjhunwala — AIR 4, UPSC CSE 2025

Official UPSC marksWritten 847Interview 195Final 1042
13 answer copies
Read Raghav Jhunjhunwala's answer copies →
✦ Strategy & Learnings

How Raghav Jhunjhunwala Cracked the UPSC

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

ⓘ AI-generated from Raghav Jhunjhunwala's public interviews & coaching-institute features - not written or reviewed by them.
3rd
Attempt that secured AIR 4
1042
Final total marks
+35
Marks jump in Mains
2023
Attempt 1 - Mains
Appeared in Mains but did not reach the interview stage.
2024
Attempt 2 - Interview
Reached the Personality Test stage but did not secure the final goal.
2025
Attempt 3 - AIR 4
Secured All India Rank 4 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
📈

Preparation Strategy

Refining the approach across attempts

Raghav emphasizes the importance of a consistent, structured approach and learning from previous attempts.

Gradual improvement
He focused on refining his strategy across his three attempts, improving his preparation and revision.
Answer writing
He prioritized consistent answer writing, focusing on adding value through committees, data, facts, and diagrams.
80-20 Rule
He applied the 80-20 rule to PYQs, focusing on the 20% of themes that cover 80% of the questions.
📚

Optional Subject

Leveraging academic background

Raghav chose Economics as his optional subject, which aligned with his academic background from SRCC.

Academic foundation
His graduation in B.A. (Hons.) Economics from SRCC provided a strong base for his optional preparation.
Subject depth
He treated Economics as a core subject, focusing on understanding concepts rather than just rote learning.
🗣️

Interview Approach

Personality test preparation

The interview stage required a shift in focus from knowledge to personality and communication.

DAF-based prep
He utilized DAF-based interview preparation to ensure his answers were grounded in his personal background.
Handling stress
He learned to maintain composure under pressure, even when faced with difficult or unfamiliar questions.
Communication
He focused on articulating his thoughts clearly and maintaining a polite, humble demeanor during mock sessions.
📱

Smart Tech Usage

Leveraging digital tools

Raghav used social media and digital tools strategically to enhance his preparation.

Feed customization
He customized his social media feeds to follow relevant content, turning them into a source of current affairs.
Digital notes
He used digital platforms to curate and organize his notes, ensuring he could revise efficiently.

“Not letting it hamper your psyche is the key to go forward.”

— on handling failure

“Try to show the examiner that in my copy, there is a certain element which is not there in the competition.”

— on answer writing strategy

🎯 If You're Starting Out

  • Prioritize PYQs (Previous Year Questions) as your primary source of communication with the UPSC.
  • Focus on core subjects like Polity, Economy, and Geography; do not get distracted by excessive current affairs.
  • Do not let failure hamper your psyche; maintain a plan and start acting on it immediately.
  • In the interview, maintain composure and be honest if you are unaware of a topic, rather than guessing.
Where this came fromBiography and marks corroborated across 3 coaching-institute profiles; strategy details drawn from 2 interview/strategy videos.
← AIR 3 Akansh DhullAIR 5 Ishan Bhatnagar →

More UPSC 2025 toppers

← Browse all 1,692 toppers