Fifth time lucky! UPSC topper Shakti Dubey made failures her steppingstone to success

Prayagraj: Even after facing failure four times, she remained resolute in her aim of cracking the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) civil services exam, said to be the toughest in the country. And on Tuesday, when the results were declared, Sangam city's Shakti Dubey found her name right on the top of the merit list.

She claimed that internal motivation, consistent studies and family backing helped her clear the UPSC exam in her fifth attempt, bringing laurels to the city as well as parents.

Shakti was given a rousing welcome by family members and locals on arrival in her hometown, Prayagraj, on Wednesday from Delhi.

Shakti, who completed her undergraduate studies in biochemistry from the University of Allahabad and later studied at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), chose political science and international relations (PSIR) as her optional subject.

Talking to TOI, Shakti said: "Despite my science background, I chose political science and international relations as optional subjects due to my interest, and these subjects helped me achieve my goals."

She credited her success to her parents and teachers and claimed her father, Devendra Dubey, a sub-inspector in the traffic police in Prayagraj Police Commissionerate, has been a source of inspiration throughout her preparations.

She conveyed her message to fellow civil services aspirants to maintain consistency in studies, sincerity and motivation to achieve their goals.

She also suggested that one must maintain a balanced use of the internet and social media.

Revealing her success mantra, Shakti said: "I concentrated on studies for 8 to 10 hours daily and focused on basic books, the syllabus, NCERT, previous years' question papers, and mock tests."

Despite her clear appetite, hard work and vision, Shakti's journey was not easy.

Her first three attempts ended in disappointment at the preliminary stage.

In her fourth attempt, she cleared the Mains and reached the interview stage but missed the final selection by a narrow margin of 12 marks.

She said it was one of the hardest times in her life. However, persistence remained the key, and she committed herself even more to her goal. Supported by her family, her father in particular, she created a strict study schedule.

"I learnt from my previous mistakes and further worked on them and finally cleared the coveted exam," said Shakti adding, "I had a strong feeling to clear the prestigious exam but never imagined that I would top the civil services exam."

She advised fellow aspirants to work on their weaknesses and shortcomings, work hard, and not rely too much on vast strategies, scattered preparations and resources.

"Keeping minimum resources and a multiple revision strategy is the key to success," she said.

Shakti said UPSC was merely an exam, and it should not decide the course of one's life. "Our final goal should be to serve the nation in the end," she said.

Her family members claimed that Shakti had a clear vision of her life and always actively participated in debates and academic competitions.

These experiences not only expanded her interest in public policy and governance but also helped her develop critical thinking skills essential for a civil servant.

Shakti emphasised the importance of consistency, claiming that treating each day as a small step helped her stay motivated.

On dealing with stress during preparations, she said whenever she felt anxious, she would talk to her family members, particularly mother.