How a PhD dropout became the Indian Forest Service topper: Kanika Anabh's journey of grit and persistence
Kanika Anabh
, who secured Rank 1 in the
Indian Forest Service
(IFS) exam 2024 after three attempts, highlighted the importance of persistence and strategic preparation in cracking one of India's toughest competitive exams. Kanika shared how her approach evolved significantly by her third attempt. She revealed that while initially focusing heavily on prelims, she later balanced her preparation between mains and prelims more effectively.
'Until December, I focused on mains. From January to May, I shifted to prelims prep—solving questions, reading current affairs, and revision,' she explained in an interview with
The Indian Express
. She also described how she mastered Forestry, a critical optional subject, in just six weeks using online courses and topper notes, showing how smart
study techniques
mattered more than sheer hours.
She shared that her journey to securing All India Rank 1 was far from smooth. After leaving her PhD program in 2021, she revealed she faced multiple setbacks in her first two attempts before finally achieving success in her third. 'There's no formula, but there is persistence,' she said, emphasizing how every attempt taught her valuable lessons.
Strategic Preparation and the Power of Mentorship
She explained that her choice of optional subjects—Zoology and Forestry—was closely aligned with her academic background and the technical nature of the Forest Service. Kanika detailed how her preparation strategy evolved over time: initially focusing on prelims, then shifting to mains before intensively revising prelims closer to the exam date. Remarkably, she revealed mastering Forestry in just six weeks through online courses and topper notes, highlighting the importance of smart work over rote learning.
Kanika also credited mentorship for playing a critical role. She shared, 'A good mentor makes a huge difference… helps cut through the noise,' explaining how targeted guidance helped her navigate the overwhelming information during preparation. Unlike many aspirants, she did not rely on traditional coaching but used online resources and selective mentorship to stay focused.
— JNU_official_50 (@JNU_official_50)
Balancing Routine, Social Media, and Mental Fortitude
On her daily routine, Kanika told how she typically studied 8 to 9 hours a day, avoiding early mornings but dedicating consistent time to weaker areas like CSAT. She admitted to temporarily deactivating social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to avoid distractions during crucial preparation phases.
Kanika also opened up about the emotional challenges she faced, saying that after every failure, moments of doubt arose but she never seriously considered quitting. 'I'd ask myself, 'What more can I do?' then rebuild from there,' she shared, underscoring the resilience required to keep going despite setbacks.
Inspiration for Aspirants and Future Plans
To others on the same demanding path, Kanika advised that clarity, consistency, and resilience matter more than sheer hours of study. 'Every attempt teaches you something. If you're honest with yourself about what went wrong and work on that, success will come,' she explained.
Looking ahead, Kanika revealed that her service training will begin soon. She expressed gratitude for the journey's uncertain nature and the eventual success that crowned her efforts, offering inspiration to countless aspirants chasing their dreams with grit and smart hustle.
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