logo
UPSC 2024: 21-year-old from Zirakpur bags 61st rank in first attempt

UPSC 2024: 21-year-old from Zirakpur bags 61st rank in first attempt

Hindustan Times23-04-2025

Aastha Singh, a 21-year-old from Peer Muchalla in Zirakpur, has secured All-India Rank 61 in the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, as per the results declared on Tuesday.
Aastha, currently working as an additional excise and taxation officer (AETO) with the Haryana government, cracked the exam in her first attempt—and did so without any coaching.
She is one of the five candidates from the tricity, four of them women, to feature among the top 300 ranks this year.
Her swift rise began in 2024 when she cleared the Haryana Public Service Commission exam with Rank 31, also in her first attempt. After serving just a few months as an AETO, she decided to appear for the UPSC.
Unlike the usual stories of long preparation and struggle, Aastha said she felt a natural calling for civil services. 'I took no coaching and decided to appear for my first attempt based on just self-study,' she said, adding that she hopes to work on issues like women empowerment.
Her father, Brijesh Singh, is a manager at a pharmaceutical company in Baddi, while her mother, Shalini Singh, is a homemaker. The family hails originally from Uttar Pradesh.
A graduate in Economics (Honours) from Delhi's prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Aastha is now set to become the first civil servant in her family.
Mohali girl realises late father's dream
In another inspiring story from Mohali, Ria Kaur Sethi from Sector 72 achieved AIR 89 in her fourth attempt.
It was her father, Jagjiv Singh Sethi, who passed away in 2017, who had encouraged her to aim for the civil services. 'It was always my father's dream that I become an IAS officer. While I'm delighted with my achievement, it breaks my heart that he's not here to see it,' Ria said. 'It's the sacrifices of my parents and brother that helped me crack this difficult exam.'
In 2022, she had reached the interview stage. She took a break from preparation the following year and joined the Punjab government under the Punjab Good Governance Fellowship Programme. There, she met IAS officer Aditya Dachalwal, who reignited her interest in the UPSC.
'I feel privileged to enjoy every opportunity in life and want to work towards creating equal opportunities for all,' she said.
A former student of St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, Ria went on to earn a BA in Economics (Honours) from Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Delhi, and an MA in Development Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Three more tricity candidates in Top 300
Making Panchkula proud, 28-year-old Tanvi Gupta from Sector 2 achieved Rank 187. A trained Bharatnatyam dancer who has represented Haryana nationally, Tanvi succeeded in her fifth attempt. She had earlier also cleared the UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) in Economics.
Over at Chandigarh, Vijaylakshmi Bishnoi, currently pursuing an LLM from Panjab University's University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), clinched Rank 233.
While her degree was set to end last year, she had sought an extension to submit her masters dissertation while preparing for the UPSC exam.
Originally hailing from Tohana in Haryana's Fatehabad district, she completed BCom LLB from UILS before her masters.
Also from Panchkula, Akansh Dhull, son of BJP leader and spokesperson Krishan Dhull, clinched Rank 295. A resident of Sector 12, Akansh holds a BCom (Honours) from SRCC, Delhi. He credits his mother, Nirmal Dhull, principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, Panchkula, as his biggest inspiration.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UPSC CSE Prelims Result 2025 Announced: What's Next?
UPSC CSE Prelims Result 2025 Announced: What's Next?

NDTV

time2 hours ago

  • NDTV

UPSC CSE Prelims Result 2025 Announced: What's Next?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially declared the result of the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025. The exam was held on May 25, and candidates who appeared for it can now check their results on the official UPSC website - How To Check UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Result: To download the result, follow these steps: Step 1. Visit the official UPSC website: Step 2. On the homepage, navigate to the "What's New" or "Examinations" section. Step 3. Click on the link titled "UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Result". Step 4. A PDF will open or download, containing the roll numbers of shortlisted candidates. Step 5. Use Ctrl+F to search for your roll number and check your qualification status. What's Next After Clearing the Prelims? Candidates who have qualified the Prelims are now eligible to appear for the UPSC Mains Examination 2025. But first, they must fill out the Detailed Application Form-I (DAF-I), which will be released soon by the Commission along with submission guidelines and deadlines. Only those who complete this step will be allowed to appear for the Mains exam. UPSC Mains 2025: Exam Structure & Papers The Mains is a descriptive written exam consisting of 9 papers, including: Paper I: Essay (250 marks) Papers II-V: General Studies I-IV (250 marks each) Papers VI & VII: Optional Subject Papers I & II (250 marks each) Paper A: Compulsory Indian Language (300 marks - qualifying) Paper B: English Language (300 marks - qualifying) The total marks for the Mains stage are 1750. Candidates who qualify the Mains will move on to the Interview stage (also called the Personality Test), which carries 275 marks. This final round assesses not only knowledge but also leadership qualities, clarity of thought, and ethical integrity.

95k apply for admissions in BEd, MEd courses against 58k seats
95k apply for admissions in BEd, MEd courses against 58k seats

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

95k apply for admissions in BEd, MEd courses against 58k seats

Indore: Admissions for BEd, MEd, BPEd, and MPEd courses across Madhya Pradesh saw a record-breaking response this year, with more than 95,000 registrations recorded for 58,000 seats available in the first round of admissions under the department of higher education (DHE). In Indore alone over 7000 applications were submitted. Officials now anticipate a significant rise in cut-off scores, especially for BEd, where the merit threshold may go up to 73-74%, compared to last year's 69-71%. With the registration and verification process for the first round now complete, the department of higher education is set to release the first allotment list on Thursday. Students, who will be allotted seats, will have to confirm admission and pay the fee between June 13 and 18. Despite two more rounds to follow, the first phase already witnessed over 83,000 locked registrations and 72,000 document verifications, making it the most competitive phase so far. BEd and MEd college association representatives have urged authorities to begin CLC (college level counselling) round early to ensure optimal seat utilisation. Last year, due to technical glitches, some seats remained vacant despite high demand. In total, 775 colleges across the state offer these teacher education programmes, with 69 affiliated to Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), Indore. Undergraduate programmes such as BA, BCom, and BSc have also seen renewed interest, despite BBA and BCA courses being shifted under the department of technical education. Admission experts attribute the surge to increasing preference among students preparing for competitive exams like MPPSC , UPSC , and police services. City college administrators believe that if technical issues are addressed timely, no seats will remain vacant this year. The second round for UG, PG and teacher education courses will begin with fresh registrations from June 13 to 18, followed by document verification, allotment lists, and fee payment as per revised schedules.

From fruit chaat seller to assistant professor: Tej Kushwaha's inspiring journey
From fruit chaat seller to assistant professor: Tej Kushwaha's inspiring journey

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

From fruit chaat seller to assistant professor: Tej Kushwaha's inspiring journey

Indore: In a testament to perseverance and determination, 31-year-old Tej Prakash Kushwaha, a native of a small village in Rewa district, achieved his dream of becoming an assistant professor in geography. His name figures among the successful candidates in the recently announced interview results of the MPPSC Assistant Professor Recruitment Exam 2022. Kushwaha hails from Bausadwa village in Jawa tehsil where his parents are engaged in farming. He completed his early education at a govt school in his village that went up only to Class 5, after which he moved to another town to continue his studies. Despite facing academic setbacks — he once failed Class 8—Tej went on to earn a BA and MA in geography from Allahabad University. His journey into competitive exams began with the UPSC, for which he prepared while living in Delhi for three years. After multiple attempts, he shifted his focus to the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) and moved to Indore in 2019. Though he cleared the prelims four times and appeared for mains, the interview round remained elusive. Faced with financial difficulties while preparing, Tej and three friends—Shubham Thakur, Suraj, and Pradeep—started a small venture named PSC Falahaar, selling fruit chaat near Bhola Ram Ustad Marg in Indore. "Expenses in Indore were rising, so we decided to serve fresh fruits to students and residents for just Rs.20," Tej told TOI. The group would visit the fruit mandi at 5am, prepare the servings, and take turns running the stall to balance work and studies. While their aim was to make Rs 200 each per day for their expenses, the venture became a success and expanded to multiple locations in Indore, eventually being replicated in 14 other states by students. In early 2025, Tej and his friends handed over the initiative to another group in need. Meanwhile, he cleared the UGC-NET and qualified for a Junior Research Fellowship in 2023, which allowed him to pursue a PhD at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya with financial support from the central govt. Determined to crack the MPPSC interview, he joined a coaching group for mock interviews and personality development. "We critiqued each other's communication and body language, which boosted my confidence," he said. His interview panel asked questions about his startup, the Rewa region, and Prayagraj—his place of higher education. "For questions I didn't know, I admitted it honestly and promised to learn." Tej scored 80 in the interview and was selected. "I come from a humble background. My father once worked as a labourer in Pune while my mother managed the farm. Today, I'm happy to make them proud." Now being in the field of education, Tej aims to attain the top positions. "I want to grow in academia and one day serve as a vice-chancellor," he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store