Harshita Goyal's UPSC preparation strategy: From CA to AIR 2 with VisionIAS Foundation

Time of India

12-05-2025

Harshita Goyal's UPSC preparation strategy: From CA to AIR 2 with VisionIAS Foundation
Harshita Goyal
, who scored
All India Rank 2
in the
UPSC
Civil Services Examination 2024, has shown that a strong basis, constant effort, and clarity of intent can turn an aspirant into a topper. Her path from a Chartered Accountant to one of the top civil services achievers in the nation captures the core of inner drive and targeted ambition.
As shared by
VisionIAS
, she recently discussed in great detail her method in a recent
Topper's Talk session,
a proud student of the
VisionIAS Classroom Foundation Course,
offering useful UPSC guidance for aspirants at every stage of their UPSC journey.
Watch: Talk of VisionIAS Topper Harshita Goyal (AIR 2)
AIR 2 YT Thumbnail
Foundation: Establishing the groundwork with VisionIAS
Having passed her Chartered Accountancy,
Harshita
enrolled in the
VisionIAS Classroom Foundation Course
in 2022. She says that her preparation has been much aided by this choice:
"Foundation Course, as the name suggests, created a foundation for me for my further studies."
– Harshita Goyal (AIR 2), at VisionIAS Toppers' Talk.
At first unsure of how to start, VisionIAS's structure and direction guided her across the large UPSC syllabus. She made sure she was actively involved, even though she studied online by conducting consistent searches and careful assignment writing. Her three attempts were supported by classroom notes, which she found to be rather relevant.
Her preparation gained consistency and clarity from regular answer writing, class-based assignments, and revision tools, including QRM and
monthly magazines
, reflecting the reach of the best UPSC coaching in Delhi, even in remote learning.
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Organised resources and fundamental materials
Harshita stressed the need to depend on set, ordered resources. While VisionIAS classroom notes anchored her preparation, additional tools for conceptual grounding included Quick Revision Materials (QRM), Monthly Magazines, PT365, and NCERTs. She refined rather than replaced these materials throughout her efforts.
Prelims strategy: Consistency and accuracy
After two setbacks in the first two attempts, Harshita went to her third Prelims with a more strategic approach:
●
Her compass was PYQs:
She analysed PYQs not only for improvement but also for the identification of recurrent themes and direction of concentrated study.
●
CSAT was taken seriously:
She especially used PYQs and classroom tests to address her weak areas through regular practice.
●
Current affairs:
Read newspapers daily (non-negotiable), supplemented with monthly magazines/PT 365. She was focused on revising factual information.
●
Smart revision:
She avoided using fresh materials near the test and instead repeatedly went over familiar notes.
●
Mocks for confidence:
Exams like the
All India Prelims Test Series
and
Abhyaas
helped her to shape her test attitude.
●
Attempt strategy:
She tried 98 questions on the real test and observed that the strategy has to match personal risk-taking capacity.
"The more mistakes you make in mocks, the more you learn—and the less likely you are to repeat them in the real exam," Harshita says.
The Mains strategy: Practice, presentation, and completion
Harshita's approach to tackling the Mains exams was quite practice-oriented:
● She solved the
PYQs
for the past five years, learning answer structure by comparing them with topper copies.
● Emphasising structure and coherence, she stressed
finishing all answers
, including writing even when unsure.
● Early on,
classroom assignments
helped develop writing discipline.
● Especially in difficult areas,
note-making
was smart like digital for reading and reference, handwritten for memory retention.
● Budget/Eco Survey summaries,
Mains 365,
and high-frequency theme use of diagrams drove GS3 preparation.
●
Essay and Ethics:
Regular essay practice for Harshita came from copies of toppers, newspapers, and peer reviews. In Ethics, for values like integrity and empathy, she drew on stakeholder diagrams, tables, and clear, concise examples. Further
, VisionIAS Ethics lectures
and
toppers' answers
formed her basis, applied with structure and clarity.
Interview: Presence of mind over perfection
● Harshita stressed thorough DAF-based preparation—that is, practising questions for every keyword.
● She brainstormed using ChatGPT and peer review.
● Her interview readiness centred mostly on personality qualities, including empathy, calmness, and articulation
Attitude, drive, and handling obstacles
● Early setbacks notwithstanding, Harshita stayed grounded and optimistic.
● She stayed close to her basic inspiration: family support and social responsibility.
● Equipped with interests (painting, movies, Ludo) and exercise for balanced preparation.
Harshita quotes, "UPSC is a part of life, not life itself. Ordinary efforts done consistently lead to extraordinary results.'
In essence, a blueprint for resilient and introspective preparation. Harshita's UPSC strategy and direction show the value of consistent self-belief, timely mentoring, and disciplined learning. Her focus on classroom UPSC study material, rigorous practice, early answer writing, and emotional fortitude provides aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination with a clear, practical road map.
FAQs: Harshita Goyal UPSC AIR 2, 2024
1.
How did Harshita Goyal begin UPSC prepparations after CA?
Answer:
She joined the
VisionIAS Foundation Course
(2022) to build a structured base and navigate the vast syllabus.
2.
What resources did Harshita Goyal use?
Answer:
She relied on VisionIAS notes, QRM, Monthly Magazines, PT365, and NCERTs, focusing on consistent revision.
3.
How did she crack Prelims after two failures?
Answer
: By analysing PYQs, strengthening CSAT, taking mock tests, revising familiar notes, and refining her attempt strategy.
4.
What was Harshita Goyal's Mains strategy?
Answer:
She focused on daily answer writing, structured presentation, using Mains 365, topper copies, and peer feedback.
5.
How did she prepare for the interview?
Answer:
Through DAF-based questions, mock practice, and emphasising calmness, clarity, and empathy over perfection.
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