UPSC topper Shakti Dubey's powerful advice to aspirants: ‘Not more important than your life'
Shakti Dubey, who clinched the top rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, said she never imagined reaching the top, especially after four unsuccessful attempts. She also advised fellow aspirants to stay dedicated, but to never let an exam matter more than their well-being.
Dubey, who graduated from Allahabad University with a degree in a biochemistry, said that she missed the selection cut-off by 12 marks last year and did not expect to rank first this year.
When asked how her family reacted, Dubey said that her brother, who always believed in her, was sure that she would secure the top spot. "When I missed the cut-off, he told me that I would be able to clear the exam the following year as God had saved that spot for me. His words came true today," she said.
When the results were announced, Dubey was shocked to see her name on top and only believed when a teacher at her coaching institution contacted her. "I was very nervous. I thought the PDF [rank list] was fake at first. They [her coaching institute] confirmed that it was correct and they had verified my roll number as well. That's when I finally accepted that this has happened," she added.
Dubey also shared a message of support to all those aspiring to clear the UPSC examination and advised them not to be too hard on themselves if they miss out on success. "Always remember that this is just an examination. It is not more important than life. If you are confident that you can improve and if your family is supportive, that is all you need," she said.
Sharing her tips for aspirants, Dubey said that they must work with a minimum book list and focus more on the questions from previous years. She also suggested taking multiple mock tests to get used to the exam's conditions and focus on repeated revisions of the study material.
(Also read: 'We had no role to play': UPSC topper Shakti Dubey's parents credit her for success)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: What is Montreal Convention and why it matters for UPSC aspirants?
Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today. (Relevance: UPSC has asked questions regarding important conventions, particularly related to the United Nations. In this regard, knowing about the Montreal Convention and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) becomes important for your UPSC exam.) In the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade and the first involving a Boeing 787, a London-bound Air India passenger aircraft with 242 people on board crashed in a residential area shortly after take-off from the Ahmedabad airport on 12th June. The 11-year-old Boeing 787 aircraft—bearing registration VT-ANB—was operating flight AI-171 between Ahmedabad and London Gatwick airport. This is the first wide-body crash for an Indian airline in four decades. It is also the first crash of a Boeing 787 globally. The Tata Group, which owns the airlines, announced Rs 1 crore compensation to each of the kin of the victims. Air India will have to pay a compensation of around Rs 1.5 crore, as per the Montreal Convention treaty. 1. The Montreal Convention 1999, or MC99, is formally known as the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air. It was finalised under the aegis of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It provides a comprehensive and unified framework for the international carriage of passengers, baggage, and cargo by air, introducing several elements to balance the interests of travelers and the shippers of cargo and the aviation industry. 2. India signed the Montreal Convention on Civil Aviation in 2009 to become its 91st member. The provisions of this convention are implemented through the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Act 2009 in India, which was enacted to cover the international carriage of passengers, baggage, or cargo by airlines. 3. The convention imposes strict penalties on carriers for the death of passengers due to negligence and fixes a higher insurance premium for air disasters occurring on international flights. It sets liability limits for airlines, ensuring fair compensation for consumers in cases of injury, death, delay, baggage and cargo issues. It supersedes all previous international instruments on air carrier liability. 4. As per the Montreal Convention treaty, Air India will have to pay a compensation of around Rs 1.5 crore each to the kin of victims of the plane crash. Air India will get adequate compensation for the lost aircraft from insurance companies. 5. Compensation is calculated using Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), which stood at 128,821 SDRs (approximately USD 1.33 per SDR) as of October 2024. The actual payout will depend on the coverage purchased by Air India. 6. According to Article 23 of the Convention, 'The sums mentioned in terms of Special Drawing Right in this Convention shall be deemed to refer to the Special Drawing Right as defined by the International Monetary Fund. Conversion of the sums into national currencies shall, in case of judicial proceedings, be made according to the value of such currencies in terms of the Special Drawing Right at the date of the judgement.' 7. The primary insurers for the Air India policy are: Tata AIG General Insurance (lead insurer with over 40 per cent share), ICICI Lombard General Insurance, New India Assurance, and other PSU general insurers. The final bill will be taken by the reinsurers. Air India had paid a premium of $30 million (Rs 257 crore), the same as last year, for insuring over 300 aircraft. 1. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the temperature in the Air India plane, which crashed in Ahmedabad, was so high due to burning fuel that there was no chance to save the people. 2. This highlights the flammable nature of the aviation turbine fuel (ATF), which is used by airlines. Also, there have been concerns surrounding the carbon emissions from ATF. According to the International Energy Agency, in 2023, aviation accounted for 2.5% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, having grown faster between 2000 and 2019 than rail, road, or shipping. In regard to this, the Indian government has been working on the roadmap for introducing Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with ATF for domestic flights. 3. The decision is in line with the mandatory phase of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which will take effect from 2027. CORSIA, which applies to international flights, would require airlines globally to offset any growth in carbon dioxide emissions beyond the 2020 levels. 4. SAF is a biofuel that is produced from sustainable feedstocks and has chemistry similar to conventional ATF or jet fuel, which is derived from crude oil. This means that existing aircraft engines can easily use the SAF-ATF blend. Using jet fuel blended with SAF is one of the ways through which carriers can keep their emissions under permissible levels. Consider the following statements about the Montreal Convention on Civil Aviation: 1. India signed the Montreal Convention treaty in 2011 to become its 91st member, which was a collaborative effort between ICAO, WTO, and OECD. 2. The convention imposes strict penalties on carriers for the death of passengers due to negligence and fixes a higher insurance premium for air disasters occurring on international flights. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Source: India becomes member of Montreal Convention, Air India plane crash: Victims' kin may get up to Rs 1.5 cr each as insurance compensation, Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
India.com
a day ago
- India.com
Meet woman, whose mother worked as a labourer, cracked UPSC exam, became India's youngest IPS officer, later left it due to…, she is...
The journey to qualify all three phases of the Civil Services Examination is possibly one of the most difficult academic challenges in India, but there are some extraordinary candidates who not only clear the exam but clear it twice with impressive ranks. One such inspirational story is of a young woman, the daughter of a labourer, who overcame all odds to qualify the UPSC CSE exam not once, but twice, and demonstrated that with sheer resolve and determination, things can change against all odds. Hailing from a small village of Nimbi in Mahendragarh, Haryana, Divya Tanwar lost her father in 2011. Her journey was tough and full of hardships, yet she never lost hope. Speaking about her financial conditions, Divya's mother, Babita Tanwar, used to work as a labourer in the fields to care for Divya and her three siblings. Divya studied at government institutions and later at Navodaya Vidyalaya. She earned a degree in science. Soon, she started preparing for the UPSC examination. Divya took a different approach to succeed and relied on online resources and test series, rather than traditional coaching, to clear the UPSC exam. Divya cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination, in 2021 at the age of 21 and secured All India Rank (AIR) of 438. Thus, at 21, she was one of the youngest IPS officers in the country. Divya's secured an overall marks 930. In her written exam, she got 751 marks and 179 marks in the personality test in the UPSC Civil Services (MAIN) Examination, 2021. She belonged to the EWS category. Nonetheless, she wasn't happy and therefore, with the refreshed motivation, Divya again cracked the exam in the year 2022. This time she achieved an All India Rank (AIR) of 105. Divya got a total of 994 marks, consisting of 834 mark in the written exam and 160 marks in the personality test in the UPSC Civil Services (MAIN) Examination, 2022. Divya achieved her dream of being an IAS officer.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on significance of stromatolite formations and Kutch as a multi‑phased archaeological region (Week 106)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today's answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Discuss the importance of Kutch as a multi‑phased archaeological region spanning hunter‑gatherer, pre‑Harappan, and mature Harappan phases. Discuss the significance of stromatolite formations for understanding the tectonic evolution of the Himalayas and the Tethys Sea. Introduction — The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction. — It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts. Body — It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content. — The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points. — Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. QUESTION 1: Discuss the importance of Kutch as a multi‑phased archaeological region spanning hunter‑gatherer, pre‑Harappan, and mature Harappan phases. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Researchers have discovered human remains in the Great Rann of Kutch dating back at least 5,000 years before the Harappans. The finding is based on dating and analysing shell remains discovered in the late nineteenth century. — In 1872, Anglo-Irish geologist Arthur Beavor Wynne described 'a patch of large broken univalve shells' discovered 'all over the northern side of Kutch' in his memoirs for the Geological Survey of India (GSI). Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — A study reveals linkages between the Kutch midden site – archaeological sites where huge numbers of marine shells, bones, tools, and ceramics are generally found – and those in Oman and Pakistan along the coast of the northern Arabian Sea, where these pre-Harappan civilisations most likely resided. — A fresh group of archaeological remains was discovered about a km from the Harappan site of Dholavira near Bambhanka, the southernmost village on Khadir Beyt (island), on the road that connects the island to the Kutch mainland. — Khadir was one of six islands in this region where sea levels were higher until around 5,000-6,000 years ago, according to V N Prabhakar, an associate professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar's Department of Earth Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences. — 'The surface had broken potsherds, shell remains, and flakes of carnelian and agate, while on the surface were remnants of walls built with random rubble masonry,' Dr. Rai tells The Indian Express. A trench built for a pipeline on the hillock's western edge revealed a 30-40-cm-thick accumulation of shell remains. — The majority of the shell remains have been broken in the centre, most likely to extract meat. Similar findings from Pakistan's Las Bela region date back to the seventh and fifth millennia BCE, implying that hunter-gatherer tribes relied on shell remains for food and engaged in long-distance commerce within inland locales. Conclusion: — The study reveals the presence of coastal hunter-gatherer societies in the Great Rann of Kutch region that have adapted to the mangrove habitat, which is home to the shell species documented thus far, such as Terebralia palustris or the gigantic mangrove whelk. — Most sites are on river banks, about 2-2.5 km from the ocean, although some are farther inside, implying that the occupants hauled the sea shells inside. We were unable to reach the northern coast, which is a forested area, but there may be additional deposits. — The few remaining mangroves are discovered in the Little Rann of Kutch, southeast of Dholavira, near Lakhpat on the west coast, and at an inland area known as Shravan Kavadiya, northeast of Bhuj, which may have been the ancient shoreline. (Source: Stories in Kutch shells: Hunter-gatherers who lived in Gujarat 5,000 years before the Harappans and their cities) Points to Ponder Read about Dholavira Other Indus Valley civilisations sites in Gujarat Related Previous Year Questions The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment. (2015) To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss. (2014) QUESTION 2: Discuss the significance of stromatolite formations for understanding the tectonic evolution of the Himalayas and the Tethys Sea. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Stromatolites are the earliest known fossil records of life on Earth. These structures are formed by complicated interactions between microbial mat populations and their geochemical surroundings. — Stromatolites, which are reef-like structures formed by ancient cyanobacteria in shallow oceans, provide evidence of this evolution. These mineralised mounds, which may be found all over India, from the Vindhyas and Cuddapah Basin to the limestone ridges of the Himalayas, record a time when oxygen did not exist and continents had not collided. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — These ancient structures provide a glimpse into a time when the Earth's atmosphere was dominated by greenhouse gases and oxygen was nonexistent. Their location in the Himalayas, far from any contemporary coastline, tells a story about tectonic upheavals, lost oceans, and the microbiological origins of life. — Ancient microbial mats, primarily made up of blue-green algae or cyanobacteria, caught and bonded silt over time, resulting in layered, reef-like mounds. — Stromatolites are bio sedimentary structures formed in shallow maritime environments by blue-green algae. — As oxygen began to accumulate in the atmosphere, due to these early cyanobacteria, the Earth changed from anaerobic to aerobic conditions, clearing the way for multicellular life. Around 3.5 billion years ago, the only species to survive were single-celled bacteria that produced oxygen. When stromatolites, generated by cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, began creating oxygen, the Earth's atmosphere changed, allowing multicellular life to emerge. This extraordinary voyage, documented in our geoheritage, resulted in the emergence of trilobites, dinosaurs, and, finally, modern humans. — The Great Oxidation Event or Oxygen Catastrophe refers to the increase in oxygen levels in the atmosphere and oceans that occurred roughly 2.4 billion years ago. — Chambaghat's stromatolites are part of the Krol Group of sedimentary rocks, which include limestone, shale, and sandstone and were created in a shallow marine environment similar to the Tethys Sea. 'These stromatolite-bearing formations were laid down in a shallow marine sea called the Tethys Sea, before India collided with Tibet and the sea was squeezed out,' according to Dr. Ahluwalia. — This area was formerly part of Gondwana, a southern supercontinent that comprised India, South America, Africa, and others. The Indian plate's northward migration and collision with Eurasia raised marine deposits, including stromatolites, thousands of meters into the sky. These are shallow marine deposits found between 5,000 and 6,000 feet above sea level. Conclusion: — A massive outcrop of these stromatolites, dating back 600 million years, was recently discovered in the pine-clad mountains of Chambaghat in Solan district, prompting renewed calls for preservation and public engagement with India's geological legacy. — The oldest stromatolites, dating back 3.6 billion years, are found in Australia. — Other stromatolitic locations in India include Karnataka's Bhima Basin, the Aravalli Supergroup, and Madhya Pradesh's Kadapa Mountains. The older stromatolites can be found in the Shali-deoban area of the Himalaya. Younger stromatolites have a smooth arc and are laminated and hemispheric, whereas older ones are branching and columnar. (Source: 600-million-year-old stromatolites in the Himalayas tell the story of an ocean lost and Earth's first breath) Points to Ponder Read more about stromatolites Related Previous Year Questions How are the fjords formed? Why do they constitute some of the most picturesque areas of the world? (2023) Describe the characteristics and types of primary rocks. (2022) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 106) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 105) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 106) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 105) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 104) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 105) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
