UPSC CSE 2024 toppers: Who are Shakti Dubey, Harshita Goyal, Dongre Archit Parag? Here's what they did before becoming UPSC civil services exam toppers

India.com

23-04-2025

UPSC CSE 2024 toppers: Who are Shakti Dubey, Harshita Goyal, Dongre Archit Parag? Here's what they did before becoming UPSC civil services exam toppers
The UPSC Civil Services Exam is known for being one of the toughest in the country, a test not just of knowledge, but of patience, clarity, and determination. And topping this challenge in her very first attempt is Shakti Dubey, the All India Rank 1 holder for 2024. Hailing from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Shakti comes from a humble, hardworking family. Her father is a police officer, while her mother manages their home. But what made Shakti stand out wasn't privilege or special coaching, it was more than that.
Following her schooling, Shakti enrolled in the University of Allahabad, where she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. After completing her undergraduate degree in 2016, she went on to pursue a Master of Science in Biochemistry at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi. There hostel life, late-night discussions, and a vibrant campus culture broadened her horizons. It was there she discovered the value of listening to different opinions, questioning things — all traits that helped her in the UPSC exam. Her optional subject was Political Science and International Relations.
After finishing her postgraduation, Shakti briefly took up teaching, although specific details about her teaching assignments are not publicly documented. 2nd Rank – Harshita Goyal
Securing All India Rank 2, Harshita Goyal has emerged as a shining example of how diverse experiences can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Born in Haryana and brought up in Vadodara, Gujarat, Harshita's journey beautifully blends two cultural, the grounded ethos of the north and the academic vibrancy of the west.
A Chartered Accountant by training, Harshita completed her B.Com from MS University of Baroda. But instead of pursuing a typical corporate path, she set her sights on the civil services. Her choice was Political Science and International Relations as her optional subject, far beyond the world of balance sheets and audits. 3rd Rank – Dongre Archit Parag
Climbing to AIR 3 is Dongre Archit Parag from Pune, Maharashtra. A graduate in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from VIT Vellore, Archit was working in an IT firm when he decided to quit and chase his UPSC dream full-time.
Interestingly, this wasn't his first attempt — he had already cleared the UPSC CSE in 2023 with Rank 153. But ambition and persistence pushed him further. With his eyes firmly set on the top, he returned in 2024 and cracked the Top 3, becoming one of the highest-ranked candidates from Maharashtra this year.
His chosen optional subject was Philosophy. From his schooling in Mumbai to his years in Pune, Archit's story speaks volumes about long-term vision and quiet grit. About UPSC
The civil services examination is conducted annually in three stages — preliminary, main and interview — by the UPSC to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others.
The civil services (preliminary) examination, 2024, was conducted on June 16 last year. A total of 9,92,599 candidates applied for this examination, out of which 5,83,213 candidates actually appeared in the examination.
A total of 14,627 candidates qualified for appearance in the written (main) examination, which was held in September 2024. Out of these, 2,845 candidates qualified for the personality test or interview.
Of these, 1,009 candidates (725 men and 284 women) have been recommended by the commission for appointment to various Services.