UPSC Topper Aditya Srivastava: His Journey to Success in UPSC CSE 2023

The UPSC dream of many every year starts with a single step, but for some, it requires the courage to walk away from everything they’ve built. Every year, lakhs of aspirants sit for this prestigious exam, but only a few stories truly capture the nation's heart. The journey of UPSC topper Aditya Srivastava is one such tale of extraordinary risk and resilience. An IIT Kanpur graduate who left a high-paying ₹2.5 lakh monthly salary at Goldman Sachs, Aditya's path wasn't a straight line to the top. From failing his first prelims to becoming an IPS officer and finally clinching AIR 1 in 2023, his story is a masterclass in "smart work" over just "hard work".

Introduction to Aditya Srivastava

Aditya Srivastava achieved All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023. His success story highlights determination and strategic preparation. This blog explores his background, attempts, and the key elements of his remarkable journey, offering valuable insights for aspiring civil servants. His achievement serves as a blueprint for dedication and smart work.

Aditya Srivastava’s Education and Early Career

Aditya hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He completed his B.Tech and M.Tech degrees in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur. After graduating, he started his career as an analyst at Goldman Sachs in Bangalore, working there for 15 months. Driven by a strong desire to serve the nation, he later left his corporate job to focus on the UPSC Civil Services Exam. This was a pivotal step in Aditya Srivastava's biography.

Aditya Srivastava’s UPSC Journey and Preparation Strategy

His path to becoming the UPSC topper involved persistent effort. In his first attempt (2021), he did not clear the prelims. Undeterred, he reappeared in 2022, securing AIR 236 and joining the Indian Police Service (IPS). For his third attempt in 2023, he refined his Aditya Srivastava strategy, focusing on combining hard work with smart learning. This dedication led to his exceptional Aditya Srivastava rank 1 UPSC achievement. His UPSC CSE attempt reflects a growth mindset. 

Aditya Srivastava’s Marks and Optional Subject

He demonstrated strong performance across all stages of the exam. His optional subject was electrical engineering, aligning with his academic background and education. He scored high marks in the written mains and the interview. His marks reflect his thorough preparation, including excellent interview marks.

His detailed marks are presented in the table below:

Challenges and Success Story: The Journey to AIR 1

Aditya Srivastava’s path to the top was marked by calculated risks, resilience in the face of failure, and the ability to pivot his strategy. His journey is a testament to the fact that success in UPSC is often a "marathon, not a sprint."

The Corporate Sacrifice: After graduating from IIT Kanpur, Aditya secured a high-paying role as an Analyst at Goldman Sachs in Bengaluru with a monthly salary of approximately ₹2.5 lakh. However, driven by a childhood dream of public service, he made the difficult decision to resign after 15 months to focus entirely on UPSC. He often cites that leaving financial security was a significant mental hurdle, but necessary for complete dedication.

Initial Setback (2021): In his first attempt, Aditya faced a major challenge—he failed to clear the Preliminary stage. He missed the cutoff by a narrow margin (around 2 to 2.5 marks). Instead of being discouraged, he analyzed his performance and realized that while he was doing "hard work," he lacked "smart work" and a deep understanding of how UPSC frames questions.

The IPS Transition (2022): In his second attempt, he secured AIR 236 and was allocated to the Indian Police Service (IPS). While this was a major success, his ultimate goal was the IAS. He began his rigorous IPS training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad, which posed a new challenge: balancing demanding physical training with UPSC preparation for his final attempt.

Overcoming the "Burnout" Factor: Aditya has shared that managing a technical optional like Electrical Engineering alongside General Studies was exhausting. To overcome this, he used his optional as a "load lifter"—switching to numerical problems when he felt "burned out" from the heavy reading required for GS papers.

The "Third-Time Lucky" Moment: His success story culminated on April 16, 2024. Interestingly, Aditya mentioned in interviews that he was only hoping to get into the Top 70 to secure the IAS cadre. Seeing his name at Rank 1 was a moment of disbelief for him, proving that consistent refinement of one's mistakes can lead to results beyond expectations.