1st Attempt UPSC Topper Aastha Singh AIR- 61, Success Story

UPSC Topper Aastha Singh: Aastha Singh, 21 years old, has cracked the UPSC Civil Services Exam in her very first attempt. She is among the youngest IAS officers of India who have cleared the UPSC Civil Services at this young age. Her journey is very inspiring as well as extraordinary because she achieved this success without joining any full-time coaching classes.

With disciplined self-study, consistent efforts, strategic revision, and resilience, she cleared the UPSC Civil Services Exam in her first attempt.  

Further, she mentioned that enrolling in the PW Only IAS Mock Interview course proved to be a big boost for her final round preparation. It provided her with various kinds of questions that may be asked in the Interview round and helped her to strategise how she should frame her answers.

Who is Aastha Singh UPSC AIR 61?

Aastha Singh is an inspiration who cleared the UPSC Civil Service exam in her very first attempt with UPSC Rank 61. She was born and raised in Panchkula, Haryana. Aastha Singh completed her graduation in June 2023 from Shri Ram College of Commerce. After completing her graduation, she was determined to go for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, and little did she know that she would crack it in her first attempt. At just such a young age of 21 years, Astha Singh became the youngest aspirant to secure a UPSC AIR 61.

Aastha Singh UPSC Biography

Aastha Singh has always displayed academic brilliance, right from scoring 99% in her Class 12 board exams and becoming a district topper. She pursued Economics Honours from Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) and graduated with an impressive CGPA of 9.1. She opted to prepare for the UPSC from the comfort of her home with all reliable study materials available.  

Later, she joined the PW Only IAS Mock Interview Course to strengthen her Interview preparation, and it was a huge success. The strong academic foundation and conducive study atmosphere at home helped her grasp even the most complex concepts with ease, especially her Economics optional.

Aastha Singh UPSC Rank 61 Preparation Strategy

Astha Singh depended on consistency and revision. She did not join any coaching classes but prepared for the UPSC exam with limited resources. She again emphasised self-study and revision, and while doing so, she mentioned the following strategies she chose for preparation:

• Minimalist, revision-oriented apC previous year questions and revised them at least three times.
• Dedicated prelims phase (Jan–June 2024):

1. Studied exclusively for prelims for 5 to 5.5 months.

2. She limited her study material to avoid confusion.

3. Carried out extensive analysis of past papers.

• Mains preparation during HCS training: She managed to balance her schedule while undergoing Haryana Civil Services training.
• Consistency: Studied approximately 6 hours a day during this busy period.

Aastha Singh UPSC Optional Subject Preparation Strategy

Aastha Singh UPSC Rank 61, chose Economics as an optional subject for the UPSC exam. It aligned with her educational background. Here is how she prepared for the optional subject:

• For Economics alone, she chose recorded classes because of the technical and analytical nature of it.
• Aastha Singh prepared for Economics through standard reference books and class notes from recorded sessions.
• She practised PYQs and emphasised how to minimise her mistakes.
• She learned about current economic issues and concepts through various online applications and newspapers.

Aastha Singh's Study Schedule and Time Management

Aastha Singh managed her time correctly. She distributed her time equally amongst all the subjects, apportioning adequate time to Prelims, Mains, and the Interview Round of the UPSC exam. She did not believe in studying for long hours but in studying effectively and with focus.

Here is her daily routine during her UPSC preparation: 

Aastha Singh's Approach to Writing Answer

Aastha Singh UPSC marksheet has not been released in the public domain yet. UPSC will release it soon after the final DAF processes. For her answer writing, she focused on:

• Structured Answers: Aastha focused on presenting her answers in a clear and well-organised manner to maximise readability and impact.
• Understanding Examiner Psychology: She stressed the need to orient responses to what the examiner is expecting in order to make the responses relevant and to the point.
• Learning from PYQs: She analysed the previous years’ questions and refined her approach to answer writing.
• Consistent Mains Practice: She practised answer writing regularly during her mains preparation to develop speed, clarity, and confidence.

Aastha Singh UPSC Rank 61 Interview Preparation with PW 

Aastha found the PW Only IAS mock interviews very helpful, and these indeed formed the bedrock of her performance in the Interview Round. 

• These sessions helped not only in increasing her confidence level but also in deeper self-introspection, wherein she understood her strengths and areas of improvement.
• Guided feedback cleared her articulation and clarity of expression, helping her to say exactly what she wanted to communicate. 
• The mock interviews she went through exposed her to the roller coaster of unpredictable and difficult questions, which finally prepared her for anything that could come up in the UPSC interview.

Books and Resources Used By Aastha Singh

Aastha Sign prepared for the UPSC Civil Service Exam using the following resources.

• NCERTs (6–12)
• Standard UPSC books for Polity, History, Geography
• Recorded coaching for the Economics optional
• YouTube explainer videos
• Monthly current affairs magazines instead of daily newspapers
• Telegram notes & PYQs

Why Aastha Singh UPSC Rank 61 Story Matters?

What makes the journey of Aastha particularly remarkable is that she started her UPSC preparation rather late and solely relied on disciplined self-study, without any traditional coaching hubs.

• She had limited time because of her busy HCS training schedule, yet she was focused and consistent under pressure.
• The ability to juggle both examinations and clear UPSC and HCS within the same year is exemplary in terms of determination and efficiency.
• Aastha truly represents a new generation of self-driven UPSC aspirants who prove that strategic planning and dedication can outweigh conventional preparation methods.

Explore UPSC Courses by PW to master topics like International Organisations. Start preparing smart today!