Thousands of candidates give up on their dreams of becoming an IAS, IPS, or IFS officers due to the intense competition in the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE). Out of the vast pool of candidates, only a small percentage – roughly 1% of all candidates – can fulfill their dreams of securing a spot in the final roaster and becoming civil servants.
However, there are a handful of brilliant minds who crack the prestigious UPSC exam without any coaching, that too in their very first attempt. A glaring example is IAS Laghima Tiwari who chose a different route and relied only on self-study.
Laghima made history in the UPSC CSE 2022 by achieving an impressive AIR-19 in her first attempt. She is the perfect example for those who believe that nothing can be done without coaching.
Born in the charming Rajasthani neighbourhood of Alwar, Laghima is an Electronics and Communication Engineering graduate from Delhi Technological University. She threw herself into UPSC preparation soon after her graduation in 2021.
She chose self-studies over the conventional coaching route and spent a year going through the static sections, learning about general studies, and keeping up with the current events. She followed inspirational stories of previous students posted on YouTube and other platforms.
Speaking about her secret to success, Laghima emphasised how crucial it is to develop a clear mindset. She also attributed her success to her parents’ unwavering support and intense self-study with stimulated test scenarios.
Laghima is now a living example of perseverance and hard work.