A native of Jammu and Kashmir, Ambika Raina’s journey is a noteworthy example for many today. Despite failing twice in the challenging UPSC exam, she finally succeeded in becoming an IA&AS officer. She left a high-paying job in Switzerland and returned to India, securing AIR 164 on her third attempt. (Image: @ambika_raina/Instagram)
Her father, who served in the Indian Army, had a transferable job, which meant Ambika Raina traveled across the country for her studies. She graduated in architecture but always dreamed of cracking the UPSC. Her father was a Major General in the Indian Army, leading to her schooling in various states like Punjab, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. (Image: @ambika_raina/Instagram)
After completing her schooling, Raina earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from CEPT University in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Before graduating in 2020, she interned in Zurich, Switzerland, working on urban planning and sustainability at Landolt und Haller Architekten AG. She received job offers post-graduation but declined them, feeling a strong desire to contribute to India. This decision was tough, but her educational background helped her develop a creative mindset, which was beneficial for her UPSC preparation. (Image: @ambika_raina/Instagram)
Initially, the UPSC syllabus was challenging for Raina, with new subjects like Political Science and History affecting her confidence. However, she watched interviews of over 100 toppers and adopted their strategies to create her study plan. She focused on the syllabus, previous year papers, toppers’ answer sheets, and interview practice. (Image: @ambika_raina/Instagram)
Mock tests played a crucial role. Raina ignored them in her first attempt but learned from her mistakes. By her third attempt, she dedicated 70 per cent of her preparation time to mock tests, making self-assessment easier. (Image: @ambika_raina/Instagram)
She also made smart use of the internet to prepare for the exam. There is a vast amount of knowledge online, but Ambika Raina said she learned to filter it. She selected content judiciously from the start to make revision manageable. (Image: @ambika_raina/Instagram)
She chose specific books like Lakshmikant for Political Science, Spectrum for Modern History, and NCERT for Geography, and concentrated on answer-writing practice. After failing her first two attempts, she corrected her mistakes and, in her third attempt, secured AIR 164 in the 2022 UPSC CSE exam, joining the IA&AS. Her story demonstrates that background doesn’t matter. With proper planning and hard work, even difficult exams like the UPSC can be cracked. (Image: @ambika_raina/Instagram)
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