Ankit Raj Rank 9 UKPSC 2021: Deputy Collector
The UKPSC Upper PCS 2021 result rewarded years of patience. Ankit Raj Rank 9 UKPSC 2021 secured the post of Deputy Collector. Moreover, he was also selected in the Lower PCS. At the time of the talk, he was serving as a Review Officer at the High Court in Nainital.
He shared his calm, disciplined approach in a success talk with SAMVEG IAS. So, here are the key lessons from his journey.
Major Highlights of Ankit Raj’s Interview with Samveg IAS
Background and Motivation
Ankit’s dream came from his family. In particular, his father and his maternal grandfather inspired him. At that time, his father was preparing for B.Ed. So, young Ankit read his father’s books. As a result, he developed a liking for social science.
Prelims Strategy
First, he built his basics through NCERTs. Then, he moved to standard books like Laxmikanth for polity and Spectrum for history. He did not depend on coaching. In fact, he attended one institute for only two months.
Next, he solved MCQ practice sets and free online test series. Gradually, his scores improved. Also, he had been preparing for UPSC. So, when the UKPSC exam came in 2021, he started studying Uttarakhand.
Mains Strategy of Ankit Raj Rank 9 UKPSC 2021
After prelims, he matched the answer key and felt sure of clearing it. So, he started mains preparation within a week. Hindi was his weakest area. As a UPSC aspirant, he had never studied it before. Therefore, he spent the month before the prelims result only on Hindi. First, he read the syllabus. Then, he listed his strengths and weaknesses and made notes.
For other papers, his UPSC preparation helped. He had also written UPSC Mains in 2021. Although he did not clear it, he learned a lot from it. Later, he joined the SAMVEG IAS test series. Then, he worked on every piece of feedback. As his scores improved, his confidence grew too.
Fix Your Weak Areas First
Ankit’s biggest lesson is simple. The merit list is built from all subjects together. So, you cannot drop one paper and hope to score in another. Instead, keep your strengths but work hardest on your weak points.
Interview: Learning from a Low Score
His first official interview was for the Lower PCS. However, he did not get good marks there. So, he decided to work hard on this final stage. First, he prepared topics linked to his work as a Review Officer. Then, he studied Uttarakhand’s problems and current affairs. Also, he improved his speaking style and gave many mock interviews.
Later, he gave another mock interview at SAMVEG IAS. This time, Sir’s feedback noted a big improvement. As a result, his confidence kept building.
Patience and a Positive Attitude
The 2021 exam gave its final result only in 2024. Moreover, mains was delayed two or three times. According to Ankit, patience is a basic quality of an officer. So, if you show it before becoming one, nothing can stop you. His wife, friends and family supported him throughout. Above all, he stayed disciplined, focused and positive.
Social Media: Track Your Time
Ankit admits that YouTube Shorts could take away an hour without notice. Therefore, use social media sensibly and consciously. Also, note down daily how much time you lose there. Once you see two or three hours wasted, you will become serious. Finally, a tight schedule keeps distractions away on its own.
Advice for the New Mains Pattern
- Uttarakhand matters more: Two mains papers are now on Uttarakhand. So, you cannot skip it anymore.
- Read the syllabus first: Then, you read and write only what is required.
- Study PYQs: Next, see how Lower PCS, other PCS and Upper PCS papers ask about Uttarakhand.
- Essay and Hindi: Also, prepare both papers well, since such papers often decide the merit.
- UPSC-style pattern: Finally, go through UPSC and UP PCS previous year papers.
He also welcomes the removal of the old maths and science paper. That paper was tough for non-science students. Now, he feels, every aspirant stands on the same platform. For more details, see our UKPSC Upper PCS exam guide.
His Success Mantra
For Ankit Raj Rank 9 UKPSC 2021, a clear purpose is everything. When your purpose is strong, distraction has no place. So, stay focused on what you want to achieve, and do not drift from it.
Association with SAMVEG IAS
Ankit joined our Mains Guidance Programme (MGP) and Interview Guidance Programme (IGP). Our team found him serious and curious, and always ready to improve on feedback. He is shy by nature but humble. He faced difficulty at the interview stage. However, he overcame it with determination. Indeed, the success of Ankit Raj Rank 9 UKPSC 2021 belongs to his own hard work and patience.
Watch the full interaction with Samveg IAS:
Check out all our students who cleared UKPSC Upper PCS 2021.