Ashutosh Nautiyal Rank 3 UKPSC 2024: Deputy Collector Success Story
The UKPSC Result 2024 brought a double celebration for one young aspirant. Ashutosh Nautiyal Rank 3 UKPSC 2024 secured the post of Deputy Collector. Moreover, he also cleared UPSC CSE 2025 with an All India Rank of 398.
Soon after the result, he shared his complete roadmap in an exclusive success talk with SAMVEG IAS. Therefore, this article sums up the key lessons from that conversation.
Major Highlights of Ashutosh Nautiyal’s Interview with Samveg IAS
Education and the Early Spark
Ashutosh holds a BSc in PCM and an MA in Political Science. His interest in civil services began during his BSc days. Later, he chose Political Science because it overlaps with GS and the optional subject.
However, success did not come instantly. First, he appeared for the UKPSC RO exam but missed selection. Then, he reached the UPSC interview in 2024 but missed the final list. Overall, his journey took nearly four years.
Adapting to the New UPSC-Style Pattern
UKPSC shifted to a UPSC-style pattern in the 2024 cycle. Consequently, his UPSC preparation gave him a slight edge. Also, he belongs to Uttarakhand, so he felt naturally connected to the state papers. In his view, a structured approach turns this overlap into an advantage.
Prelims Strategy of Ashutosh Nautiyal Rank 3 UKPSC 2024
Prelims are getting tougher every year. Therefore, Ashutosh suggests a simple, disciplined plan:
- Strong static base: Read NCERTs and standard books for History, Polity, Geography and Economy. Then, revise them until the facts stick.
- Own Uttarakhand notes: State sources are scattered. So, make short personal notes instead of reading many books. For example, you can use परीक्षा वाणी (Pariksha Vani) as a base.
- Smart balance: First, check the weightage of Uttarakhand and GS. Then, divide your time accordingly.
- Attempt strategy: Finally, focus on how you attempt questions in the exam hall.
Mains: Fixing the Weak Link
Political Science made GS papers easier for him. However, the Hindi paper was a challenge because he studied in English medium. Therefore, he practised Hindi grammar and writing separately.
For the Uttarakhand papers, he consolidated scattered sources into one set of notes. Above all, he stresses answer writing. “You may read a lot, but marks come only if you write well,” he explains.
He also kept shrinking his notes over time. As a result, he could revise an entire GS paper in the three-hour gap between two mains papers.
Interview: Practise Formal Conversation
Ashutosh calls the interview a formal conversation. So, he advises aspirants to take as many mock interviews as possible. He joined the SAMVEG IAS Interview Guidance Programme and found the feedback very useful. Additionally, his UPSC interview experience helped Ashutosh Nautiyal Rank 3 UKPSC 2024 stay calm.
He also suggests a simple exercise. First, write down likely questions on your hobbies and background. Then, practise them aloud until the answers feel natural.
Mistakes He Learnt From
- Too many sources: Instead, read limited sources, but read them thoroughly.
- Fear of answer writing: He avoided writing earlier. Later, he realised that mistakes in practice are better than mistakes in the exam.
- No feedback loop: Therefore, join test series or form a peer group to get your copies checked.
- Wrong company: Also, stay with serious and positive peers. His classmates in UPSC helped him a lot.
Handling Stress, Social Media and Study Material
Long preparation can create self-doubt. Instead of worrying about the final result, Ashutosh set small daily targets. Similarly, he kept his focus on Plan A.
He used social media very little. Still, he found Telegram useful for toppers’ copies and good material. For study material, the syllabus is his only filter. So, pick one source, add value to it, and keep your own notes.
His Success Mantra
For Ashutosh Nautiyal Rank 3 UKPSC 2024, consistency matters more than long hours. In fact, Ashutosh studied only seven to eight hours a day. Moreover, he believes every aspirant must understand the exam fully, from prelims marking to interview style.
Association with SAMVEG IAS
Interestingly, his elder brother Ambarish Prasad Nautiyal also secured the Finance Officer post this year. Ambarish was part of the SAMVEG IAS mains programme and often showed Ashutosh his checked copies. Impressed by this, Ashutosh joined the SAMVEG IAS Interview Guidance Programme.
According to him, the mock interviews and Uttarakhand-specific questions helped him greatly in the real interview. Truly, the journey of Ashutosh Nautiyal Rank 3 UKPSC 2024 shows that focused effort pays off.
Watch his entire interaction with Samveg IAS:
