Uma Harathi N (Rank 3, UPSC Civil Services Exam 2023)

Uma Harathi N (Rank 3, UPSC Civil Services Exam 2023)

Uma Harathi N secured Rank 3 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023, a highly competitive and challenging exam. Her achievement places her among the top civil service aspirants, making her a source of inspiration for many. Uma’s success is a testament to her hard work, well-planned strategy, and academic excellence.

1. Background and Early Life

• Hometown: Uma Harathi N hails from Telangana, a state that has produced several UPSC toppers over the years. Growing up in an academically inclined family, Uma was encouraged to pursue education with dedication.
• Education: She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad. Her engineering background gave her a strong analytical mindset, which helped her navigate the rigorous UPSC syllabus.
• Support System: Uma credits her family, particularly her parents, for providing her with constant support and motivation throughout her preparation journey.

2. The Decision to Pursue UPSC

• Motivation: Uma Harathi was motivated to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) because of her desire to bring about social change and contribute to the development of the country. She felt that civil services would provide her with the platform to address the issues that matter most to her, particularly in areas such as public infrastructure, rural development, and governance.
• Inspiration: Uma was inspired by the stories of previous UPSC toppers and the significant role civil servants play in improving the lives of people. Her engineering background also made her keen on working in areas like urban planning and public policy, where she could combine her technical knowledge with public administration.

3. UPSC Journey and Attempts

• Success in Second Attempt: Uma Harathi N cleared the UPSC exam in her second attempt. In her first attempt, while she couldn't clear the Prelims, it gave her valuable insights into the areas she needed to improve upon. This experience helped her fine-tune her strategy for the second attempt, where she achieved incredible success.
• Optional Subject: Her optional subject in the UPSC Mains examination was Anthropology. Anthropology, a subject focused on the study of human societies, cultures, and their development, allowed her to integrate her interest in societal structures and governance. This choice, combined with her analytical abilities from her engineering background, helped her score high in the Mains.

4. Preparation Strategy

• Structured Study Plan: Uma devised a well-structured study plan, focusing on mastering both the general studies syllabus and her optional subject, Anthropology. She divided her time wisely between learning, revision, and practice, ensuring that she covered the syllabus multiple times.
• Conceptual Clarity: For Uma, having conceptual clarity was critical. She made sure to understand the core concepts rather than relying on memorization. This approach helped her confidently answer both factual and analytical questions in the exam.
• Answer Writing Practice: Uma put great emphasis on answer writing. She practiced daily, honing her ability to present answers in a concise, well-structured manner. This practice helped her refine her writing style, enabling her to finish all questions within the stipulated time in both the Prelims and Mains.
• Revision and Notes: She created personalized notes for each subject and revised them regularly. These concise notes helped her during the final phase of preparation and allowed her to quickly go over important topics.

5. Challenges Faced

• Dealing with Failure: Failing to clear the Prelims in her first attempt was a significant setback, but Uma didn’t let it discourage her. She analyzed her mistakes and worked on her weaker areas. This process of introspection helped her develop a more focused and strategic approach for her next attempt.
• Balancing Strategy: Given the vast syllabus and the multiple stages of the exam, balancing preparation for Prelims, Mains, and the interview required a disciplined and well-balanced strategy. Uma managed her time efficiently, ensuring that she maintained consistency across all stages of the exam.

6. Key Takeaways from Uma’s Journey

• Learning from Mistakes: Uma’s story demonstrates the importance of learning from failures. Rather than feeling defeated by her first attempt, she used it as a learning experience and came back stronger in her second attempt.
• Consistency Over Intensity: She stresses the importance of consistency in preparation. According to Uma, it is more important to study regularly with focus rather than resorting to last-minute intensive study. Slow and steady progress helped her cover the syllabus effectively.
• Answer Writing and Time Management: One of her major strengths was her answer writing practice. Her ability to manage time during the exam and present well-structured answers played a critical role in her success.
• Focus on Optional Subject: Her choice of Anthropology as an optional subject turned out to be a wise one. She ensured she had in-depth knowledge of the subject, which helped her score significantly in the Mains exam.

7. Message to Aspirants

• Persevere Despite Setbacks: Uma Harathi encourages aspirants to remain determined and persevere despite the obstacles they may face. She believes that failure is a part of the journey and should be viewed as an opportunity to improve.
• Focus on Clarity: She also emphasizes the importance of conceptual clarity, particularly in optional subjects. Rather than memorizing information, aspirants should aim to understand the logic behind concepts, which helps in the application of knowledge in exams.
• Mock Tests and Feedback: She advises aspirants to take as many mock tests as possible. These not only help in practicing time management but also in getting feedback to improve answer writing and exam temperament.

Uma Harathi N’s journey from an IIT engineer to a UPSC topper reflects her determination, discipline, and smart study strategies. Her second-attempt success story is a powerful message for UPSC aspirants, showing that setbacks can be turned into opportunities with the right mindset and preparation.