Srishti’s UPSC CSE 2024 Rank 145: Lessons from Her Fourth Attempt

Who is Srishti, who secured rank 145 in UPSC CSE 2024?

According to media reports at the time, Srishti is a candidate from Patna who secured rank 145 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 on her fourth attempt.

Her story drew attention because she continued preparing after three unsuccessful attempts. Rather than treating the result as proof that persistence always leads to selection, aspirants can read it as an example of continuing towards a demanding goal despite disappointment.

The reported account provides a few clear milestones, but it does not document her complete preparation strategy, study timetable or subject-wise performance. Those limits matter when drawing lessons from a success story.

What happened before her successful fourth attempt?

Srishti had three unsuccessful attempts before securing rank 145, and reportedly described a particularly narrow setback in her third attempt.

According to the source’s account of her interview with Times Now Navbharat, she said she missed the reserve list by one mark in her third attempt. This should be understood as her reported account, rather than an independently verified comparison with an official cut-off.

The report also credits encouragement from her father, Vijay Kumar Singh, a businessman, and her mother, Mamta Kumari, a homemaker. Their support formed part of the account of how she continued preparing after disappointment.

What can aspirants learn from repeated UPSC setbacks?

The useful lesson is to combine persistence with an honest review of preparation, rather than simply repeat the same approach.

Srishti’s reported experience does not reveal exactly what she changed between attempts. The following are general preparation suggestions, not claims about her personal methods:

• Identify where the attempt ended: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination or the final selection stage.
• Review available marks, practice-test performance and recurring mistakes before deciding what needs attention.
• Separate gaps in subject knowledge from problems in revision, question selection, time management or written expression.
• Set practical goals for the next preparation cycle and check progress regularly.
• Review eligibility, remaining attempts, finances and personal responsibilities before committing to another attempt.

A narrow miss can be emotionally difficult, but it does not guarantee selection next time. Equally, an unsuccessful attempt does not by itself explain an aspirant’s ability or potential. Decisions should rest on evidence and circumstances, not comparison with someone else’s timeline.

Can engineering graduates prepare for UPSC while working?

Engineering graduates can pursue UPSC preparation alongside employment, provided they meet the applicable eligibility conditions and build a workable study plan.

Srishti reportedly completed her B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering at BIT Mesra and worked as a software engineer while preparing. The account does not establish how long she worked, her daily study hours or whether she remained employed throughout all four attempts.

For working aspirants, the practical takeaway is to plan around actual available time. A timetable that ignores commuting, work demands and rest is unlikely to be sustainable.

• Map the official syllabus before choosing study resources.
• Reserve regular study periods for learning and revision.
• Include practice appropriate to the examination stage: objective questions for Prelims and written answers for Mains.
• Use longer available study periods for tests and detailed review.
• Adjust targets when work responsibilities change instead of allowing backlogs to grow unchecked.

How should aspirants use a UPSC success story?

Use a success story for perspective and motivation, while building your own strategy around the syllabus, performance and circumstances.

Srishti’s reported journey brings together an engineering education, employment, family encouragement and eventual success after setbacks. It does not establish that four attempts are necessary, that a particular academic background is superior or that continuing indefinitely is the right choice for everyone.

The most useful response is a concrete next step: review a test, revise a weak topic or reassess your schedule. Inspiration becomes preparation only when it leads to deliberate action.