UPSC Preparation with a Full-Time Job: Lessons from Aparna Ramesh

Who is Aparna Ramesh, and what can aspirants learn from her?

According to media reports at the time, Karnataka resident Aparna Ramesh secured All India Rank 35 in UPSC CSE 2020 while continuing her full-time work as an architect and urban planner.

Her experience offers a useful example for employed aspirants, rather than a formula that guarantees selection. She described balancing professional responsibilities, personal life and preparation through consistent effort. The central lesson is not that everyone should follow her timetable, but that a realistic plan must account for the time and energy a job leaves available.

How did Aparna Ramesh manage study time alongside work?

Aparna reportedly studied from 4 am to 7 am before work and used her weekly offs for longer study sessions.

She explained that working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic made boundaries harder to maintain because office work could stretch beyond expected hours. Dividing the day helped her protect preparation time. She also said that yoga helped her manage stress and remain focused.

An early start is useful only if it fits your work pattern and allows adequate rest. Shift workers and those with long commutes may need a different study window. The transferable principle is consistency, not a particular waking time.

Which resources did she use for UPSC preparation?

Aparna’s reported strategy was to use limited materials, build conceptual clarity and revise instead of continually adding books.

She had already covered NCERT material during her earlier attempt and considered it foundational. With limited preparation time alongside work, she concentrated on content relevant to the examination.

For aspirants, the lesson is to check resources against the syllabus and previous papers before expanding a reading list. Her choices should not be treated as proof that the same books will cover every candidate’s needs or every component of the examination.

What changed between her first and second attempts?

Aparna used the foundation from her first attempt and analysed mistakes to improve her second attempt.

According to the account, she did not clear the Preliminary Examination in UPSC CSE 2019. She described UPSC CSE 2020 as her second and personally chosen final attempt, saying she would otherwise have continued her professional career. This was her own decision, not a statement about UPSC’s official attempt limits.

• Retain useful preparation from an earlier attempt rather than restarting every subject.
• Use previous papers to understand the examination’s demands.
• Review mistakes before deciding whether more material is necessary.
• Distinguish between gaps in knowledge and gaps in applying what you know.

How did her approach differ across UPSC exam stages?

She kept her study material broadly consistent but changed her practice to match the demands of Prelims, Mains and the Personality Test.

Prelims: practise questions and elimination

For Prelims, Aparna emphasised eliminating incorrect options and practising mock tests to become familiar with different question patterns. The useful takeaway is to pair reading with question practice and review why an answer was right or wrong.

Mains: develop written expression

For Mains, she practised answer writing, prepared detailed notes and worked on presentation. This illustrates why familiarity with a topic must be followed by practice in explaining it clearly in response to a specific question.

Personality Test: connect knowledge with judgement

Her interview reportedly included questions about urban planning, smart cities, electric vehicles and data privacy. She viewed the stage as requiring preparation as well as the ability to analyse situations and think on the spot. Working aspirants can use their professional experience as a starting point for examining wider public-policy questions.

What kept her motivated during preparation?

Aparna linked her motivation to her work in urban planning, her family’s support and her original reason for considering the civil services.

She said that working on urban issues, including the Smart Cities Mission, made her interested in public decision-making. She also credited her parents with supporting her regardless of the outcome. Her father’s Indian Revenue Service career and her experience of living in seven states helped her encounter different communities and understand varied problems.

For aspirants, the practical lesson is to define a personal reason for preparing, keep expectations realistic and build support around the process. Her story shows one way to combine employment and preparation; it does not establish that resigning or continuing a job is the right choice for everyone.