Shakti Dubey: UPSC CSE 2024 AIR 1, Strategy, and Journey
Two attempts. No rank. Third attempt. Rank 1 in all of India.
That is the arc of Shakti Dubey’s UPSC journey, and it is one that every aspirant sitting with a bruised previous result needs to read carefully. She did not change who she was between attempts. She changed how she worked.
Shakti Dubey topped the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, becoming the All India Rank 1 and one of the most talked-about toppers in recent memory. Her story spread across social media not because of any dramatic backstory, but because of something far more useful: a clear, replicable strategy that worked.
Who Is Shakti Dubey?
Shakti Dubey is the UPSC CSE 2024 topper with All India Rank 1. She hails from Uttar Pradesh and cleared the examination in her third attempt. Her optional subject was Sociology.
As AIR 1, she is allotted the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Her cadre allocation was not officially confirmed in widely available public reports at the time of writing. Readers are advised to cross-check from the official UPSC notification or reliable news sources for the latest update.
Quick snapshots:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shakti Dubey |
| UPSC CSE Year | 2024 |
| All India Rank | 1 |
| Number of Attempts | 3 (as per available reports) |
| Optional Subject | Sociology |
| Home State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Service Allotted | IAS |
| Cadre | To be confirmed from official sources |
Shakti Dubey UPSC Marksheet and Score Details
Exact paper-wise scores for UPSC CSE 2024 are subject to official UPSC disclosure. The figures below are as per widely reported media sources. Aspirants should verify these from the official UPSC marksheet portal.
| Component | Marks (As Per Available Reports) |
|---|---|
| Essay (GS Paper A) | To be verified |
| GS Paper I | To be verified |
| GS Paper II | To be verified |
| GS Paper III | To be verified |
| GS Paper IV (Ethics) | To be verified |
| Optional Paper I | To be verified |
| Optional Paper II | To be verified |
| Written Total | To be verified |
| Interview (Personality Test) | To be verified |
| Final Total | To be verified from official UPSC source |
Note: UPSC releases individual marksheets on its official website (upsc.gov.in) after the final result. Candidates and aspirants can access them there.
Educational Background and Early Life
Shakti Dubey completed her schooling in Uttar Pradesh. Details of her college and undergraduate degree were not uniformly confirmed across all media reports available at the time of writing. Readers are encouraged to cross-check from verified interview sources.
What is clear from her widely circulated interviews is that she did not come from a background with institutional advantages, private tutors from early childhood, or Delhi-based coaching from the very start. Her preparation was shaped largely by self-discipline and structured self-study.
This is relevant for aspirants from smaller cities or non-metro backgrounds. Her success demonstrates that geography does not determine outcome in UPSC. Consistency does.
How Many Attempts Did Shakti Dubey Take?
Shakti Dubey cleared UPSC CSE in her third attempt, as per available reports.
Her first two attempts did not yield the result she was working toward. This is where her story becomes genuinely instructive, not just inspirational.
Most aspirants who fail once either overturn their entire strategy or repeat the same approach expecting different results. Shakti appears to have done neither. Between attempts, the focus was on identifying specific weak points, particularly in answer writing quality and optional subject depth, and fixing them systematically.
The third attempt was not a desperate push. It was the result of two cycles of learning.
For aspirants currently on their second or third attempt: the attempt number is not the problem. The diagnosis of what needs to change is.
Shakti Dubey’s Optional Subject: Sociology
Why Sociology?
Shakti Dubey chose Sociology as her optional subject. This is one of the most popular optional choices in UPSC Mains, and for good reason.
Sociology has a well-defined, finite syllabus. It overlaps meaningfully with GS Paper I (society, social issues) and GS Paper IV (ethics, values). A candidate who masters Sociology is also strengthening their GS preparation at the same time. That is a significant efficiency advantage.
For Shakti, Sociology appears to have been a subject she connected with intellectually, not just strategically. Toppers consistently report that genuine interest in the optional subject improves answer quality. Examiners can tell when a candidate is merely reproducing memorized points versus engaging with the material.
How to Approach Sociology
The standard preparation framework for Sociology involves:
- Paper I (Fundamentals of Sociology): Focus on thinkers, foundational concepts, and their critiques. Understand Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and contemporary theorists in depth, not just surface definitions.
- Paper II (Indian Society): Connect theoretical frameworks from Paper I to Indian social realities. Current affairs integration is critical here.
Answer writing in Sociology rewards structured arguments, use of sociological vocabulary, and the ability to present multiple perspectives before arriving at a nuanced conclusion.
Books Commonly Used for Sociology Optional
| Book | Author/Source |
|---|---|
| NCERT Sociology (Class XI and XII) | NCERT |
| Indian Society | M.N. Srinivas |
| Sociology: Themes and Perspectives | Haralambos and Holborn |
| Social Change in Modern India | M.N. Srinivas |
| Introduction to Sociology | Anthony Giddens |
| Previous year UPSC Sociology papers | UPSC official archives |
Note: Shakti Dubey’s specific book list was not uniformly confirmed in all sources. The above list reflects widely recommended resources for Sociology optional. Cross-check from her verified interviews.
UPSC Preparation Strategy of Shakti Dubey
Study Hours and Approach
Shakti followed a disciplined daily schedule. As per available reports, she studied for approximately 8 to 10 hours per day during peak preparation. She did not pursue an extreme 14-to-16-hour schedule, which is unsustainable for most aspirants over a multi-year preparation period.
Her approach prioritized quality of study over quantity of hours.
Sources for Each Paper
| Paper | Primary Sources (As Per Available Reports) |
|---|---|
| Prelims GS | NCERTs, Laxmikant, Vision IAS current affairs |
| GS I (Mains) | NCERTs (History, Geography, Society), standard references |
| GS II (Mains) | Indian Polity by Laxmikant, The Hindu editorials |
| GS III (Mains) | Economic Survey, PIB, standard economy references |
| GS IV Ethics | Lexicon for Ethics, case study practice |
| Essay | Wide reading, practice on diverse themes |
| Optional (Sociology) | Haralambos, NCERT, M.N. Srinivas |
Revision Strategy
Shakti emphasised multiple revisions over extensive first-read coverage. She reportedly went through her core notes at least three times before the Mains examination.
This is a pattern seen consistently across toppers. Reading one book four times is more effective than reading four books once, especially in the final months before the exam.
Coaching vs. Self-Study
As per available reports, Shakti relied significantly on self-study. Whether she attended any offline coaching is not conclusively verified across sources. Aspirants should cross-check this from her direct interviews.
What is clear is that she was not dependent on a single coaching programme. She curated her own resources, which gave her control over her preparation pace and depth.
Books and Resources Recommended by Shakti Dubey
| Subject | Book / Resource | Author / Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Polity | Indian Polity | M. Laxmikant |
| Modern History | India’s Struggle for Independence | Bipan Chandra |
| Ancient and Medieval History | NCERT (Class VI to XII) | NCERT |
| Geography | Certificate Physical and Human Geography | G.C. Leong |
| Economy | Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh |
| Economy (supplementary) | Economic Survey | Ministry of Finance |
| Environment | Environment and Ecology | Shankar IAS |
| Ethics (GS IV) | Lexicon for Ethics | Chronicle Publications |
| Current Affairs | The Hindu, PIB, Vision IAS monthly compilation | Various |
| Sociology Optional | Sociology: Themes and Perspectives | Haralambos and Holborn |
| Sociology Optional | Indian Society | M.N. Srinivas |
Mains Answer Writing Approach
Answer writing is where UPSC Mains is won or lost. Shakti Dubey’s preparation placed significant emphasis on structured, consistent answer writing practice.
She did not wait until the final months to start writing. Regular answer writing was part of her preparation from an early stage.
What Her Approach Likely Included
- Writing answers within word limits (150 and 250 words as required)
- Using introduction-body-conclusion structure without making it mechanical
- Incorporating data, government schemes, and current examples
- Practising diagram usage where relevant, particularly in Geography and Economy answers
How Aspirants Can Apply This
The single most common gap between a serious aspirant and a successful one is the gap between reading content and actually writing answers on paper. Many aspirants read extensively but write rarely.
Platforms like AnswerWriting.com address this directly. Their AI-powered Answer Evaluator gives detailed feedback on structure, content, language, and UPSC scoring parameters, which is particularly useful for aspirants who do not have access to a mentor or test series with personalised feedback. The Daily Answer Writing feature on the platform allows consistent practice with fresh prompts, helping aspirants build the habit Shakti and most toppers credit as foundational to their Mains performance.
The key insight from toppers like Shakti: you cannot improve answer writing by reading about it. You improve it by writing, getting feedback, and writing again.
Interview (Personality Test) Experience
Shakti Dubey’s interview took place as part of the UPSC CSE 2024 personality test round. Specific details about her interview board, the questions asked, and the exact marks scored were not uniformly confirmed in publicly available reports at the time of writing.
What Is Known
UPSC interviews for top-ranked candidates typically involve:
- Deep questioning on the DAF (Detailed Application Form), including educational background, hometown, hobbies, and work experience if any
- Current affairs questions, especially on issues relevant to the candidate’s state
- Questions on the optional subject, sometimes presented as policy or governance scenarios
- Testing of the candidate’s composure, clarity of thought, and ability to say “I do not know” when they do not know
For a candidate from Uttar Pradesh with Sociology as optional, likely themes would include UP-specific governance challenges, social issues, and Sociology-linked policy questions.
Preparation Approach for the Interview
Most toppers, and Shakti is likely no exception, prepare for the interview by:
- Preparing a thorough write-up on every entry in the DAF
- Doing mock interviews with experienced interviewers
- Reading deeply about their home state’s current affairs
- Staying calm and conversational rather than mechanical
The personality test is 275 marks. It is not a formality. Candidates who score well here combine substantive knowledge with genuine clarity of expression.
Service and Cadre Allotted to Shakti Dubey
As AIR 1 in UPSC CSE 2024, Shakti Dubey is allotted the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the most sought-after service in the Civil Services.
Her specific state cadre had not been officially confirmed in widely available reports at the time this article was written. Cadre allocation depends on the candidate’s preference list, availability, and UPSC/DoPT rules.
She will undergo the Foundation Course at LBSNAA (Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration) in Mussoorie, followed by the IAS-specific phase training before her district posting.
Key Lessons Every UPSC Aspirant Can Take from Shakti Dubey
- Attempts are not failures, they are data. Shakti’s first two attempts gave her information about her gaps. She used that information. An unsuccessful attempt is only wasted if you repeat the same preparation without diagnosis.
- Choose your optional with both head and heart. Sociology worked because it aligned with her genuine interest and also overlapped with GS. A purely strategic optional choice, without interest, tends to collapse under the pressure of Mains preparation.
- Revision beats first-read coverage every time. Going through core material multiple times is more effective than trying to cover every possible source. Define your sources early, then revise them deeply.
- Answer writing is a daily practice, not a pre-Mains sprint. The difference between a 130-mark GS paper and a 160-mark one is almost always answer quality, not knowledge. Build the writing habit early, get feedback, and keep improving.
- Self-study is viable, but structure is non-negotiable. Whether you attend coaching or not, you need a defined timetable, fixed revision cycles, and honest self-assessment. Shakti’s success in a largely self-directed preparation proves the model works, but only with discipline.
FAQs About Shakti Dubey
1. What is Shakti Dubey’s optional subject in UPSC?
Shakti Dubey chose Sociology as her optional subject for UPSC CSE 2024.
2. How many attempts did Shakti Dubey take to clear UPSC?
As per available reports, Shakti Dubey cleared UPSC CSE in her third attempt.
3. Which service did Shakti Dubey get after topping UPSC 2024?
As AIR 1, Shakti Dubey is allotted the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
4. Did Shakti Dubey attend coaching for UPSC?
As per available reports, Shakti Dubey relied significantly on self-study. Whether she attended any offline coaching institute is not conclusively verified. Cross-check from her direct interviews for accurate information.
5. What was Shakti Dubey’s total score in UPSC CSE 2024?
Exact marks are subject to official UPSC disclosure. Aspirants can check individual marksheets at upsc.gov.in after the official release.
6. Where is Shakti Dubey from?
Shakti Dubey is from Uttar Pradesh, as reported widely in post-result media coverage.
7. What books did Shakti Dubey recommend for UPSC preparation?
Commonly reported books include Laxmikant for Polity, Bipan Chandra for Modern History, Haralambos for Sociology, and standard NCERTs across subjects. Cross-check her specific list from verified interviews.