Saturday, March 29, 2025
Date: April 24, 2025
Shakti Dubey, who secured Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, is not just a topper—she’s a story of determination rising from despair.
A student of the PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) stream, Shakti was allotted a dental seat based on her rank—but her heart wasn’t in it. She chose to pursue a B.Sc. instead and followed it with a post-graduation in Biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where she topped her class.
Her UPSC journey started in 2018. She failed to clear the Prelims three times. In her fourth attempt, she reached the interview stage but missed the final cutoff by just 12 marks. That moment, she says, was filled with disappointment and the urge to quit everything. But she didn’t.
Instead, she chose to rise again. In her fifth attempt, she cracked the exam and topped the nation. Speaking to The Indian Express, Shakti shared, “I haven’t slept for many nights. Now, I’ll finally sleep peacefully.”
Her father, Devendra Dubey, serves as a sub-inspector in the Uttar Pradesh Police. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned from Delhi and prepared entirely from home. Her resilience became her greatest strength.
Girls Leading the Way:
Out of the top 10 ranks in UPSC 2024:
Harshita Goel secured Rank 2,
Komal Poonia was at Rank 6,
Ayushi Basnal stood at Rank 7.
