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Shubhankar Pratyush Pathak: From Software Developer to IAS with AIR 11 in First Attempt
M
Moneycontrol•23-09-2026, 13:48
Shubhankar Pratyush Pathak: From Software Developer to IAS with AIR 11 in First Attempt
- •Shubhankar Pratyush Pathak secured AIR 11 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination on his first attempt at age 24, despite initial struggles with NCERT books.
- •He pursued civil services during his engineering course, initially finding NCERT concepts difficult, leading him to seek online guidance for social sciences and general studies.
- •Pathak balanced his software developer job at Cisco with UPSC preparation, utilizing the work-from-home period during COVID-19 to study early mornings and evenings.
- •He eventually left his job in February 2021 to dedicate 8-10 hours daily to full-time preparation, focusing on Mathematics as his optional subject and General Studies.
- •Pathak's journey highlights adapting study routines, seeking guidance when needed, and the importance of consistent self-study for UPSC success.
Key Questions Answered
Shubhankar Pratyush Pathak secured an All India Rank (AIR) 11 in his first attempt at the age of 24.
While working at Cisco, Pathak maintained a fixed routine by waking up at 5 a.m. to study for two hours, reading the newspaper, and spending two to three hours in the evening on online coaching classes and notes.
After leaving his job in February 2021 to study full-time, Pathak dedicated his daily preparation to two broad areas: Mathematics as his optional subject and General Studies.
