From Depression to UPSC AIR 85 In 1st Attempt: Alankrita Pandey's Journey of Defying the Odds

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The story we are about to delve into is about Alankrita Pandey, whose journey of conquering depression with sheer willpower to become an IAS Officer will definitely boost the morale of every UPSC CSE aspirant. Imagine having to take antidepressants and attend anger management sessions to deal with a personal crisis while preparing for UPSC CSE!

No matter what the situation was, UPSC CSE reassured her that she could achieve her dream of becoming an IAS officer. AIR 85 holder Alankrita Pandey's story is just that. Surprisingly, she also achieved this rare feat in her first attempt- a once-in-a-lifetime achievement! 

Indelible Facts About IAS Officer Alankrita Pandey

Depression, Software Engineering, Bangalore, &.... A Resolution

Alankrita Pandey comes from a middle-class family from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Having completed her software engineering degree at the prestigious MNIIT – Allahabad, she started working for an IT company in the tech city of Bangalore. 

Two years prior to the 2015 exams, she went through a personal crisis that almost jeopardized her life. To overcome it, she turned her attention to antidepressants, which, in the long run, would have ruined her to the core. Added to her depression, she underwent anger management sessions as well. 

Apart from that, she had to be constantly counseled by her family and friends to keep her motivated. Pandey, who had planned to take the UPSC CSE exam prelims in January 2014, was unable to take the exam due to the crisis she was undergoing.

The situation continued to worsen till October 2014, after which things took a turn for the better. Alankrita decided that enough was enough and that it was not the life she was meant to live forever. She pasted a paper on her wall with these endearing words that read, “I want a 2-digit AIR in CSE-2015”. 

Alankrita Pandey`s UPSC Strategy To A 2-digit AIR

Alankrita Pandey’s regimented routine consisted of 8 hours of studies each day, starting at 6:00 AM sharp!  She preferred jogging and Yoga to prepare her mind and body for the intense 8-hour study session that was to follow. 

Whenever she felt bogged down by a situation, she would write on a piece of paper why she started out with UPSC CSE, IAS preparation in the first place! This would melt all her doubts and fears away. She would also talk to her friends and parents, whose unflinching support came to her aid in her noble pursuit. 

Alankrita planned her preparation first at the macro-level and then at the micro-level breaking it down to topic-wise and then hour-wise. 

She completed the entire syllabus by May 2015. She focused on reading one book 4 – 5 times with proper revision as her follow-up, unlike the trend that some aspirants follow, reading 4 – 5 books for a single subject. Newspapers were the mainstay for her UPSC CSE preparation. She also relied on the internet for information and strategy. She has never shunned social media sites, although she warns against becoming addicted to them. 

She says that networking and connecting with people is an important part of an IAS officer’s job. Her optional subject was Public Administration.

A Note To All UPSC CSE Aspirants

The decision to secure a 2-digit AIR in CSE 2015 was made with her uncompromising willpower, which drove her to pursue her goals with determination. Reflecting on what transpired after she decided to overhaul her UPSC CSE journey, she acknowledged that her life changed from that moment on. 

It was a decision so firmly resolved that there was no room for turning back, whatever the circumstances. The beauty of Alankrita`s decision succinctly exemplifies the most important attitude every UPSC CSE aspirant must possess. Her transformation from a depressed girl to an IAS officer is an example worth emulating by every aspirant of the UPSC CSE.

If you're experiencing a personal crisis or silently undergoing a tough moment in your life that seems to threaten your goal, let this story of Alankrita Pandey inspire you like never before.

Good luck!

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