This DU Alumnus Left Ernst & Young To Clear UPSC; Gets AIR 1 After 2 Prelim Failures

IAS Ishita Kishore, an alumnus of Delhi University attempted the UPSC CSE thrice; it was in her third attempt that she cracked the tough and highly competitive exam with an astounding AIR 01.

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This DU Alumnus Left Ernst & Young To Clear UPSC; Gets AIR 1 After 2 Prelim Failures

UPSC CSE aspirants, are you feeling high or feeling low? Be as it may, there is no dearth of successful stories of aspirants who once were like you! The success story we are about to share with you will go a long way and definitely give a new perspective on what it really takes to crack this exam.

It is the story of Ishita Kishore, who bagged the AIR 01 in the UPSC 2022 exam. Read on to learn more about her background, preparation strategy, UPSC optional subjects, etc.

The Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination (UPSC CSE) is not for the faint of hearts. It demands austere preparation with an unwavering determination to succeed. Consistent hard work in tandem with smart time management is the only guarantee of getting your name recommended to the list as an IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, etc.

A Brief Family & Academic Background Of IAS Ishita Kishore

IAS Ishita Kishore was born in Begumpet, Hyderabad. Her formative years were nurtured in Bihar before finally settling in Delhi. Her father was a former Indian Air Force officer while her mother worked as a private school teacher.

She has a brother who is a lawyer. She is fond of football and eventually went to represent in the Subroto Cup in 2012 at the national level.

IAS Ishita Kishore with dad who worked in Indian Air Force

Ishita Kishore completed her graduation in Economics (Hons) from the Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University (DU) in 2017. During her time in college, she was part of the Economic and Literary Society.

Right after her graduation, she worked with Ernst & Young, a company known for its reputation as a trusted consultancy. She took up the role of a risk advisor in the company with a high salary package.

However, even while working, her passion to be a civil servant kept nudging her now and then. It was a tough call to either continue working or quit the company and start her preparation for UPSC CSE. She eventually decided to attempt the exam while working at the company.

IAS Ishita Kishore's UPSC CSE Journey

In her first two attempts, Ishita Kishore could not even clear the prelims exam of UPSC! However, in her third attempt, she prepared so well by investing quality time and dedication, so much so that she went on to bag the coveted top position as AIR 01!

UPSC CSE Preparation Strategy

Fully aware of the mistakes that she made during her previous two attempts, Ishita Kishore strategizes her preparation in such a way that her third attempt would for sure yield fruit. She strictly followed the success mantra that “one has to be disciplined and sincere” in preparation to crack the civil services exam.

IAS Ishita Kishore in conversation with her mentor

Some of her precious advice for aspirants is given below:

Set aside at least one year for CSE preparation and chart out an action plan to start off with your preparation.
UPSC CSE is a time-bound exam, and therefore candidates must take out most care to manage their time effectively so as to complete the exam within the stipulated time frame.
Always have a realistic and achievable study schedule.
Consistency and smart time management are key requirements for the UPSC civil services examination.
Put in quality hours to cover the entire syllabus and for revision.
Make time rooster for your study schedule, and remember to limit your study sources.
Do not pick up new books or study material during revision time.
Make sure to go through previous years’ UPSC CSE prelims and mains question papers in order to get a feel for the nature of the questions asked in the examination.
Take advantage of the Internet for your own good. It is an excellent source of information and study material.
It takes some time to get used to the UPSC preparation. Certain concepts may at times appear hard to grasp. However, do not panic as you'll gradually get better clarity on how to study them.
Take multiple mock tests both for the prelims and the mains as it will help you gain confidence and feel of the actual exam.
Keep yourself motivated and stay positive throughout your preparation.

Now that you have read the story of IAS Ishita Kishore, why not put your heart and soul into your preparation for the UPSC exam? Of course, proceed ahead with a smart and guided approach always. Waiting to hear and write your story in the coming years as another Ishata Kishore in the making.

All the best Aspirants!