Every UPSC topper has a unique story – an inspiring story for millions in the country. The life and journey of Ira Singhal IAS – all India rank 1 in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2014 – is unique in many unique ways. With 62% locomotor disability, 30-year-old Ira Singhal topped the IAS exam, attempted by around 5 lakh aspirants in 2014.
Why now: As many aspirants wrote to us about their lack of motivation and confidence, we felt the strategies and booklist of the last year topper should give direction for aspirants. ClearIAS had been publishing UPSC Toppers interviews for last 3 years. We don’t want our readers to miss the take-aways from toppers like Ira.
Preparation Strategy of Ira Singhal in her own words
- I never mugged up anything. I focused on preparing the topics I could handle.
- I started from the basics. I found NCERTs are a must-read. But yes, some subjects require specialized books after that. But I found that you cannot ignore NCERTs. Read them multiple times.
- I mostly depended on online material. Did not go to any one site, but checked multiple sources for everything.
- I read the same topic from multiple books. But I also went back and read all the books again. I used to underline important stuff in the books but I was too lazy to write it all down.
- I used to discuss and debate a lot of stuff with my friends so it helped giving me different view-points and helped my analytical abilities.
- I am not someone who can study throughout the day or something, so my study plan is always about finishing a particular amount of course rather than studying for a fixed number of hours.
- I spent a LOT of time on my multiple hobbies.
Takeaways from Ira Singhal’s Preparation Strategy
- No mug up.
- Your basics should be strong.
- Online preparation helps. Try to get different view points on everything.
- Revision is the key.
- Develop your analytical abilities.
- Plan your work and work your plan.
- Get a life!
What does all-India rank 1 has to say about IAS exam?
I think it is important to find another alternate career before you stake your future on this uncertain path. That will give you confidence and a safe haven in case things don’t go your way.
This exam needs a lot of hard work, a lot of mental strength and some amount of Luck.
I never made clearing the exam as the only thing in my life. I did not connect it to my ego or to my personal success or made it my reason to live.
Books referred by Ira Singhal for UPSC CSE Mains
- Old NCERT Indian History.
- Spectrum Modern India.
- New NCERT Indian History.
- New NCERT – India Since Independence.
- Old NCERT World History.
- Laxmikanth – Indian Polity.
- Wizard – Science and Technology.
- Lexicon – Ethics.
Note: Apart from these books, Ira also referred different websites on internet, materials from coaching institutes etc.
Coaching or No Coaching?
Ira had taken coaching for her first attempt in 2009-10 as she didn’t had much idea about preparation. She says, at that time, in 2009-10, there was no material available online.
These days a lot of material is available online and a lot of guidance on where to begin is also present online so if I were preparing today, I would not join them. I don’t recommend or condemn them. It depends on the sort of person you are. Some of us need hand-holding and need someone else to keep them on track and some of us are self-motivated. So it all depends on how you think you can succeed best. Though if it is only about material, a lot of it is available online these days.
Courtesy: This article is drafted with permission of Ira Singhal. For more details on her approach, refer: Ira Singhal’s Blog – http://irasinghal.blogspot.in/.
Aspirants also read:
'Indian Society: Themes and Social Issues' by Nadeem Hasnain - Book Review
UPSC Rank List 2019 - Toppers of the Civil Services Exam 2019-2020
'Governance, Constitution and Social Justice' by Salman Khurshid and Gaurav Gupta - Book Review
The New Favourite Book of IAS Aspirants - Important Judgments That Transformed India
Only 3 months left how can i started my preparation for civil exam?
start for next year not for this year.How can you complete those books in 90 days..? you are not god.so start preparing for next year.
nice madam…y r our upsc exam guindenss.
I need the best book on Indian history …please do suggest one among the best books and authors.
1. India struggle for independence By Bipan Chandra (Selective Study)
2. Spectrum
mam, now i’m currently studying first year. What kind of books should I read to enrich my skills? I read newspapers everyday
Hello mam m not economic fullfill these online books.. Pls help me
Hi Ira mam , I’m a student of class 12 and I want to start my CSE preparation now. So , how I should start my preparation along with my boards ?
Hi Ira mam , I’m a student of class 12 and I want to start my CSE preparation now. So , how I should start my preparation along with my cbse 12 boards ?
mam i need guidence regarding optional subjects
as i am an btech CSE student about paper 6&7
I must say ma’m you are inspiration of millions…
namastey mam , I am Amresh barman . I want to know about optional subject. plz guide me
You can choose geography and public administration as optional subject.
now i had completed 10th from this point i want to start my UPSE ………….FROM WHICH BOOK I SHOULD START
Hello sir i m new here and i don’t have any idea about ias exam so pls guide me ..and i wants 2 study in hindi so pls suggest me books name so that i can purchase from market for pre. Exam..pls help me i really need it..
hello everyone , i m new here so pls suggest me how can i start my preparation for prelims. its my first attempt.
Hello mam, good inspiration.
hello mam, this is Ambigabathy from Tamilnadu. i am 24 yrs old and working as Assistant Professor in an Engineering College. i want to start my IAS preparation. i kindly request you to suggest me for selecting optional subject. i did my UG in English Literature. (not confident enough to chose it as optional)
Thank you,
UG from English and assistant prof. at engineering
How on earth that possible? time to leave earth
mam i am 28 year old but not completed my graduation…i want to crack this exam….what should i do plz plz plz tel me…
You should remain in patience ..
Bhai 28 and didnt graduated yet?!!!!
Iam hearing it for the first time……
Hi ira mam i am read in class in 12 and i prepared for a ias please guidence me how to prepared
Hello mam..I am bsc 3rd year student. I m going to prepare for upsc from next year. so would u tell me how to go through to make it in first attempt.
hello mem good insprition s
hi ira mam I am 12th student but wants to clear the ias so ap mujhe mains ki taiyari kaise karu plz mam kuchh advise dijiye
Aagey prelim to clear karlo
Sir I have completed degree in science
.I want to do IAS .Then suggest me how can I prepare.
Very nice mam, you are motivational person for us.
Jabra fan
May be I’ll do it also
Sir I am doing Bsc statistics in final year. I want to become an I A S. But i didn’t preapare any thing.and suggest me a way to become an IAS.
very nice mam, you are a motivational person for me.
I BELIEVE YOU STRATEGY . THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Mam,which standard book follow for geography optional subject and I also read ncert 6 to 12