IAS Riya Saini, All India Rank 22, Deployed in PM Modi's Varanasi Constituency

• IAS Riya Saini, who secured All India Rank 22 in UPSC, has been deployed in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi.
• Her journey included failing Prelims in the first attempt, making the reserve list for IRTS in the second, and finally achieving her dream of becoming an IAS officer in her third attempt.
• Riya, a topper in 10th and 12th, pursued B.Tech in Electronics and Communication but opted out of placements to prepare for UPSC.
• She chose Sociology as her optional subject and relied on limited, basic books like Laxmikanth for Polity and Spectrum for History, along with daily newspaper reading.
• Riya emphasizes mock tests for Prelims and answer writing, using clear language, good structure, and visual tools for Mains.

Key Questions Answered

What challenges did Riya Saini overcome to become an IAS?

Riya Saini overcame the challenge of not using coaching and continued her preparation after an initial selection in IRTS to achieve her goal of becoming an IAS officer with an All India 22nd rank in 2

How can mock tests improve UPSC Prelims scores?

Mock tests help identify weaknesses and build confidence. They are crucial for revision in the final months before the UPSC Prelims.

Will Riya Saini's strategy help other UPSC aspirants?

Riya Saini's strategy of choosing Sociology as her optional subject and relying on limited, basic books could potentially help other UPSC aspirants.