Cracking the UPSC examination is no easy task. It requires years of preparation, a clear plan, regular mock tests, and a step-by-step approach to success. VisionIAS can be a valuable guide on this journey, offering a strong curriculum and a well-rounded method to help students prepare thoroughly. A shining example of their success is Harshita Goyal. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Harshita not only cleared the challenging civil services exam but also achieved it with great distinction. She secured the second position in the All India Rankings (AIR), proving that with the right support and strategy, success is within reach.

Harshita Goyal’s UPSC Preparation Strategy: From CA to AIR 2 with VisionIAS Foundation

Harshita, who scored All India Rank 2 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, has shown that a strong basis, constant effort, and clear of intent can turn an aspirant into a topper. Her path from a CA to among the top civil services achievers in the nation captures the core of inner drive and targeted ambition. She discussed in great detail her method in a recent VisionIAS’ Topper’s Talk session, a proud student of the VisionIAS Classroom Foundation Course, offering useful guidance for aspirants at every stage of their UPSC journey.

Watch: Talk of VisionIAS Topper Harshita Goyal (AIR 2)

Foundation: Establishing the Groundwork with VisionIAS

Having passed her Chartered Accountancy, Harshita enrolled in the VisionIAS Classroom Foundation Course in 2022. Speaking at the VisionIAS Toppers’ Talk, she said that her preparation has been aided by this choice. “Foundation Course, as the name suggests, created a foundation for me for my further studies.”

At first unsure of how to start, VisionIAS’s structure and direction guided her across the large UPSC syllabus. She made sure she was actively involved even though she studied online by consistent searches and careful assignment writing. Her three attempts were supported by classroom notes, which she found to be rather relevant.

Her preparation gained consistency and clarity from regular answer writing, class-based assignments and revision tools including Quick Revision Materials (QRM) and monthly magazines, reflecting the reach of the best UPSC coaching in Delhi, even in remote learning.

Strategy, setbacks, and smart UPSC preparation organized resources and fundamental materials

Harshita stressed the need of depending on set, ordered resources. VisionIAS classroom notes anchored her preparation; additional tools for conceptual grounding included Quick Revision Materials (QRM), Monthly Magazines, PT365, and NCERTs. She refined rather than replaced these materials throughout her efforts.

Prelims Strategy: Consistency and accuracy

After two setbacks in first two attempts, Harshita went to her third Prelims with a more strategic approach:

Her compass was PYQs (pls provide full form): She analysed PYQ’s not only for improvement but also for the identification of recurrent themes and direction of concentrated study.

CSAT (pls provide full form) was taken seriously: She especially used PYQs and classroom tests to address her weak areas by regular practice.

Current Affairs: Read newspapers daily (non-negotiable!). Supplemented with monthly magazines/PT 365 smartly. Focused on revising factual information.

Smart revision: She avoided using fresh materials near the test and instead repeatedly going over familiar notes.

Mocks for confidence: Exams like theAll India Prelims Test Series andAbhyaas helped her to shape test attitude.

Attempt strategy: She tried 98 questions on the real test and observed that strategy has to match personal risk-taking capacity. “The more mistakes you make in mocks, the more you learn—and the less likely you are to repeat them in the real exam,” Harshita says.

Mains Strategy: Practice, Presentation, and Completion

The Mains approach of Harshita was quite practice-oriented:

* She solved the PYQs for the past five years, learning answer structure by comparing them with topper copies.

* Emphasizing structure and coherence, she stressed finishing all answers—including writing even when unsure.

* Early on, classroom assignments helped develop writing discipline.

* Especially in difficult areas, note-making was smart like digital for reading and reference, handwritten for memory retention.

* Budget/Eco Survey summaries, Mains 365, and high-frequency theme use of diagrams drove GS3 preparation.

* Essay and Ethics: Regular essay practice for Harshita came from copies of toppers, newspapers, and peer reviews. In Ethics, for values like integrity and empathy, she drew on stakeholder diagrams, tables, and clear, concise examples. Further, VisionIAS Ethics lectures and toppers’ answers formed her basis; applied with structure and clarity.

Interview: Presence of mind over perfection

Harshita laid stress on a thorough DAF-based preparation—that is, practicing questions for every keyword.

* She brainstormed using ChatGPT and peer review.

* Her interview readiness centred mostly on personality qualities including empathy, calmness, and articulation

Attitude, drive, and handling obstacles

Early setbacks notwithstanding, Harshita stayed grounded and optimistic. She stayed close to her basic inspiration: family support and social responsibility. She equipped herself with her interests (painting, movies, Ludo) and exercised for balanced preparation.

Harshita explained: “UPSC is a part of life – not life itself; ordinary efforts done consistently lead to extraordinary results.”

In essence, a blueprint for resilient and introspective preparation. The UPSC strategy and path of Harshita shows the value of consistent self-belief, timely mentoring and disciplined learning. Her focus on classroom UPSC study material, rigorous practice, early answer writing and emotional fortitude provides aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination with a clear, practical road map.

Disclaimer: This article has been written in collaboration with Vision IAS.

Gujarat Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has opened the application window for HSC or Class 12 General as well as Science streams Supplementary Exams 2025. 

As per the official notice, students who were absent, failed in one or more subjects, and need improvement in their marks can apply for the supplementary exams.

Also read: HBSE Haryana board result 2025 news: Steps to check 10th, 12th results when out

Alternatively, students who qualified in the exams but wish to improve their marks further can also apply for the supplementary exams.

Applications can be submitted from May 12 to May 19, 2025, up to 5 PM, along with the payment of examination fee. 

Notably, the application for the supplementary examination can be submitted via schools only through the board’s official website at gseb.org or https://hscscipurakreg.gseb.org. 

Also read: CBSE results 2025 soon: Websites, DigiLocker and other ways to check your marks after announcement

No applications can be submitted offline, the board said. 

It may be mentioned here that female candidates and candidates with disabilities have been exempted from payment of examination fee. 

As per the board, it is mandatory for the such candidates to mark the required boxes against the seat number on the online application form, as failure in doing so will not allow them to appear in the supplementary examination.

Notably, the GSEB HSC Results 2025 were declared on May 5, 2025. The overall pass percentage of HSC Science was recorded at 83.51%, and in General stream, it was 93.07%.

Also read: Manipur HSLC Results 2025 declared, 91.37% students pass in BoSEM Class 10 exams

The GSEB HSC examination was conducted from February 27 to March 13, 2025.

For more related details, candidates are advised to visit the official website of GSEB.

Chandigarh, Schools in five Punjab districts bordering Pakistan, as well as in Sangrur, will remain closed on Monday, officials said.

However, academic institutions in the rest of the state will reopen, they said.

The authorities in Pathankot, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts that lie on the border with Pakistan have ordered schools to remain shut.

Punjab shares a 553-kilometre border with Pakistan, spanning these five districts as well Fazilka.

Education Minister Harjot Bains said if any university already revised its examination schedule, those exams would follow the revised schedule.

Deputy commissioners of border districts have also been authorised to take a call on opening or closing schools, based on local circumstances.

Bains also directed the academic institutions to strictly adhere to the government’s safety protocols and guidelines.

Meanwhile, the authorities in Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Moga issued advisories, urging people to voluntarily switch off lights at home and avoid venturing outside unless necessary on Sunday evening.

On Sunday, calm prevailed in Punjab, especially in its border areas, following an understanding between India and Pakistan to stop all military actions on land, air and sea.

In Amritsar, schoolteachers can take classes online, according to a message shared by the district administration. Colleges and universities in the district will also remain closed.

In Pathankot and Gurdaspur, colleges and universities will remain shut on Monday.

University and college teachers, however, can take online classes, according to an order issued by the Gurdaspur authorities.

The authorities in Sangrur have also ordered all academic institutions to remain shut.

Earlier, Bains had said all academic institutions schools, colleges and universities across Punjab would reopen on Monday.

“Regular classes and examinations will proceed as per academic schedule. We are immensely proud of our brave armed forces,” he had said in a post on X.

The state government on May 8 ordered the closure of academic institutions for three days as a military standoff between India and Pakistan soared.

Meanwhile, the Ferozepur district administration on Sunday issued an advisory, asking people to voluntarily switch off lights at 8 pm.

“Avoid moving outside unless necessary. Stay calm and stay alert to the messages from the district administration,” the district authorities said in a message.

The Gurdaspur district administration said the situation was peaceful.

Intimation will be made in case of any event of threat, it added.

In Fazilka, markets were closed at 7:30 pm as a precautionary measure, an official said.

The Mohali district administration said there would be no blackout on Sunday.

However, as a means of abundant precaution, the administration said streetlights would be switched off and advised people to voluntarily stay indoors in the late evening.

Punjab reimposed blackout measures in several districts as a precautionary measure on Saturday after Pakistan violated the terms of the understanding between the two countries to stop military actions.

The authorities had earlier withdrawn blackout measures and restrictive orders after the two countries reached an understanding to stop military actions following four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.