Aastha Singh: Youngest IAS 2025 Shares UPSC CSE 2024 Strategy (AIR 61)
Published on May 15, 2025
A Message from Gurukul Academy
At Gurukul Academy, we believe every UPSC aspirant has the potential to transform dreams into reality. Our mission is to provide unparalleled guidance, resources, and inspiration to fuel your journey to civil services. Today, we’re beyond proud to share the awe-inspiring story of Aastha Singh, the youngest IAS officer of the 2025 batch, who clinched AIR 61 in UPSC CSE 2024 at just 21—on her very first attempt! Aastha’s journey is a beacon of hope, blending relentless determination, strategic brilliance, and an unshakable belief in herself. In this exclusive feature, she opens up about her preparation strategy, challenges, and actionable tips to empower aspirants worldwide. Whether you’re studying in a bustling coaching hub or the quiet of your home, Aastha’s insights will light your path to success.
Aastha Singh’s UPSC Odyssey: From Dream to AIR 61
By Aastha Singh
Who I Am
Hello, I’m Aastha Singh, and I’m humbled to share that I secured AIR 61 in UPSC CSE 2024 at the tender age of 21, in my first-ever attempt. Hailing from Zirakpur, Punjab, with roots in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, I grew up weaving dreams across Bhopal and Panchkula. In 2023, I graduated with a BA (Hons.) Economics from the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi. Alongside my UPSC triumph, I cleared the HPSC HCS 2024 with AIR 31 and am currently training as an Assistant Excise and Taxation Officer in Haryana. Want to connect? Find me on Instagram for more insights and inspiration.
The Spark That Ignited My Journey
My UPSC journey wasn’t a straight path—it was a mosaic of dreams, doubts, and discoveries. As a consistent academic topper (with a slight stumble in 10th grade, oops!), I flored with careers from astronaut to psychiatrist. But a quiet voice, fueled by my grandfather’s proud declaration, “Ye collector banegi!” kept the civil services dream alive. It wasn’t until my 12th boards that I embraced this calling with all my heart.
I chose Economics as my undergraduate major, strategically aligning it with my UPSC optional. After graduating in June 2023, I returned to Zirakpur, shunning Delhi’s chaos to focus solely on preparation. With less than a year until my first attempt, I skipped foundation courses, trusting my ability to conquer the syllabus with curated resources. Thus began my UPSC odyssey—full of grit and grace.
To ease my nerves about competitive exams, I appeared for the HPSC HCS, clearing its prelims, mains, and interview. But when UPSC mains overlapped with my HCS training in August 2024, I juggled both, studying just 6-7 hours daily. This phase taught me the art of strategic smart work. The personality test stage was transformative—4-5 hours of newspaper reading, deep discussions with family, and introspective moments shaped my worldview.
This year-long journey had its highs and lows, like any aspirant’s. Staying consistent amid life’s storms was my superpower. As I share my strategy, I urge you to cherry-pick what resonates with your unique path—because your journey is yours alone.
Coaching or Self-Study? Delhi or Home?
Deciding whether to join a coaching institute is deeply personal. I chose self-study for General Studies, confident I could cover the syllabus faster with online resources. However, for my Economics optional, I enrolled in recorded lectures for structured guidance. I also dipped into crash courses for specific topics, blending the best of both worlds.
I opted to prepare from home in Zirakpur, prioritizing comfort over the hustle of Old Rajinder Nagar or Mukherjee Nagar. Home meant fewer distractions—no worrying about meals or laundry—just pure focus. If you choose home, banish FOMO. Digital platforms and online materials level the playing field, provided you have a conducive study environment, access to resources, and a support system. Weigh these factors carefully to maximize study time.
My Daily Rhythm
Laying the Foundation
Without a ready-made course, I spent early days curating resources—consulting college seniors, scouring YouTube, and devouring topper blogs. I transformed from a night owl to a morning lark, rising at 7:30 AM and diving into studies by 8:30 AM. I clocked 8-10 hours daily, keeping my schedule fluid yet disciplined.
Balancing GS and Optional
For the first three months, I poured 6-7 hours daily into my Economics optional, reserving the rest for one GS subject, which took about 15 days each to master.
Prelims Marathon (January–June 2024)
This was my crucible. I studied 12 hours daily, with breaks for TV shows and family time to recharge. Balance kept burnout at bay.
Mains Crunch
Mains preparation clashed with HCS training. In July, I managed 8 hours daily, dropping to 6 hours in August. In the final 20 days, with leave granted, I surged to 12-13 hours, weaving in hobbies like private singing sessions and soothing shows.
Personality Test
Here, quality trumped quantity. I spent 5 hours daily on 2-3 newspapers, researched hot topics, and perfected my DAF. Evenings were for debates with my uncle, while mocks and chores filled the gaps.
Conquering Prelims
Prelims terrified me—its unpredictability loomed large. My mantra? Control the controllables. Here’s how I tamed it:
- Static Mastery: I nailed core subjects like Polity, History, and Geography.
- Single Current Affairs Source: Vision IAS PT365 and monthly magazines kept me focused.
- Relentless Revisions: I revisited the syllabus 3-4 times.
- Minimal Sources: One or two core resources per subject prevented overwhelm.
- Dr. Shivin’s Prelims Planner: This kept my progress on track.
- Mock Tests: I solved enough mocks to fine-tune my attempt range, reduce negatives, and find my flow (I worked backward from the end).
- PYQs—the Holy Grail: I dissected 25 years of PYQs thrice, decoding UPSC’s patterns, spotting favorite topics, and mastering elimination (e.g., extreme statements are rarely correct).
From January 2024, I locked in my sources, ignoring new materials flooding the market. This built unshakable confidence in my static knowledge, letting me tackle tricky questions with educated guesses.
Mastering Mains
Time was my foe during mains, but preparation and ingenuity saved the day:
- Early Notes: GS-1, GS-2, and GS-3 notes from 2023 were my lifeline.
- Data Banks: I crafted 3-4 page databanks for each GS paper, packed with data points, schemes, quotes, and committees. For GS-4, I followed Mudit Jain Sir’s strategy, compiling keywords, examples, and definitions.
- No Test Series: Time scarcity meant no formal test series. Instead, I practiced PYQ answers and had friends review one test per GS paper, sharpening my introductions and conclusions.
- Essay Approach: I wrote just one essay during preparation, leaning on friends’ notes for anecdotes and Mudit Jain Sir’s structures for the exam.
Economics Optional: My Winning Edge (Paper 1: 131, Paper 2: 133)
As an Economics graduate, I chose this optional despite myths about its complexity. Rohit Sehrawat Sir’s recorded lectures (Genuine IAS) were my anchor, taking 3.5 months to complete. My strategy:
- Paper 1: Complex models demanded extra effort. I watched lectures, studied notes, and made my own with graphs and PYQs. Concise revision notes with definitions and graphs were my exam-eve go-to.
- Paper 2: I followed the same process, adding a database of stats, growth rates, and economists’ insights (e.g., Ashok Gulati for agriculture).
- Test Series: I joined Rohit Sir’s test series, practicing daily answer writing and three tests per paper, revising them before the exam.
- PYQs: I answered all PYQs during my first syllabus reading, making revision during mains a breeze.
The Art of Note-Making
Prelims
I skipped extensive notes, as sources like Laxmikant and NCERTs demanded full reading. Instead, I created cheat sheets for tough topics—polity committees, history timelines, and environment COPs.
Mains
Paper-wise notes were gold. I compiled 1-2 pages per syllabus topic and PYQ-relevant areas for GS-1, GS-2, and GS-3.
Current Affairs
I avoided separate notes, relying on Vision IAS Mains365 and PT365 with multiple revisions. For interviews, I made concise notes on trending topics.
Sources That Shaped My Success
Prelims
- Polity: Laxmikant, NCERTs (XI & XII), Magna Carta by Atish Mathur (mains).
- Ancient & Medieval History: Poonam Dahiya, NCERTs (XI & XII), Lucent GK.
- Modern History: Mahipal Singh Rathore’s YouTube, Spectrum.
- Art & Culture: Nitin Singhania.
- Geography: NCERTs (XI & XII), GC Leong (biomes), PMF IAS Physical Geography, Sudarshan Gujjar’s mapping.
- Economy: Vivek Singh’s Indian Economy.
- Science & Tech, Environment: Shivin Chaudhary’s YouTube, PMF IAS Species PDF.
- Current Affairs: Vision IAS monthly magazines, PT365.
Mains
- Society, World History: Dr. Shivin Chaudhary’s notes, Mahipal Singh Rathore’s videos.
- Governance: PWOnlyIAS Prahaar.
- Social Issues: Current affairs and GS knowledge.
- Ethics, Essay: Mudit Jain Sir’s course.
- Current Affairs: Vision IAS Mains365, PT365.
My Parting Wisdom
The UPSC arena isn’t fair—personal, financial, and societal hurdles make every journey unique. Not everyone can afford elite coaching or a Delhi address, but that’s not a barrier—it’s a challenge to reframe. Embrace free digital resources, lean on peers, and trust your hustle. Fear of failure is real, but it’s no match for your resolve. Two years ago, I’d have laughed at the idea of cracking UPSC on my first try at 21. Yet, here I am. If I can, so can you. The secret? Consistency, self-belief, and relentless hard work. Chase your dream with all you’ve got—Godspeed!
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