UPSC topper: Feels surreal, trying to absorb the feeling

PRAYAGRAJ : Phones have not stopped ringing at Shakti Dubey 's house in Naini area of Prayagraj, since UPSC published the results of the 2024 civil services examinations on Tuesday afternoon. Daughter of a sub-inspector posted with the traffic department of Prayagraj, the 29-year-old, who secured the top rank, has made history for the Sangam city.

"It feels surreal, and I am just trying to absorb the feeling. It's a dream I have had for a long time," Shakti, who is currently in Delhi, said while speaking to TOI. She will be coming back to her hometown on Wednesday, where a grand welcome awaits her.

Shakti cracked the coveted examination in her fifth attempt. She said she was anxious and nervous, and initially did not believe she had topped when the result was uploaded. When it was finally confirmed after verifying, she called up her parents.


"It was the result of several years of hard work . Naturally, I was ecstatic. I told my family, and everyone was overjoyed. At first, it was hard to believe, but gradually it's sinking in," she said.

"We all were optimistic about her clearing the exam last year itself, but she missed out narrowly, and I was very disappointed. But today, I feel she was destined to top the exam, not just clear it," Shakti's proud father Devendra Dubey, said while talking to TOI.

A gold medallist in MSc from Banaras Hindu University, Shakti went to Delhi to prepare for the civil services, but the Covid pandemic disrupted her studies. She finally cleared the mains in 2023, but stumbled at the last hurdle.

She said she was able to handle the failures during previous attempts as she had confidence in herself and her family's support.

The superlative success this year has erased the past disappointments. "It's about working on your mistakes and staying determined," she added. Shakti admitted that her preparation "wasn't very structured" in the previous attempts.