English
UPSC 2025 topper Shakti Dubey’s journey to cracking one of the toughest exams in the world is a true story of patience and hard work. It took her eight years of effort to reach her goal. Her dream of becoming an IAS officer began very early and at home as she was highly inspired by her father. Shakti’s father, Devendra Kumar Dubey, is a sub-inspector in the Uttar Pradesh Police and as a child, she often heard him talk about IAS and IPS officers. Those stories and memories stayed with her and slowly shaped her dream to join the civil services one day.
“I always wanted to become something big, but I didn’t even know which exam to take,” Shakti admitted. After completing her post-graduation, she reached a point where she had to choose between continuing in research or exploring something entirely different. That’s when she stumbled upon the idea of civil services.
In 2018, while exploring career options, she came across the story of Tina Dabi, the UPSC topper who had become a national sensation. Inspired by Tina’s journey, Shakti began researching more about the UPSC exam. Coming from a modest background in Deoria’s Bairiya region and without any guidance in the family, her path was far from easy. But she stayed committed.
Her academic background was strong. Shakti completed her schooling and graduation in Prayagraj. She earned a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Allahabad University and went on to pursue an M.Sc. in Biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where she also received a gold medal.
Despite her qualifications, the road to success was not an easy task. She attempted the UPSC exam five times for making her way through it. In her first three attempts, she could not even clear the prelims. But quitting was never an option for her. With each failure, she came back stronger and more focused.
In her fifth attempt, Shakti finally achieved her dream. She chose Political Science and International Relations as her optional subject and secured All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) in the civil services examination.
Her younger sister, Pragati, is also preparing for competitive exams, continuing the spirit of determination that runs in the family.
Shakti’s journey stands as a powerful reminder that success isn’t always immediate but with patience, focus, and hard work, it’s always possible.
