Harshita Goyal Biography: UPSC AIR 2 Topper
About Harshita Goyal
Harshita Goyal secured AIR 2 in the UPSC 2024 exam. This biography details her journey from a CA to IAS, her PSIR optional strategy, and her 3 attempts.
In this article, we have discussed Harshita Goyal’s Biography, her journey, education, father, rank, attempts, optional subject, personal life and other related information.
हर्षिता गोयल, जो वडोदरा, गुजरात से हैं, ने UPSC 2024 में AIR 2 हासिल किया। वह एक चार्टर्ड अकाउंटेंट (CA) हैं और उन्होंने PSIR को अपने वैकल्पिक विषय के रूप में चुना। यह उनका तीसरा प्रयास था। मेन्स से पहले टाइफाइड होने के बावजूद, उन्होंने सफलता प्राप्त की। उनके पिता, गोविंद गोयल, ने उनका बहुत समर्थन किया। उनकी कहानी सभी उम्मीदवारों के लिए एक प्रेरणा है।
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Harshita Goyal |
| Hometown | Vadodara, Gujarat (Born in Hisar, Haryana) |
| Age (Current Year) | 25 (as of 2025) |
| Birth Year | 2000 |
| Father | Govind Goyal |
| Mother | Deceased (Passed away due to cancer) |
| All India Rank in UPSC CSE | 2 (AIR 2) |
| Roll Number in UPSC 2024 | Not Publicly Disclosed |
| Optional Subject | Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) |
| Graduation | B.Com, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda; Chartered Accountant (CA) |
| School | New Era Senior Secondary School, Vadodara |
| UPSC Attempts | 3 |
| Total Marks Obtained in UPSC 2024 | 1038 |
| Preferred Services | Indian Administrative Service (IAS) |
| Interests | Acrylic Painting, Governance, Social Work |
| Books Written | Not Applicable |
Harshita Goyal Education
Harshita Goyal completed her schooling at New Era Senior Secondary School in Vadodara, Gujarat. She then pursued higher education at the prestigious Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. This foundational education in Vadodara set the stage for her academic excellence.
She earned a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree, specializing in Accounting and Business Management.
Following her B.Com, Harshita pursued and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (CA) by 2021. This CA background gave her financial stability and a disciplined, analytical mindset. This structured approach proved invaluable for tackling the vast syllabus of the UPSC examination.
Harshita Goyal Preparation Strategy
Harshita’s main hobby, Acrylic Painting, was her primary stress-relief outlet. This creative pursuit helped her maintain mental wellness and balance during the demanding UPSC preparation. She also engaged in social work with the Belief Foundation, which kept her grounded.
She adopted a structured approach, enrolling in the VisionIAS Foundation Course in 2022. She relied heavily on their classroom notes, Quick Revision Material (QRM), and monthly current affairs magazines. This formal coaching helped her transition from her CA background.
Harshita Goyal Notes: Harshita used both digital and handwritten methods for note-making. She focused on creating concise summaries based on VisionIAS materials and PT 365 for smart revision.
Standard Textbook: She built her foundation using standard NCERT textbooks. For Mains, she used specific resources like Mains 365 and survey documents for GS3 (Economics).
Online Resources: She extensively used VisionIAS materials, including their test series and PT 365. She also analyzed toppers’ answer copies to understand answer structuring.
Harshita Goyal Achievements: Harshita Goyal’s achievements are numerous. Before her UPSC success, she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. She also won the Best Paper Award at a National CA Students Conference. Her work with the Belief Foundation, supporting children with Thalassemia and Cancer, shows her deep-seated social commitment. Her academic journey was further enriched by working with the Ministry of Law and Justice. Capping all this, she secured an incredible All India Rank 2 (AIR 2) in the UPSC 2024 examination, scoring 1038 marks in her third attempt, solidifying her status as a top achiever.
Harshita Goyal UPSC Journey
Harshita Goyal’s UPSC journey began after she became a Chartered Accountant in 2021. Motivated by a desire for public service, she faced initial setbacks. Her first attempt in 2022 ended at the Prelims stage. This failure tested her resolve but didn’t break it.
In her second attempt in 2023, she cleared Prelims but missed the final list. Her third attempt in 2024 was the ultimate test of resilience. Despite suffering from severe typhoid just a week before the Mains, she persevered and wrote all the papers, ultimately securing AIR 2.
Standard Text Books: She relied on NCERTs for her foundation. For her Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) optional, she used standard textbooks complemented by coaching notes.
Online Resources: Harshita extensively used VisionIAS resources, including their Foundation Course, classroom notes, PT 365, and Mains 365. She also analyzed toppers’ answer copies available online.
Current Affairs: She maintained consistency by reading newspapers daily and supplementing them with VisionIAS monthly current affairs magazines. This built a strong base for all stages.
Last Attempt and Success: Her third and final attempt was marked by extreme adversity. She battled a severe case of typhoid just one week before her Mains exam but courageously appeared for it, leading to her historic AIR 2 rank.
Harshita Goyal Rank in UPSC
Harshita Goyal secured the outstanding All India Rank 2 (AIR 2) in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024. This remarkable achievement placed her at the very top of the nation’s most prestigious exam.
Harshita Goyal Attempts in UPSC
Harshita’s success came in her third attempt. Her journey shows incredible resilience. She failed to clear Prelims in 2022. In 2023, she reached the interview stage but missed the final list. Learning from each failure, she refined her strategy and, despite illness, finally triumphed in her 2024 attempt.
Harshita Goyal Optional Subjects
Harshita Goyal chose Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) as her optional subject. Despite her commerce and CA background, PSIR aligned with her interest in governance and public policy. This strategic choice also has significant overlap with the General Studies Paper-II syllabus, aiding her preparation.
Harshita Goyal UPSC Marks
The following is the Harshita Goyal’s marksheet from the Civil Services Examination Examination 2024 is given below:
| Category | Marks Obtained |
|---|---|
| Written Total Marks | 851 |
| Interview/Personality Test | 187 |
| Final Marks Obtained | 1038 |
Harshita Goyal Personal Life
Harshita’s personal life is marked by profound strength. She lost her mother to cancer about a decade ago, just before her Class 10 exams. This loss forced her to mature early and support her family.
As of 2025, Harshita Goyal is unmarried and fully dedicated to her new role in the civil services.
Her father, Govind Goyal, has been her rock. He single-handedly raised her and her younger brother after her mother’s passing, moving the family to Vadodara for a better future and constantly motivating her.
Harshita Goyal Age
Harshita Goyal was born in the year 2000. She achieved her remarkable success in the UPSC 2024 exam at the age of 25. Securing AIR 2 at this young age, after also becoming a CA, highlights her exceptional focus and dedication.
Harshita Goyal Current Posting
Having secured AIR 2, Harshita Goyal has been allotted the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). She is currently undergoing her foundational training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie.
Harshita Goyal Family Background
Harshita comes from a middle-class family. Her father, Govind Goyal, is a corporate employee. Her mother passed away from cancer. She also has a younger brother. Her father’s decision to relocate for his children’s future and his constant support were pivotal to her success.
Harshita Goyal Author’s Page
While not a published author of books, Harshita has demonstrated strong writing and analytical skills. She won the Best Paper Award at a National Chartered Accountant Students Conference for her paper on “The Role of Chartered Accountants in Transforming India.”
Her interests lie more in analysis and policy than in creative writing. Her work with the Ministry of Law and Justice and her participation in the Gujarat Youth Parliament show a deep engagement with legislative and administrative processes.
Harshita Goyal Interests and Hobbies
The following is the interests and hobbies reveal her multifaceted personality and interests is given below in key points:
- Her primary hobby is Acrylic Painting. She used this creative outlet as a powerful tool for stress relief and emotional expression during her intense UPSC preparation, helping her maintain mental balance and focus.
- Harshita is deeply committed to social work. She was actively involved with the Belief Foundation, an NGO in Ahmedabad that provides care and support to children suffering from Thalassemia and Cancer.
- She has a keen interest in governance and public administration, which aligns directly with her career choice. This interest was nurtured through participation in the Gujarat Youth Parliament.
- As a CA, she has a strong background in finance and economics. Her paper on the role of CAs in transforming India shows her interest in linking her professional skills to national development.
Harshita Goyal Interesting Facts
The following are some interesting facts related to an Harshita Goyal is given below:
- Harshita suffered a severe bout of typhoid just one week before her UPSC Mains 2024 examination but appeared for all the papers despite her illness.
- She lost her mother to cancer right before her Class 10 board exams, a tragedy that forced her to take on significant family responsibilities at a young age.
- Before her IAS success, she was already a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) and had won a national award for a paper she presented.
- Her father, Govind Goyal, relocated the entire family from Rajasthan to Vadodara, Gujarat, to ensure better opportunities for his children after his wife’s passing.
- Unlike many aspirants, Harshita used social media purposefully, following pages that provided knowledge, turning it into a learning tool rather than a distraction.
Harshita Goyal Wind-Up
Harshita Goyal’s biography is a powerful story of resilience, intellect, and heart. From overcoming personal tragedy to battling severe illness during her exams, her journey to AIR 2 is extraordinary. Her background as a CA and social worker provides her with a unique perspective for public service. Her success in her third attempt proves that consistent, ordinary efforts can lead to extraordinary results. The Harshita Goyal biography remains a source of immense inspiration for all UPSC aspirants, showing that no obstacle is insurmountable.
