Shakti Dubey (AIR 1) UPSC Topper Biography: Her 7-Year Journey, 5th Attempt Strategy, PSIR Optional Success & Marksheet Analysis
Shakti Dubey (AIR 1) UPSC Topper Biography: Her 7-Year Journey, 5th Attempt Strategy, PSIR Optional Success & Marksheet Analysis
About Shakti Dubey
Shakti Dubey, a biochemistry gold medalist from Prayagraj, secured AIR 1 in UPSC 2024. This biography details her 5-attempt journey to becoming an IAS officer.
In this article, we have discussed Shakti Dubey’s Biography, her journey, education, family, rank, attempts, optional subject, personal life and other related information.
शक्ति दुबे, जो प्रयागराज, उत्तर प्रदेश की रहने वाली हैं, ने UPSC 2024 परीक्षा में अखिल भारतीय रैंक 1 (AIR 1) हासिल की है। बायोकेमिस्ट्री में गोल्ड मेडलिस्ट होने के बावजूद, उन्होंने पॉलिटिकल साइंस को अपने वैकल्पिक विषय के रूप में चुना। उनकी यह सफलता पाँचवें प्रयास में मिली, जो उनकी सात साल की कड़ी मेहनत और दृढ़ संकल्प को दर्शाती है। उनके पिता, देवेंद्र कुमार दुबे, यूपी पुलिस में सब-इंस्पेक्टर हैं, जो उनकी प्रेरणा का स्रोत रहे। शक्ति की यह यात्रा यूपीएससी के लाखों उम्मीदवारों के लिए एक प्रेरणा है।
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Shakti Dubey |
| Hometown | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh |
| Age (Current Year) | 28 (as of 2025) |
| Birth Year | ~December 1996 |
| Father | Devendra Kumar Dubey (Sub-Inspector, UP Police) |
| Mother | Prema Devi (Homemaker) |
| All India Rank in UPSC CSE | 1 (UPSC CSE 2024) |
| Roll Number in UPSC 2024 | Not Available |
| Optional Subject | Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) |
| Graduation | B.Sc. (Biochemistry), University of Allahabad |
| Post Graduation | M.Sc. (Biochemistry), Banaras Hindu University (BHU) |
| School | St. Mary’s Convent School, Ghoorpur |
| UPSC Attempts | 5 |
| Total Marks Obtained in UPSC 2024 | 1043 |
| Preferred Services | Indian Administrative Service (IAS) |
| Interests | Poetry Writing, Debating, Badminton, Reading |
| Books Written | Personal Poetry (Unpublished) |
Shakti Dubey Education
Shakti Dubey’s academic brilliance was evident early on. She completed her schooling at St. Mary’s Convent School, Ghoorpur, where she reportedly topped every class from Class 1 to 12, scoring an impressive 94% in her Class 12 board exams.
She pursued a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Biochemistry from the University of Allahabad, securing a gold medal for her outstanding performance. She continued this success with a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), graduating in 2018 and earning another gold medal.
Despite her deep expertise in Biochemistry, Shakti Dubey made a strategic pivot for her UPSC preparation. She chose Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) as her optional, believing its relevance to governance and General Studies would better serve her ambition for the civil services.
Shakti Dubey Preparation Strategy
Shakti’s preparation was balanced by her personal interests. A keen poet, she found solace in the works of Shiv Mangal Singh “Suman,” which helped her stay grounded during the long seven-year journey. Her debating experience from BHU also sharpened her analytical skills.
She built a strong foundation using NCERTs and standard books like Laxmikant and Spectrum. She relied heavily on daily answer writing practice and regular revision of her own notes, following a disciplined 8-10 hour daily study routine.
Shakti Dubey Notes: Shakti Dubey’s note-making was systematic. She synthesized information from The Hindu and monthly magazines, creating concise notes that were crucial for her multiple revisions, especially for her PSIR optional.
Standard Textbook: She followed the standard booklist, including M. Laxmikant for Polity, Spectrum for Modern History, and G.C. Leong for Geography, supplementing them with her own college and coaching notes.
Online Resources: Shakti enrolled in several programs at Vajiram & Ravi, including their General Studies course, Sureshot Mains Test Series, and SMART Current Affairs, which structured her preparation effectively.
Shakti Dubey Achievements: Shakti Dubey’s list of achievements is remarkable. An academic topper from Class 1 to her M.Sc., she holds two gold medals in Biochemistry (B.Sc. and M.Sc.). Her greatest achievement, however, is securing All India Rank 1 in the UPSC CSE 2024. This came in her fifth attempt after a long struggle, proving her incredible resilience. She also scored an exceptional 200 out of 275 marks in her personality test, one of the highest in her batch.
Shakti Dubey UPSC Journey
Shakti Dubey began her UPSC journey in 2018, right after her M.Sc. Her motivation was deeply rooted in her family; seeing her father, a UP Police Sub-Inspector, serve the public inspired her. Her initial years were challenging, as she moved to Delhi for coaching before returning to Prayagraj during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her path was not easy. Shakti faced failure in her first three attempts, failing to clear the Prelims stage. In her fourth attempt, she reached the interview but missed the final list by just two marks. Undeterred, she appeared for her fifth attempt, finally achieving her goal of AIR 1 in the UPSC 2024 exam.
Standard Text Books: For her PSIR optional, Shakti Dubey focused on standard texts and consolidated her notes from her coaching at Vajiram & Ravi. She integrated current international relations topics with static theory.
Online Resources: She utilized Vajiram & Ravi’s test series extensively to improve her answer writing. She also participated in their Stepup Mentorship Programme, which provided guidance during her long preparation.
Current Affairs: Her current affairs preparation was robust, centered on a daily reading of The Hindu newspaper, supplemented by monthly coaching magazines to ensure comprehensive coverage of national and international issues.
Last Attempt and Success: Her fifth and final attempt in 2024 was the culmination of seven years of hard work. Learning from every previous failure, she perfected her strategy, particularly in her optional and interview, leading to her AIR 1 success.
Shakti Dubey Rank in UPSC
Shakti Dubey secured the coveted **All India Rank 1 (AIR 1)** in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024. This phenomenal achievement placed her at the very top of the 1,009 candidates who qualified, marking her as the nation’s topper.
Shakti Dubey Attempts in UPSC
Shakti Dubey’s success is a story of pure persistence. She cleared the UPSC exam on her **fifth attempt**. Her journey, spanning seven years, included three consecutive failures at the Prelims stage and one near-miss where she failed the final list by only two marks. Her story is a powerful lesson in resilience for all aspirants.
Shakti Dubey Optional Subjects
Shakti Dubey chose **Political Science and International Relations (PSIR)** as her optional subject. This was a strategic choice, moving away from her academic background in Biochemistry. She scored exceptionally well in PSIR, with 132 marks in Paper-I and 147 marks in Paper-II, validating her decision.
Shakti Dubey UPSC Marks
The following is the Shakti Dubey’s marksheet from the Civil Services Examination 2024 is given below:
| Category | Marks Obtained |
|---|---|
| Written Total Marks | 843 |
| Interview/Personality Test | 200 |
| Final Marks Obtained | 1043 |
Shakti Dubey Personal Life
Shakti Dubey hails from a middle-class family in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Her values of public service and dedication were instilled by her parents. Her family’s support was a cornerstone of her success.
Her twin sister, Pragati Dubey, was also a UPSC aspirant and prepared alongside her, highlighting a shared family dedication to civil services.
Shakti attributes her success to the unwavering belief of her parents, Devendra Kumar Dubey and Prema Devi, and her teachers. Their emotional support and encouragement kept her motivated through her seven-year struggle and multiple failures.
Shakti Dubey Age
As of 2025, Shakti Dubey is **28 years old**. She was born around December 1996. Achieving AIR 1 after a seven-year journey at this age highlights her long-term commitment and dedication to her goal of joining the civil services.
Shakti Dubey Current Posting
Following her AIR 1 rank, Shakti Dubey was allocated to the **Indian Administrative Service (IAS)**, her preferred service. She is currently undergoing the foundational training for IAS officers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie.
Shakti Dubey Family Background
Shakti Dubey’s family played a pivotal role in her journey. Her father, **Devendra Kumar Dubey**, is a Sub-Inspector in the UP Police, whose service inspired her. Her mother, **Prema Devi**, is a homemaker. She also has a twin sister, Pragati Dubey, and a brother, Ashutosh, who is pursuing an MCA.
Shakti Dubey Author’s Page
While Shakti Dubey has not formally published a book, she is a gifted poet. Her creative writing and poetry are a significant part of her identity, which she occasionally shares in interviews.
She maintains an active and verified Instagram account (@imshaktidubey1), where she shares updates on her journey. Her poetry, like the piece “What Do You Write?”, reflects her introspective nature and thought process.
Shakti Dubey Interests and Hobbies
The following is the interests and hobbies reveal her multifaceted personality and interests is given below in key points:
- Poetry and Writing: Shakti has a deep love for poetry, especially the works of Shiv Mangal Singh “Suman.” She writes her own poems, which served as a creative outlet and a source of solace during her tough preparation phases. She famously recited her poem “What Do You Write?” during her mock interview.
- Debating: Her leadership skills were sharpened during her M.Sc. at BHU, where she served as the convenor of the Student Debating Committee. This hobby honed her skills in dialectical reasoning and structured argumentation, which are vital for an administrator.
- Reading: A consistent academic topper, Shakti has always been an avid reader. This hobby notS only supported her academic goals but also broadened her worldview, which is essential for both the PSIR optional and the General Studies papers.
- Badminton: Beyond her academic and creative pursuits, Shakti also enjoys playing badminton. This interest in sports likely helped her maintain physical fitness and mental resilience, which is crucial during the long and stressful UPSC preparation cycle.
Shakti Dubey Interesting Facts
The following are some interesting facts related to an Shakti Dubey is given below:
- She was an academic prodigy, reportedly topping every single class from Class 1 through Class 12.
- Shakti is a double gold medalist: one for her B.Sc. in Biochemistry and another for her M.Sc. in Biochemistry.
- Her journey to AIR 1 included failing the UPSC Prelims three consecutive times before finally clearing it.
- Her twin sister, Pragati Dubey, also prepared for the UPSC examination alongside her.
- Shakti scored an outstanding 200 out of 275 in her UPSC interview, one of the highest marks that year.
Shakti Dubey Wind-Up
Shakti Dubey’s biography is a powerful narrative of resilience. Her journey from a biochemistry gold medalist to the UPSC 2024 AIR 1, after five attempts and seven long years, is extraordinary. She overcame three Prelims failures and a final list miss to achieve her dream. Her story proves that academic background is no barrier to choosing a new path and that persistence is the ultimate key to success in the UPSC CSE. Her success stands as a true inspiration to all aspirants.
