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Garima Lohia’s journey to securing All India Rank 2 in the UPSC Civil Services Exam is marked by perseverance, hard work, and focus. Hailing from Buxar, Bihar, Garima exhibited a strong academic foundation from an early age, excelling in her studies and later pursuing Commerce as her field of interest. Her success came in her second attempt, after overcoming the challenge of not clearing her prelims on her first attempt. She credits her achievement to rigorous self-study, disciplined preparation, and the constant support of her family.
Quick Information Table:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Garima Lohia |
| Age | 24 (at the time of qualifying) |
| Rank | 2 |
| Attempt | 2nd |
| Optional Subject | Commerce & Accountancy |
| Family Background | Father: Late Om Prakash Lohia (Businessman), Mother: Homemaker |
| Hometown | Buxar, Bihar |
| School | Woodstock School, Buxar |
| College & Stream | Kirori Mal College, Delhi University (B.Com) |
| Selected for | Indian Administrative Service (IAS) |
Garima Lohia completed her schooling in her hometown, Buxar, and later moved to Delhi to pursue higher education. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (B.Com) from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. Her educational background in commerce was well-suited to her chosen optional subject for UPSC, Commerce and Accountancy, which helped her approach the exam with a clear understanding of fundamental economic and financial principles.
Garima comes from a modest background in Buxar, Bihar. Her father, Om Prakash Lohia, ran a small business but unfortunately passed away during her childhood. Her mother, a homemaker, played an instrumental role in supporting Garima’s academic ambitions. Garima credits her mother’s emotional and mental support as crucial to her UPSC preparation. The loss of her father at an early age instilled a sense of responsibility in her, which motivated her to work hard toward her goals.
Garima’s decision to join the civil services stemmed from her desire to contribute to the betterment of society. Having witnessed the challenges and limitations in her hometown of Buxar, she was inspired to bring about positive changes at the grassroots level. Her background in commerce gave her insights into how economic policies can influence social development, further igniting her interest in policy making. She viewed the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) as a platform where she could work towards sustainable development, particularly in underdeveloped regions like her hometown.
Her desire to give back to society combined with her academic interest in economic and administrative systems made civil services a natural career choice.
Marks Obtained (Mains)
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| Essay (Paper I) | 131 |
| General Studies Paper 1 (Paper II) | 104 |
| General Studies Paper 2 (Paper III) | 131 |
| General Studies Paper 3 (Paper IV) | 94 |
| General Studies Paper 4 (Paper V) | 141 |
| Optional Paper 1 (Commerce & Accountancy | 125 |
| Optional Paper 2 (Commerce & Accountancy | 150 |
| Written Total | 876 |
| Personality Test | 187 |
| Final Total | 1063 |
Garima’s journey was not devoid of struggles. She faced her first major challenge when she could not clear the prelims on her first attempt. This setback was initially disheartening, but it gave her an opportunity to reassess her preparation strategy and correct her mistakes. The pandemic also presented challenges, particularly when it came to self-study and limited access to peer discussions or coaching classes. Garima had to rely extensively on online resources and self-study materials. The mental strain of losing her father early in life also pushed her to excel, as she wanted to make her family proud.
Despite these struggles, Garima was determined to stay focused on her goal, and her second attempt proved successful.
Garima’s preparation strategy was a mix of discipline, self-study, and focused revisions. She did not rely heavily on coaching and believed in the power of consistency and hard work.
For Prelims:
For the Prelims, Garima focused on building a strong foundation in both General Studies and Current Affairs. She paid special attention to revising NCERT textbooks and relied on online platforms for daily updates on current events. She emphasized solving previous year question papers and took multiple mock tests to simulate the exam environment. Her strategy was to understand the pattern of the UPSC prelims rather than merely focusing on rote learning.
For Mains:
Garima’s preparation for the Mains was content-intensive. She prepared detailed notes for each of the General Studies papers and kept them concise for effective revision. Her optional subject, Commerce and Accountancy, was an extension of her academic background, which gave her an edge in preparation. She practiced writing answers daily and followed a time-bound writing schedule to improve her speed and precision. Regular feedback from her mentors helped her fine-tune her writing skills.
For Interview:
For the Personality Test (Interview), Garima focused on improving her communication skills and learning how to present her views in a balanced and thoughtful manner. She also attended a few mock interviews to build confidence and get feedback on how to structure her answers. She emphasized the importance of being calm, composed, and authentic during the interview process.
Garima diligently scrutinized past UPSC question papers, dedicating herself to rigorous answer-writing exercises to enhance her analytical and writing abilities.
Moreover, she tackled practice papers to assess her advancements and pinpoint areas in need of refinement.
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