UMA HARATHI UPSC 2022-23 Rank-3

• Uma Harathi N hails from Huzur Nagar Sitaramnagar Colony in Suryapet,Telangana. She credits her success to persistence and her ability to learn from failures.
• Her father, Nukala Venkateshwarlu, holds the position of Superintendent of Police in the Naranapet region. With her father's inspiration, who is a senior police officer, Uma pursued civil services to contribute to education and women’s empowerment.
• Her mother takes care of the household.
• Holding a degree in civil engineering from IIT Hyderabad, Uma is believed to be around 27 to 28 years old.
• She attributes her success to her family, particularly her father, who inspired her to pursue a career as an IAS officer, considering it a prestigious and meaningful profession.

• Uma Harathi N, who secured AIR 3 in UPSC 2022, is an alumna of IIT Hyderabad, specializing in civil engineering.
• Her initial education up to 10th grade was at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Hyderabad.
• Following her graduation, Uma embarked on her UPSC preparation journey, selecting Anthropology as her optional subject.
• Uma's solid academic background, particularly from IIT, helped shape her critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, essential for clearing the CSE. She also briefly worked in a coaching institute, which helped refine her understanding of the exam's demands.

• Uma attributes her success to the unwavering support of her parents. The strong family support system helped her navigate the intense and often mentally exhausting preparation process, especially during the times when she faced failures.
• Her mother is a homemaker, while her father, Nukala Venkateshwarlu, holds the position of Narayanpet police superintendent. Her father played a pivotal role in motivating her toward civil services, viewing it as an impactful career.
• Raised alongside two sisters, she steadfastly chased her childhood aspirations.
• Uma suggests that parents of aspiring UPSC CSE candidates refrain from imposing a strict one- or two-year time frame for their children's preparation.
• Instead, she emphasizes the importance of a more extended and committed approach.

Uma was deeply motivated by her father's influence, as well as her desire to contribute to society, particularly in the areas of education and women’s empowerment. She felt that civil services provided a platform where she could drive meaningful change at both a local and national level. Her engineering background also fostered a strong analytical mindset, which she felt would be valuable in governance and policy-making. Additionally, the desire to serve underprivileged communities and contribute toward social issues like gender equality motivated her to persist through multiple attempts at the exam.

Marks Obtained:

• Uma Harathi N secured AIR 3 in the UPSC 2022 examination. Uma has emphasized that her setbacks provided valuable moments for self-reflection, offering her the opportunity to gain deeper insights into herself and her journey.
• However, this significant achievement was accompanied by a series of challenges. Uma faced numerous hurdles before finally succeeding on her fifth attempt.
• It was only on her third attempt that Uma reached the interview stage, but she faced disappointment due to a subpar performance in the Mains exam.
• The pivotal moment in Uma's preparation came when she did not clear the Prelims on her fourth attempt.
• Recognizing that Geography, her initial optional subject, wasn't a good fit, Uma made the switch to Anthropology.
• These failures were crucial learning experiences for her, prompting her to reconsider her strategy. Despite these setbacks, Uma remained steadfast in her goal, attributing much of her perseverance to the support from her family and her friends. Group study sessions and discussions with peers helped her overcome mental fatigue and self-doubt.

Uma Harathi N, the UPSC Topper securing AIR 3, advocated a straightforward approach to preparation. She stressed the importance of maintaining focus amidst the abundance of available study materials.

Here are some of Uma Harathi N's recommended tips for preparing for the UPSC 2024 exam:

• Familiarize yourself with the extensive UPSC syllabus, as a thorough understanding is crucial for devising an effective strategy that maximizes productivity.
• Solve as many previous year question papers as possible to grasp the trends of the exam in recent years. Additionally, engaging in UPSC mock tests broadens exposure to diverse questions and topics
• It's imperative for aspiring candidates to study NCERT textbooks from grades 6 to 12, as they cover a majority of the essential concepts for thorough preparation.
• Exercise careful consideration in selecting your optional subject, as Uma Harathi's experience highlights the potential pitfalls of choosing hastily.
• Utilize UPSC online coaching resources to establish a structured approach to preparation and instill the necessary discipline vital for cracking the UPSC exam.
• Embrace the prospect of failure without fear, recognizing it as a valuable stepping stone on the path to success. It is crucial to maintain unwavering focus and not let setbacks deter you.