UPSC, one of the most competitive exams in India, has an allure and charm associated with it. Numerous young aspirants aim to achieve success in UPSC to serve their country. Wardha Khan, a 24-year-old young girl from Prayagraj, quit her corporate job to pursue a career in civil services and accomplished her dream by securing an incredible 18th rank in UPSC CSE 2023. She hopes to join Indian Foreign Service (IFS) to make the country proud on the global stage. 

AIR 18

Wardha shares that during her UPSC journey, she gave it her all to clear the exams. But breaking into the top 20 successful candidates was unimaginable for her. Her family is overjoyed and bursting with pride. Her decision to opt for IFS is driven by her desire to improve India’s position in global forums. 

 

Education

Currently, Wardha Khan lives in Vivek Vihar, Noida. She completed her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Khalsa College, Delhi University. She is the only daughter of her parents and resides with her mother in Noida. Her father passed away nine years ago. Her mother works as a teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya. This was Wardha Khan’s second attempt at the UPSC. In her first attempt, she could not even clear the prelims.

UPSC journey

After completing her studies, Wardha Khan worked at a reputed company for eight months. However, the office job did not give her a sense of fulfilment and she decided to pursue UPSC. She had a strong desire to work for her country and bring positive changes in people’s lives. She quit her job and embarked on her UPSC journey. 

 

Hard work

Through self-study at home and assistance from an online coaching institute, she prepared for the exams. She even used social media effectively to find answers to her exam-related queries. She stayed updated on current affairs by diligently reading newspapers every day. 

Study tips

Wardha Khan shares that to achieve success in UPSC, consistency is the key. She emphasizes the importance of mastering foundational materials such as NCERT textbooks and Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity. Aspirants must also prepare an outline of syllabus to thoroughly cover every topic. Concise notes for both compulsory and optional subjects play a pivotal role in retaining knowledge.