Everything you need to know about UPSC Topper Riya Saini – AIR 22 UPSC Topper 2024
- Name: Riya Saini
- Hometown/City: Delhi
- Roll Number: 865358
- Year of Appearance: 2024
- Attempts: Third
- Optional subject: Sociology
- Education: B.Tech. in ECE (JP Institute of Information Technology, Noida)
Riya Saini is one of the most inspiring success stories in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024, securing AIR 22 in her third attempt.
Riya Saini’s Family Background
Riya Saini’s family is from Delhi. Her family consists of her parents and her younger brother. Her father is an officer in the Military Engineer Services, and her mother is a homemaker. She also has a younger brother who is currently in 12th grade and preparing for competitive exams.
Riya Saini’s Educational Background
Riya Saini was brought up in Delhi. She completed her 10th standard in Pune and her 12th standard in Jaipur. After completing school, she moved to Noida for her bachelor’s degree. She attended JP Institute of Information Technology, Noida, for her bachelor’s in electronics and communication engineering.
Riya Saini’s Work Experience
Since Riya wanted to prepare for the civil services and become a civil servant, she decided not to participate in campus placements. After clearing the UPSC in 2023 in her second attempt, she was allocated to the Indian Railway Management Services (IRMS). She joined IRMS on February 3, 2024, and is currently working there.
Riya Saini’s UPSC Journey
Riya Saini started preparing for the Civil Services Examination in her final year of college. She decided not to participate in campus placements, as her goal was to clear the UPSC exams. After graduating from college, she took a gap year to focus on her preparation. Riya initially thought that her first attempt would be her last and that she would clear the UPSC comfortably. However, she failed to clear the prelims by 3-4 marks. She took 10-15 days to reassess her strategy and understand what went wrong. One of the main reasons for her failure in the first attempt was not a lack of preparation, but a lack of practice.
Riya decided to write the UPSC CSE again in 2023, hoping to clear it this time. She was able to clear the UPSC in her second attempt and was allocated to IRMS. While undergoing her IRMS training, she decided to appear for the UPSC again, hoping to secure a better rank. She successfully cleared the Civil Services Examination in 2024 with a rank of 22 and is set to become an IAS officer.
Riya Saini’s Preparation Strategy
For her third attempt in 2024, Riya built upon her previous preparations. She focused on maintaining a positive mindset and drawing lessons from her failures. She established a strong foundation in static subjects before tackling current affairs. Instead of solving past year’s questions, she made short notes on them. She preferred making digital notes since her handwriting was not that good. She appeared for various practice and mock tests as part of her preparation, with the goal of simulating real exam conditions through these mock tests. Riya also enrolled in the Forum IAS MGP program for two years, which helped her align her answer writing with UPSC standards.
She stayed updated with all national and international developments and managed to complete a full iteration of her mains preparation, including her optional subject, before the prelims.
Riya Saini’s Interests and Hobbies
In her free time, Riya enjoys reflective journaling, which helps her introspect and stay grounded. She also has a great interest in strength training, which allows her to maintain both mental and physical health. Riya loves singing Hindi pop songs, viewing it as a way to express herself creatively.
Riya Saini’s Optional Paper
Riya Saini opted for sociology as her optional subject in the Civil Services Examination 2024. Sociology is one of the most popular choices among UPSC aspirants due to its concise syllabus and its relevance to the general studies papers, particularly in areas like governance and social issues.
Read more about UPSC AIR 1 (2024) Shakti Dubey and UPSC AIR 2 (2024) Harshita Goyal and other UPSE Toppers 2024
