From IIT–IIM to IAS: How Akash Verma Cracked UPSC with AIR 20 After Multiple Failures
In the highly competitive world of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, success stories often highlight not just brilliance but extraordinary resilience. Akash Verma’s journey is one such inspiring tale. An alumnus of IIT Delhi (BTech in Electrical Engineering) and IIM Kolkata (MBA), he secured All India Rank 20 in UPSC CSE 2023. Today, he is a 2024-batch IAS officer in the Maharashtra cadre. His path was marked by setbacks, strategic course corrections, and unwavering determination.
A Solid Foundation Built on Excellence
Hailing from a middle-class family in Noida—his father a bank manager and mother a homemaker—Akash Verma developed early confidence after cracking IIT Delhi. “After I cleared IIT, I was never scared of any exams,” he later reflected. Following his engineering degree, he pursued an MBA at IIM Kolkata. It was during an internship there that his perspective shifted from corporate finance to public service. The desire to create a larger societal impact drew him towards the civil services.
His parents remained pillars of support throughout, providing emotional guidance during the long years of preparation.
The UPSC Journey: Four Attempts, Two Selections, One Dream
Akash Verma’s UPSC journey spanned multiple attempts and tested his perseverance:
- 2020 (First Attempt): He reached the interview stage but narrowly missed final selection.
- 2021 (Second Attempt): He cleared the exam with a respectable rank (around 292) and joined the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS). Instead of settling, he continued preparing for IAS while serving.
- 2022: Setbacks continued—he failed to clear Prelims in one attempt and faced other disappointments.
- 2023 (Fourth Attempt): His persistence paid off with All India Rank 20, earning him the coveted IAS position in the Maharashtra cadre.
He became one of the few candidates to clear UPSC twice yet chose to reattempt for the top service. Each failure, he says, humbled him and taught the value of detachment from results while staying committed to disciplined effort.
Strategic Shifts That Made the Difference
Akash Verma’s success came through intelligent adjustments rather than blind hard work. Key changes included:
- Optional Subject Switch: He initially chose Public Administration, aligning with his MBA background. Later, he switched to Electrical Engineering—his graduation subject—after analyzing scoring patterns. This move proved decisive.
- Focus on High-Impact Areas: He significantly improved his performance in Essay and Ethics papers, which he had underestimated earlier. He approached essays as structured, administratively relevant arguments rather than literary exercises.
- Leveraging Engineering Mindset: His technical background helped in analytical thinking, comfort with objective-type Prelims questions, and systematic risk assessment.
- Authenticity in Personality Test: During interviews, he emphasized being genuine. “UPSC wants to test your real personality… Take a stand, justify it logically, and show clarity of thought,” backed by facts.
- Balanced Preparation While in Service: As an IDAS officer, his training at the National Academy of Defence Financial Management in Pune offered a structured routine—classes till 6 PM, followed by evenings and weekends for self-study. This environment, surrounded by fellow re-attempters, aided focused revision.
He relied on coaching, test series, and mock interviews to sharpen his writing skills and maintain humility.
Valuable Lessons for Aspirants
Akash Verma’s story offers several takeaways:
- Consistency matters more than long study hours.
- Regular revision and self-assessment are crucial.
- Failures should be viewed as opportunities for recalibration.
- Family support and maintaining perspective (through conversations with elders) help manage stress.
- Preparation builds lifelong skills beyond just cracking an exam.
He stresses that elite academic pedigrees provide an edge but perseverance, strategic thinking, and clarity of purpose ultimately determine success.
Life at LBSNAA and Looking Ahead
At the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Akash observed the gap between theoretical governance and ground realities. He found physical training unexpectedly challenging but valued the emphasis on innovation, persuasion, and local leadership. He sees the IAS as a platform to apply his diverse experiences—from engineering and management to government service—for meaningful public impact.
Akash Verma’s journey from IIT–IIM to IAS is a powerful reminder that the civil services exam rewards not just intellect but endurance, adaptability, and humility. For thousands of aspirants battling self-doubt and repeated failures, his story serves as proof that with the right mindset and adjustments, setbacks can indeed pave the way to extraordinary success.
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