🧠 Meta Description:
Explore the inspiring journey of Ankita Agrawal, StudyIQ educator and UPSC 2021 AIR 2 rank holder. Learn about her age, education, strategy, achievements & role at StudyIQ.
🔑 Focus Keywords:
Ankita Agrawal, Ankita Agrawal StudyIQ, Ankita Agrawal UPSC, UPSC topper Ankita Agrawal, Ankita Agrawal biography, Ankita Agrawal education, Ankita Agrawal marksheet
🏷 Tags:
UPSC topper 2021, StudyIQ educators, IAS officer, Ankita Agrawal journey, UPSC preparation strategy, Indian female toppers
🌟 Ankita Agrawal (StudyIQ) Biography – UPSC Topper, Civil Servant & Educator
Ankita Agrawal is a name that has become synonymous with academic excellence, hard work, and perseverance. Securing All India Rank 2 in UPSC CSE 2021, Ankita proved that focused determination and consistent effort can lead to the top echelons of civil services.
Today, she’s not just a celebrated IAS officer, but also a highly sought-after UPSC educator on StudyIQ, inspiring lakhs of aspirants across the country.
This blog explores her early life, UPSC preparation journey, success story, StudyIQ role, and more.
📌 Table of Contents:
- Who is Ankita Agrawal?
- Early Life and Education
- UPSC Journey – From Failure to Success
- UPSC 2021 – AIR 2 Achievement
- Optional Subject & Preparation Strategy
- Role at StudyIQ
- Ankita Agrawal’s Marksheet & Attempt Details
- Challenges Faced During UPSC
- Daily Routine & Study Plan
- Inspirational Messages for Aspirants
- Social Media & Public Recognition
- FAQs
- Conclusion
👩🎓 Who is Ankita Agrawal?
Ankita Agrawal is an IAS officer and UPSC CSE 2021 All India Rank 2 holder. A graduate from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, she cracked India’s toughest examination on her third attempt.
After achieving her IAS dream, she joined StudyIQ, a leading online education platform, where she shares her knowledge and experience with millions of civil service aspirants.
🏫 Early Life and Education
- Name: Ankita Agrawal
- Hometown: Kolkata, West Bengal
- Schooling: DPS (Delhi Public School), Kolkata
- Graduation: St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University – Economics (Hons)
- Year of Graduation: 2017
From her school days, Ankita was a meritorious student who excelled in academics. She had initially taken up a corporate job, but soon realized her calling was in public service.
✍️ UPSC Journey – From Corporate Job to CSE
After graduation, Ankita took a placement in a multinational firm. However, she left her job within a year to dedicate herself full-time to UPSC preparation.
- First attempt (2019): Reached interview stage but didn’t make final list
- Second attempt (2020): Missed the final cut by a narrow margin
- Third attempt (2021): Cracked with AIR 2
Her journey is a testament to the importance of resilience, self-belief, and structured planning.
🏆 UPSC 2021 – AIR 2 Success
In 2021, Ankita Agrawal made headlines by securing AIR 2 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, scoring 1050+ marks out of 2025.
She topped the exam without attending any expensive coaching institutes, proving that self-study and online resources can be equally effective when used smartly.
📚 Optional Subject & Preparation Strategy
- Optional Subject: Political Science & International Relations (PSIR)
- Medium of Examination: English
Key Strategy Highlights:
- Focused on NCERTs + Standard Books
- Made handwritten notes for Mains
- Regular answer writing & test series
- Followed Daily Current Affairs from StudyIQ & The Hindu
- Maintained discipline & minimal distractions
She emphasizes consistency over long hours, preferring 6–8 productive hours daily instead of burnout.
🎓 Role at StudyIQ – From Student to Mentor
After her UPSC success, Ankita joined StudyIQ to help aspiring civil servants. She:
- Delivers strategic UPSC video lectures
- Conducts motivational webinars
- Breaks down syllabus modules and toppers’ strategy
- Guides aspirants on how to use online platforms effectively
She’s admired for her clarity, calm demeanor, and practical tips.
📄 Ankita Agrawal UPSC Marksheet (2021)
| Paper | Marks |
|---|---|
| Essay | 132 |
| GS Paper 1 | 110 |
| GS Paper 2 | 121 |
| GS Paper 3 | 105 |
| GS Paper 4 | 107 |
| Optional Paper 1 | 148 |
| Optional Paper 2 | 150 |
| Interview (Personality Test) | 179 |
| Total | 1052 / 2025 |
Her high scores in GS and Interview made a decisive difference.
⚠️ Challenges Faced During UPSC Prep
Ankita’s path was far from easy. She overcame:
- Self-doubt after repeated failures
- Mental health lows during COVID lockdown
- Navigating information overload
- Lack of structured mentorship early on
Her self-discipline and belief in her method carried her through.
🕒 Daily Routine & Study Plan
Sample Daily Schedule:
| Time | Task |
|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | Wake up & read newspaper |
| 7:30–10:30 AM | GS Topics / Optional Subject |
| 11:00–1:00 PM | Revision & Note Making |
| 2:00–5:00 PM | Answer Writing / Mock Test |
| 6:00–8:00 PM | Current Affairs Review |
| 9:00–10:00 PM | Light Reading or Optional Notes |
Her focus was quality, not quantity – a mantra she shares often.
💬 Inspirational Message for Aspirants
“Consistency will beat talent when talent stops being consistent. This exam tests your patience more than your intelligence.” – Ankita Agrawal
She urges aspirants to not fear failures and trust their personal strategy, rather than copy others blindly.
🌐 Public Recognition & Social Media
- Featured in India Today, The Hindu, NDTV, Times Now
- Interviewed by Rajya Sabha TV
- Massive following on YouTube (StudyIQ) and Telegram groups
Despite her success, she remains grounded and private, preferring to speak through educational contributions.
❓ FAQs about Ankita Agrawal
Q1: What is Ankita Agrawal’s AIR in UPSC?
She secured AIR 2 in UPSC CSE 2021.
Q2: What was her optional subject?
Political Science and International Relations (PSIR).
Q3: How many attempts did she take?
Ankita cracked UPSC on her third attempt.
Q4: Is Ankita Agrawal an IAS officer now?
Yes, she is now an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
Q5: Is she a mentor on StudyIQ?
Yes, she’s actively associated with StudyIQ as an educator and mentor.
✅ Conclusion – Ankita Agrawal: A New-Age Civil Servant & Digital Mentor
Ankita Agrawal represents the modern face of Indian bureaucracy—well-educated, grounded, aware, and digitally savvy. Her transition from UPSC aspirant to IAS officer to mentor embodies the cycle of giving back.
By sharing her story and strategies through platforms like StudyIQ, she’s shaping India’s next generation of civil servants—one aspirant at a time.
