Shruti Sharma UPSC Topper: AIR 1 Journey, Background, Education & Strategy
Shruti Sharma’s name became widely known in 2021 when she secured All India Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Coming from Bijnor and completing her education at some of India’s most prestigious institutions, her journey reflects discipline, resilience, and clear purpose.
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In this post, we break down her complete profile, academic path, UPSC strategy, hurdles she faced, and what makes her story truly inspiring for future aspirants.
Who is Shruti Sharma?
Shruti Sharma is the UPSC CSE 2021 topper who cleared the exam with AIR 1 in her second attempt. She has an academic background in History and was known for her analytical thinking and disciplined study habits even before her UPSC preparation.
She completed her schooling in Delhi, graduated from St. Stephen’s College, pursued higher studies at the Delhi School of Economics, and later joined JNU and Jamia RCA for structured UPSC preparation.
Shruti Sharma Profile Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Shruti Sharma |
| Rank | AIR 1 – UPSC 2021 |
| Attempt | Second Attempt |
| Optional Subject | History |
| Hometown | Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh |
| Education | St. Stephen’s College (History Hons), DSE, JNU |
| Family Background | Father – Architect, Mother – Former Teacher |
Early Life & Family Support
Shruti grew up in an academically encouraging environment. Her parents emphasised discipline, learning, and curiosity. This strong foundation helped her build clarity about her career goals early on.
Her interest in reading, observing people, and understanding society shaped her analytical mindset—an essential trait for civil services.
Academic Path That Shaped Her UPSC Prep
Shruti’s academic journey played a major role in her UPSC success:
Schooling
She studied in renowned Delhi schools, where she built strong fundamentals in writing, comprehension and general awareness.
Graduation in History
At St. Stephen’s College, she developed deep interest in History—eventually choosing it as her Optional for UPSC.
Post-Graduation
At Delhi School of Economics, she gained exposure to academic research, structured writing, and analytical discussions.
Preparation at JNU & Jamia RCA
Jamia RCA’s test series, mentorship, and focused environment improved her preparation significantly and helped her bounce back after her first attempt.
Shruti Sharma’s UPSC Journey
First Attempt – A Hard Lesson
Shruti narrowly missed clearing the Mains due to a technical issue where she had to write her answers in Hindi instead of English.
Despite being just one mark short of the cutoff, she took it as an opportunity to refine her strategy.
Second Attempt – Becoming AIR 1
In 2021, Shruti came back stronger and cleared all stages with high scores. Her focused preparation, consistent revisions, and disciplined study patterns helped her secure AIR 1.
Her UPSC Strategy That Worked
Shruti followed a simple but powerful preparation model:
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Regular answer writing practice
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Solving previous year questions
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Structured revision cycles
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Daily current affairs updates
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Building core concepts in GS
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Maintaining a steady routine
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Staying calm and consistent
Her approach shows that UPSC success comes from smart work more than long study hours.
Challenges & How She Overcame Them
Shruti’s journey wasn’t free from obstacles.
Her first attempt setback taught her resilience. Instead of giving up, she improved her weak areas, analysed mistakes, and approached her second attempt with stronger determination.
Her story reminds aspirants that one setback cannot decide your future—it can become your stepping stone.
NaukriBee Insight
Shruti Sharma’s success is not just about topping UPSC—it’s about mindset. Consistency, clarity of goals, and emotional resilience define her journey. Aspirants should focus on building a preparation ecosystem that combines discipline, self-analysis, and strong fundamentals.
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