Who Is Harshita Goyal — and Why Is Everyone Talking About Her?
Harshita Goyal, a 25‑year‑old Chartered Accountant from MS University of Baroda, stunned the UPSC world by clinching All India Rank 2 in 2024. Beyond the numbers, her story resonates because she swapped balance sheets for bold public policy—and aced it. With roots in the Gujarat Youth Parliament and community work at the Believe Foundation, Harshita brings both brains and heart to civil services.
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From CA to Civil Services: Why Harshita Took the Leap
On paper, a CA career meant prestige and a comfortable life. Yet Harshita felt the pull of public service early on, wanting to uplift grass‑roots communities rather than audit them. Conversations with mentors, coupled with her social‑welfare projects, convinced her that bureaucracy offered a bigger canvas for change. Trading ledgers for Lok Sabha debates, she plunged into UPSC preparation with unwavering focus.
A Study Routine That Actually Worked
Her prep wasn’t about marathon study sessions but smart, consistent effort:
- Daily Timetable: 6 AM–8 AM Current Affairs reading, 9 AM–1 PM Core subjects
- Active Revision: Every evening, she spent 90 minutes revisiting notes rather than starting new topics
- Mock Tests & Analysis: Weekly full‑length mocks, followed by error audit, helped fine‑tune exam strategy
- Peer Discussion: Monthly group debates on policy issues kept concepts fresh and answers crisp
Optional Subject, Smart Choice: Why Commerce & Accountancy Clicked
Choosing Commerce & Accountancy as her optional gave Harshita a huge head start. Her CA background meant she already knew the syllabus inside out. Instead of slogging over new topics, she focused on refining answer presentation and integrating real‑world examples—earning extra credit from UPSC evaluators for depth and clarity.
Not Just a Topper — A Voice for Women Empowerment
In the Mains and Personality Test alike, Harshita championed women’s empowerment. She drew on field experiences—mentoring rural girls through the Believe Foundation—to propose concrete governance reforms:
- Skill‑training hubs for adolescent girls
- Gender sensitisation modules in police training
Her passion and lived examples made her more than a rank holder; she emerged as a thought‑leader on gender equity.
Also Read: Can JD Vance and Modi Seal a Game-Changing U.S.-India Trade Deal?
Lessons from Rank #2: What Every UPSC Aspirant Can Learn from Harshita
- Leverage Your Strengths: Pick an optional subject you already master.
- Consistency Over Cramming: Short, daily revisions beat last‑minute marathons.
- Quality Mocks: Treat every mock test as a real exam, then learn from every mistake.
Purpose‑Driven Preparation: Ground your answers in real experiences or case studies. - Balance & Well‑Being: Harshita swears by evening walks and weekend catch‑ups with friends to recharge.
Harshita Goyal’s achievement proves that with the right strategy, clear purpose, and genuine passion, cracking UPSC is more than memorising facts—it’s about crafting a story of service that resonates on every paper.
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