Shubham Kumar UPSC Topper: His Journey to AIR 1 in 2020

Becoming a UPSC topper requires dedication and smart planning. Aspirants often seek inspiration and guidance from those who achieve top ranks. Here, we explore the journey of Shubham Kumar, UPSC topper of 2020, offering insights into his background, strategy, and challenges. Understanding his path can help students refine their own preparation.

Introduction to Shubham Kumar UPSC Topper 2020

Shubham Kumar, UPSC topper of 2020, achieved the coveted All India Rank 1 in the Civil Services Examination. Hailing from Bihar, he is an alumnus of IIT Bombay. His success stands as a testament to hard work and resilience. This section outlines his significant achievements and commitment to serving society.

Shubham’s journey shows that setbacks can become stepping stones to greater success. His focus on employment, poverty reduction, and rural development reflects his vision for inclusive growth.

Shubham Kumar’s Biography and Early Life

Shubham Kumar’s early life showed a clear academic strength. He was born in Katihar, Bihar. His father worked as a bank manager, and his mother was a homemaker. Shubham completed his schooling at Vidya Vihar Residential School in Purnia. He later studied at Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Bokaro, Jharkhand, for his senior education.

In 2013, he joined IIT Bombay to study Civil Engineering. He completed his B.Tech degree in 2017. His engineering background helped him develop strong analytical skills. He later found an interest in public policy and governance. This led him to the Civil Services Examination.

Here is a quick overview of Shubham Kumar’s details:

Shubham Kumar’s Preparation Strategy and Optional Subject

Knowing Shubham Kumar’s preparation strategy is crucial for his AIR 1 achievement. He chose Anthropology as his optional subject. This choice proved very effective, helping him score high marks. He scored 170 marks in Paper I and 150 marks in Paper II.

Shubham advises aspirants to pick an optional subject aligning with their strengths. He also stresses consistent revision and integrating current affairs. This method helps link various topics, especially for environmental and science sections. His focused study in Anthropology made a big difference in his third attempt. This demonstrates the impact of a well-chosen optional subject.

Shubham Kumar’s Marks and Performance

Shubham Kumar’s marks reflect an outstanding performance in the UPSC CSE 2020. He achieved a total score of 1054. This included his written exam and personality test scores. His written exam score was 878, and he scored 176 in the personality test.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Below is a detailed breakdown of his marks:

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store

Shubham Kumar’s Challenges and Success Story

Shubham Kumar’s journey to rank 1 in UPSC was not without challenges. He faced setbacks in his first attempt in 2018. This initial failure did not deter him. Instead, he learned from it and improved his strategy. In 2019, he secured AIR 290, which led him to the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS). However, his goal remained to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

His Shubham Kumar success story is one of resilience. He adapted from an engineering background to the humanities-heavy UPSC syllabus. His persistence, focused preparation, and determination ultimately helped him achieve his dream in 2020.

Ready to boost your UPSC 2026 preparation? Join PW’s UPSC online courses today!

DOWNLOAD PDF