Naman Goyal (AIR- 30)- IAS Toppers 2021

Image Credits: Times Now

The UPSC declared the results of the coveted Civil Services Examination, on May 30, 2022. Like every year, this year also the students from the premier institutions have qualified for the exam, with top ranks. Pawan Goyal, an IIT Mumbai Alumnus secured an AIR 30, in his second attempt.

As many as 685 candidates have qualified for the prestigious examination, which includes 244 general, 73 EWS, 203 OBC, 105 SC and 60 ST category candidates. The exam is topped by a JNU alumnus, Shruti Sharma, while Ankita Agarwal from Kolkata and Gamini Singla from Punjab, secured second and third rank, respectively. 

Here, in this article, we provide you with Naman Goyal’s background, preparation strategy, number of attempts, UPSC optional subject and more.

Read about the Preparation Strategy of Shruti Sharma AIR 1, in the linked article.

Naman Goyal: Bio and Background

Educational Background: 

• Naman belongs to Rajasthan and he did his primary schooling at Maheshwari Public School and then completed his Class 12 from Jayshree Periwal High School in Jaipur. 
• After class 12th he cracked IIT JEE and secured a seat in the IIT-Mumbai. 
• He completed his B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Mumbai in 2020.
• This was Naman’s second attempt, and he managed to come under the Top 30 with his dedication and hard work.

Optional Subject in UPSC: Coming from a science background, Naman opted for Geography as his optional subject.

Hobbies: Following contemporary issues in the civil aviation industry and travelling are some of the hobbies of Naman Goyal, one of the IAS Toppers this year.

This is not the first time an IIT Bombay graduate has made it to the UPSC Toppers List. Last year Shubham Kumar from Bihar who topped the UPSC CSE 2020 was also an IIT Mumbai alumnus. He completed his Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from the institute and received the AIR 1 Rank on his third try. Read about IAS Topper 2020 [AIR 1] – Shubham Kumar, in the linked article.

The UPSC CSE 2021 preliminary exam was held on October 10, 2021, and the results of the examination were released on October 29. The main examination was conducted from January 7 to 16, 2022, and the results were declared on March 17, 2022. The interview was the last round of the examination which began on April 5 and concluded on May 26, 2022.

Read the Preparation Strategy of UPSC 2021 AIR 2 Ankita Agarwal, in the given link.

Naman Goyal- UPSC Preparation Strategy

• Since this was Naman’s second attempt, he dedicated 8-9 hours every day to prepare for the examination. He focussed on the basic NCERT textbooks for clearing the concepts before starting the standard textbooks.
• The main focus was on reading the newspapers diligently. The Times of India and The Hindu are the two newspapers he suggests reading for the IAS preparation. 
• He also restricted his resources and did not study from multiple books. 
• For clearing the Prelims exam Naman made solving mock tests a habit. He solved as many mocks as he could before taking the final exam. Another tip suggested by him to score more in the objective paper is to use the eliminate strategy. 
• When talking of change in strategy from the first to the second attempt, Naman believes that he learnt from his mistakes and changed his plan of preparation.
• Naman Goyal kept his preparation plan simple, did not put himself under too much stress during the preparation process and tried to keep as cool as possible. His family’s support and his own motivation kept him going.

Read about Gamini Singla AIR 3- UPSC 2021.

A few tips for UPSC exam preparation

• Action Plan – Set aside at least one year for CSE preparation and create an action plan to get started.
• Limit your study material – Hopping on to different books for exam preparation will only lead you to confusion, hence, pick out a few selected books and materials and try to stick to it as much as you can. 
• Plan meticulously– When preparing for the UPSC CSE, always have a realistic and feasible study programme in place. Making a calendar and keeping track of your goals might also assist.
• Understand yourself- Knowing your own strengths and shortcomings will allow you to focus your preparation. This focus and clarity will be extremely beneficial in improving each level of preparation based on your requirements.
• Use the internet for good – While the internet is a wonderful source of knowledge and study material, she cautions pupils from overusing it because there are several distractions.
• Practice- Before taking the actual exam, take mock practice examinations for both the prelims and the mains. This will help you develop confidence and expertise in appropriately structuring your responses.
• Stay focused- Preparing for the UPSC exam can be extremely difficult, so stay motivated and positive. Always see the positive side of things and believe in your abilities to pass UPSC CSE 2022.
• Do not be anxious– it will take some time to find a CSE preparation routine that works for you. Do not worry if a topic appears difficult and you become stuck; think it through and you will gain insight on how to learn that specific idea.

Note: UPSC 2023 is approaching closer, supplement your preparation with the free Daily Video Analysis of The Hindu Newspaper by BYJU’S.

Note: You can make your current affairs revision robust using Free Monthly Magazines by BYJU’S.

All it takes is determination, unwavering focus and of course, a smart and guided approach to the IAS exam. Aspirants of UPSC 2023 can go through the following links for assistance in their preparation.