Pulkit Balhara (AIR 65) IAS Topper 2021

Pulkit Balhara, an alumnus of IIT Bombay, cracked the prestigious civil services exam by bagging All India Rank 65 in his 1st attempt. 

Know more about Pulkit Balhara’s background, preparation strategy, number of attempts, UPSC optional subjects, etc.

Aspirants can go through the success stories of various IAS toppers in 2021 provided in the links given below to upkeep their motivation for CSE preparation. 

UPSC Topper Background – Pulkit Balhara AIR 65

• Pulkit was born and brought up in Rohtak, Haryana. 
• He is 24 years of age.
• His optional subject in UPSC Mains was Physics. Check out the Physics Syllabus for UPSC Optionals (Paper I) on the linked page. 
• He worked in the corporate sector for more than two years after the completion of his education and simultaneously he was preparing for the UPSC exam. 
• Pulkit nailed the coveted exam in his 1st attempt which came to him as a shock. On asking he said –

UPSC Topper Educational Background

• Pulkit completed his schooling from Pathania Public School.
• He cracked IIT exam and got admission in IIT Bombay. He completed his engineering in aerospace in the year 2019.

Aspiration for UPSC exam – Pulkit was influenced to appear for CSE and become an IAS officer by an alumni in college. He says – 

Family background & Support

• Pulkit’s father is Jaswant Balhara who is a physics teacher and his mother is a math teacher.
• Most important role in Pulkit’s success is played by his parents because of their background in physics and math. Since childhood they have trained and given an analytical mindset to Pulkit. 
• His teachers from school have never boasted unnecessary pressure on him and always told that if the concepts are clear it will help in the long run.
• As per Pulkit, CSE preparation is a team effort of each and every one involved in some r the other way – 

Pulkit Balhara- UPSC Scores

If you are wondering about How to Start UPSC CSE Preparation, visit the linked article.

Pulkit Balhara – UPSC Topper Preparation Strategy

• Pulkit leveraged the use of the Internet for studies since all the materials are readily available there but he also advises that internet should be used wisely, else it can have negative effects as well.
• He studied on his own for the preparation of all the subjects except for physics which was his optional. 

Go through the IAS Physics Books for UPSC Mains for assistance. 

• In his opinion every individual has their own strategies to start off with the preparation but there are certain common factors that determine the performance of work or preparation.
• Pulkit advises to do stress-free studies to make this difficult journey a smooth ride.
• Like, consistency is very important to scale the best in any area.
• It is very important to be clear about what you are doing and what is your goal.
• Basic concepts should be clear for all the subjects then no examination is difficult to crack.
• Instead of counting the number of hours, give as many hours as possible for the exam preparation.
• Perseverance and hard work will definitely help candidates achieve success in the UPSC exam.
• Pulkit had never thought of cracking the exam in a single attempt and is grateful that it turned out this way. When asked he said-

Pulkit Balhara – UPSC Topper Info

Some Tips For Civil Services Exam Preparation

• Allow a good amount of time for your preparation. Set aside at least 1 year for a thorough preparation and create an action plan on how to go about it.
• A carefully planned actionable study schedule should be followed religiously and tracking the progress will help achieve the goals smoothly.
• Give adequate focus to what is happening in the country and internationally because current affairs are perhaps the most important part of UPSC preparation.
• Accurate and limited number of books and study material to cover up your subjects would suffice the preparation. Pick the best out of the multiple resources readily available in the market and adhere to it.
• Judicious use of the Internet is advised since it is a fantastic source of knowledge and study material. its over and misuse can kill your concentration and can impact your study and performance.
• Stress should rest when you are working for CSE preparation. If a topic appears difficult and you become stuck, do not worry; think it through and you will gain an understanding of how to grasp that concept. Coming out with a doable routine for exam preparation does take some time.
• Performance evaluation to identify your individual strengths and weaknesses will assist in putting a little extra effort in that direction. Work on your weakness and keep practicing your strong subjects.
• Avoid any sort of distractions – get yourself a nice and quiet area to study so as to concentrate well. Concentration and understanding will greatly assist you in optimizing each level of preparation to meet your specific needs.
• Retention: Revision is key to land up above all. Revision helps to retain the learning. Keep jotting down notes while preparing to help yourself easily go through all the concepts again and again.
• Practice – For both the prelims as well as the mains, you must take mock practice examinations before taking the actual exam. This will assist you in gaining confidence and experience in appropriately phrasing your responses.

Keep yourself motivated and stay positive. Always look at the bright side of things and be confident about your ability to crack UPSC 2022.

Aspirants can use the links below to help them in their preparations.