The UPSC civil services exam is one of the toughest exams in India. It takes a very dedicated preparation and planned approach to clear this exam. Without an experienced hand helping and guiding aspirants, it is indeed difficult to crack this exam and become IAS officers. Every year, the IAS exam results bring to the limelight the IAS toppers of that year. It is very inspiring to hear their tales of guts and glory and draw motivation from. In this article, we present the IAS success story of Chennai girl Sharanya Ari, who secured an impressive 7th rank in the 2016 UPSC exam.
Sharanya Ari – Background
- Sharanya’s father M. Arivazhagan is a retired Air Force officer. He was her main inspiration to attempt the civil services.
- Her mother Sathya Priya is a government high school teacher and helped her in preparing for her optional subject, which was Sociology. Read all about the UPSC Sociology optional – strategy, books, pros and cons, etc., in the liked page.
- Sharanya did her schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya in Chennai and completed B.Tech (IT) from SRM University in 2011.
- After that, she joined a few IAS coaching institutes.
Preparation Strategy
- According to Ari, the IAS exam is a marathon and not a sprint.
- She says sleep is of utmost importance and one must get the adequate amount of sleep to avoid anxiety.
- Take mock tests but do not go by the marks you get in these tests. They should be an exercise in learning. Know more about the UPSC Mains Test Series.
- Focus on NCERTs from 6th to 12th standard. They give a basic understanding of all the concepts. Get all the NCERTs in the given link.
- Focus on the daily current affairs.
Regarding online sources of IAS preparation
“I feel the electronic materials have indeed come as a blessing. It brings Information to you directly.”
In the 2018 IAS exam, the first rank was bagged by Kanishak Kataria. Read his story here.
After her successful attempt, Sharanya says she wants to work in the field of women empowerment using her office.
Sharanya Ari Facts
- Age when cleared: 26
- Attempt: Fourth
- Optional: Sociology
- Rank: 7
- CSE: 2016
Sharanya Ari UPSC Marks
| Exam | Marks |
| Mains (written) | 818/1750 |
| Interview | 165/275 |
| Total | 983/2025 |
Related Links:
| UPSC Books | UPSC Mains |
| UPSC 2021 Calendar | UPSC Prelims |
| UPSC NCERT Notes | UPSC Current Affairs Quiz |
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