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Complete Analysis of Ishita Kishore’s UPSC 2022 Mock Interview Performance

Learning from UPSC toppers can be truly inspiring, as they show the way to success with firsthand experience. One such example is Ishita Kishore, who secured AIR 1 in the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Exam after three attempts. Her UPSC Mock Interview Video highlights patience, determination, and smart preparation. Ishita is not just an achiever in academics, but she is also a national-level football player. She has worked at Ernst & Young, one of the ‘Big 4’ companies. Driven by a strong desire to serve the country, she left a promising corporate career to pursue her dream of joining the civil services. She is also passionate about women’s empowerment and is committed to making a positive impact on women’s lives through her work. 

Personal Details and Background

Ishita Kishore, the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Exam topper (AIR 1), comes from a professional family with a military background. She grew up in Bihar and Delhi. Her father, Wing Commander Sanjay Kishore, was a former Indian Air Force officer who passed away in 2004, and her mother is a retired teacher. Ishita holds an Economics degree from Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) and worked at Ernst & Young before clearing UPSC on her third attempt. As per her IAS mock interview, she is passionate about women’s empowerment and serving the country. In her free time, she enjoys playing squash and practising madhubani painting. For her UPSC optional subject, she chose political science and international relations (PSIR). 

Challenges faced by Ishita Kishore Before Success

Ishita Kishore faced several challenges on her journey to success. In the UPSC mock video, she shared that she was unable to clear the UPSC prelims in her first two attempts, which was discouraging and tested her confidence. Managing self-doubt and coping with the pressure of the exam were major challenges for her. She also had to work on improving her answer-writing skills and managing her time effectively. Following a disciplined routine of 40–45 study hours per week while balancing her mental well-being to avoid burnout was another challenge. Overcoming these difficulties helped her build adaptability, discipline, and resilience. 

Analysis of Ishita Kishore’s UPSC Mock Interview 2022

In the IAS Topper Mock Interview, Ishita Kishore discusses the Chief Justice of India’s remark that collegium is imperfect but currently the best system for judicial independence. Ishita agrees it is the best possible solution for now but suggests it could be improved with more transparency and expanded selection panels. Ishita highlights India’s continued loyalty to a mixed economy model. She doesn’t agree with the idea that India is entirely moving toward capitalism like the USA, stating historical and ongoing government roles in economic dealings. Like an ideal aspirant, Ishita honestly disagreed where she felt the need to along with stating her opinions with authenticity. 

Ishita views the Supreme Court’s establishment of a collegium for appointing Election Commissioners as a reaction to the void in the system, since the constitution granted power to parliament but never specified clear procedures. She highlighted the need for defined mechanisms to ensure transparency and independence in the judicial system. Ishita supported her answers with logical facts to make the panellists understand her point of view. 

She also shared that improvements post 2012 brutal Delhi gang rape incident include increased police vigilance, women patrols, pink police stations, and promoting self-defence training. However, infrastructure for women’s safety (lighting, urban planning) needs enhancement. Ishita Kishore shared that women’s empowerment is visible through self-help groups and enhanced participation of women in the defence forces. 

Preparation Strategies of Ishita Kishore 

In the IAS Topper Mock Interview, Ishita Kishore advises UPSC aspirants to begin preparing for the interview stage during their mains preparation phase itself. She found that practising mock interviews with mentors and peers helped reduce anxiety and sharpened her communication skills. Emphasis was placed on being well read beyond just the syllabus, including knowledge of national and international events, and awareness of social and economic issues. Confidence and honesty were key attributes she maintained throughout her interview. 

She also highlighted the importance of maintaining a calm and composed demeanour, irrespective of challenging questions. She referred to NCERTs for foundational knowledge and subscribed to daily newspapers and monthly current affairs compilations for current affairs preparation. She trusted utilisation of government reports and committee findings for accurate information. To give a good performance in the IAS mock interview, she focused on ethical values, awareness of current affairs, and general aptitude, not just academic excellence. Speaking clearly and confidently while maintaining humility. 

Important Qualities Highlighted by Ishita Kishore in UPSC Interview In the IAS Topper Mock Interview, Ishita Kishore highlighted certain important qualities to create a good impression and prove herself to be a potential civil servant. Let’s take a look at some of her important qualities: 

Clarity of Thought: Ability to articulate thoughts logically.

Consistency: Regular and dedicated study routines.

Self awareness: Understanding personal strengths and weaknesses.

Adaptability: Modifying preparation strategies based on feedback.

Humility: Willingness to accept mistakes and having an eagerness to learn continuously.

Mental Resilience: Managing stress and staying motivated despite a demanding preparation timeline.

Conclusion

Preparation Strategy of Shakti Dubey AIR-1, UPSC 2024 Topper

Shakti Dubey’s journey to becoming the UPSC 2024 topper is a powerful testament to perseverance, discipline, and a highly focused strategy. Having attempted the exam multiple times, she developed a refined, consistent study plan that ultimately earned her the top rank.

1. Long-Term Vision & Persistence

Shakti Dubey’s success did not come overnight: she gave the UPSC exam five times, failing in earlier attempts before finally achieving All India Rank 1. This kind of persistence allowed her to learn from each attempt—refining her strategy, identifying weak spots, and improving gradually. Her long-term commitment demonstrates that cracking UPSC often requires not just intelligence, but sustained effort and adaptability.

2. Clarity on Syllabus & Smart Use of Resources

She placed great importance on understanding the UPSC syllabus thoroughly. Rather than getting overwhelmed by too many books, Shakti Dubey adhered to a select, standard set of resources that she could master deeply. For example, she built her conceptual base using NCERTs and then moved on to standard reference books in subjects like polity, history, and geography. Her restrained but focused choice of study material helped prevent burnout and kept her preparation efficient.

3. Optional Subject: Strategic Choice

Shakti Dubey chose Political Science & International Relations (PSIR) as her optional subject. This was a strategic pick: her interest in the subject and its relevance to General Studies allowed her to leverage the overlap between GS papers and her optional. Her PSIR preparation was disciplined — she made structured notes, focused on thinkers and theories, and regularly practised answer writing.

4. Current Affairs Integration

Current affairs formed a core pillar of her preparation. Shakti Dubey read newspapers daily, notably The Hindu, which she complemented with monthly magazines. She linked current events intelligently to static subjects during revision, which improved her depth of answers. Her disciplined news-reading routine was consistent and not superficial — a key factor that many UPSC toppers emphasise.

5. Answer Writing & Mock Tests

To tackle the Mains exam, Shakti Dubey practised answer writing rigorously. She regularly took test series for both Mains and Prelims, used previous-year question papers and assessed her performance critically. Her answer structure was clear: introduction, body, and conclusion, with underlining, bullet points, and sometimes diagrams to make answers more effective. This methodical practice helped her polish articulation, manage her time well in the test and deliver high-quality answers.

6. Revision & Self-Assessment

Revision was central to her strategy. She made her own handwritten notes for every subject and revised them multiple times. After every attempt, she reassessed her strategy — figuring out what worked, where she lagged, and how to improve. This cyclical feedback loop made her preparation adaptive and more intelligent.

7. Balanced & Disciplined Routine

Shakti Dubey maintained a well-balanced daily schedule. According to her, a disciplined timetable was non-negotiable — she divided her days into time blocks for different subjects, current affairs, and answer-writing practice. She underlined that consistency is more important than intensity: rather than sporadic bursts of study, she stuck to steady, sustained effort. To avoid burnout, she also carved out space for rest, mental well-being, and physical relaxation. This balance helped her stay motivated and persistent across many years of preparation.

8. Mentorship and Mock Interview Preparation

While much of her preparation was self-driven, Shakti Dubey also made selective use of coaching support. She enrolled in an interview guidance program at Vajirao and Reddy Institute. During her interview preparation, she practised the UPSC Mock interview and refined her DAF (Detailed Application Form) responses. She emphasised honesty — being composed, acknowledging when she didn’t know something, and staying grounded.

9. Mental Resilience & Motivation

Above all, Shakti Dubey credits her mental resilience for her success. She insisted that failures are part of the journey: each failed attempt taught her something valuable. Her family support also played a big role: she often discusses how her parents encouraged her and helped her stay focused and grounded during difficult phases. She encourages aspirants to build emotional stability, not rely on shortcuts, and believe in the power of steady, disciplined work.

Conclusion

Ashish Kumar AIR 8 IAS Topper | UPSC Mock Interview Result 2023 | Vajirao & Reddy Institute

Vaishali Singh, IAS in Chanakya’s IAS Mock Interview for Civil Services examination with Chanakya’s Interview Panel. Vaishali Singh, IAS secured AIR 8 in UPSC CSE 2018.