Aditya Vikram Agarwal AIR 9 UPSC CSE 2024 | Booklist, Marital Status
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024 once again witnessed remarkable stories of resilience and passion. Among these, Aditya Vikram Agarwal stood out by securing All India Rank 9. His journey—from a technology-driven campus at IIT Kanpur to the corridors of public administration—serves as a beacon of hope for countless aspirants dreaming of joining the Indian bureaucracy.
Profile Summary of Aditya Vikram Agarwal AIR 9 UPSC
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Aditya Vikram Agarwal |
| Hometown | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| Undergraduate | B.Tech in Computer Science, IIT Kanpur |
| Postgraduate | Not Applicable |
| University | IIT Kanpur |
| Age | 26 years (as of 2025) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Husband’s Name | Not Applicable |
| UPSC Attempt | Fourth |
| UPSC AIR | Rank 9 (UPSC CSE 2024) |
| Preferred Service | Indian Administrative Service (IAS) |
| Interests | Governance Tech, Education Reform, Public Policy |
Aditya Vikram Agarwal’s Early Life and Education
Aditya hails from Lucknow, the cultural heart of Uttar Pradesh. Raised in an academically focused household, he showed exceptional aptitude for logical reasoning and science from an early age. After excelling in his school years, he secured admission to IIT Kanpur, one of India’s premier institutes, to pursue Computer Science Engineering. However, a deeper calling to impact governance and improve educational outcomes in India led him to pivot toward the Civil Services, a decision that shaped the next four years of his life.
Marital Status of Aditya Vikram Agarwal
Aditya is currently unmarried. Throughout his UPSC preparation, he remained singularly focused on his goal to join the Indian Administrative Service. The emotional ups and downs of multiple attempts never deterred him, and his personal discipline—both mental and emotional—played a key role in maintaining his momentum during the preparation journey. His family has been his strongest support system throughout this challenging phase.
Transition from Engineering to Civil Services
Though Aditya had a promising future in the corporate or tech startup world, his heart was aligned with India’s grassroots realities. After earning his degree from IIT Kanpur, he briefly explored placements but ultimately decided to chase a path where he could help solve larger systemic issues. His strong problem-solving skills and tech background allowed him to visualize governance through a modern lens. He believes administrators today need both empathy and innovation, and this belief pushed him to prepare for UPSC full-time.
Aditya Vikram Agarwal UPSC CSE 2024 Journey and Success
Aditya’s path was not linear. It took him four attempts to finally crack the exam with a top rank. Here’s how his journey unfolded:
| Stage | Timeline | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | May 2024 | Relied on high accuracy and test series; cleared with a strong margin |
| Mains Examination | September 2024 | Used structured answers with real-life examples and multi-dimensional views |
| Interview | Jan–April 2025 | Faced panel confidently, highlighted governance-tech convergence |
| Final Result | April 2025 | Secured AIR 9, validating years of discipline and strategic planning |
He balanced his technical insights with administrative understanding and approached the exam with maturity and clarity of purpose.
Booklist Followed by Aditya Vikram Agarwal
Aditya preferred quality over quantity. He avoided resource overload and focused on repeated revision of selected materials.
| Subject | Booklist / Sources |
|---|---|
| Polity | Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth |
| History | Spectrum Modern History, NCERTs (Class 6–12) |
| Geography | NCERTs, GC Leong |
| Economy | Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh, Budget + Economic Survey |
| Environment | Shankar IAS Environment Book |
| Ethics (GS IV) | Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude, Previous Years’ Case Studies |
| Current Affairs | The Hindu, Vision IAS monthly compilations, Press Information Bureau (PIB) |
| Optional | Public Administration: Fadia & Fadia, Mohit Bhattacharya, ARC Reports |
His optional subject was Public Administration, and he focused on integrating real-world administrative practices and case laws into his answers.
Key Strategies Followed by Aditya Vikram Agarwal
| Strategy | Details |
|---|---|
| Smart Study Planning | Focused on core topics and regular revisions |
| Test Series Mastery | Participated in Prelims + Mains test series to refine writing & timing |
| Answer Writing Daily | Wrote 2–3 GS + Optional answers daily; reviewed previous toppers’ copies |
| Tech-assisted Notes | Used apps like Notion and Anki for revision cards |
| Emotional Stability | Meditated regularly, avoided comparison with peers |
He also emphasized mindset training—viewing failures as feedback and staying detached from results.
Top 20 Toppers List – UPSC CSE 2024
| AIR Rank | Topper Name | Roll Number |
| 1 | SHAKTI DUBEY | 0240782 |
| 2 | HARSHITA GOYAL | 0101571 |
| 3 | DONGRE ARCHIT PARAG | 0867282 |
| 4 | SHAH MARGI CHIRAG | 0108110 |
| 5 | AAKASH GARG | 0833621 |
| 6 | KOMAL PUNIA | 0818290 |
| 7 | AAYUSHI BANSAL | 6902167 |
| 8 | RAJ KRISHNA JHA | 6613295 |
| 9 | ADITYA VIKRAM AGARWAL | 0849449 |
| 10 | MAYANK TRIPATHI | 5400180 |
| 11 | ETTABOYINA SAI SHIVANI | 8200949 |
| 12 | ASHI SHARMA | 5809367 |
| 13 | HEMANT | 5912548 |
| 14 | ABHISHEK VASHISHTHA | 0818331 |
| 15 | BANNA VENKATESH | 1010403 |
| 16 | MADHAV AGARWAL | 6907627 |
| 17 | SANSKRITI TRIVEDY | 0810414 |
| 18 | SAUMYA MISHRA | 2604936 |
| 19 | VIBHOR BHARDWAJ | 0833456 |
| 20 | TRILOK SINGH | 2200688 |
UPSC Final Result Statistics
Here is the tentative overview of the UPSC CSE result 2024 statistics:
| CATEGORIES | Candidates Shortlisted | Reserve List |
| General | 335 | 155 |
| EWS | 109 | 35 |
| OBC | 318 | 59 |
| SC | 160 | 14 |
| ST | 1009 | 230 |
Inspirational Takeaways from Aditya Vikram Agarwal’s Story
| Lesson | Insight |
|---|---|
| Pivoting with Purpose | Switching from tech to governance can be a meaningful choice |
| Patience Pays | Success in the 4th attempt shows that perseverance always wins |
| Use of Technology | Digital tools helped in time-efficient preparation |
| Community Approach | Learning through discussions, peer reviews, and open-mindedness |
| Focus on Fundamentals | Mastering the basics is more important than reading multiple sources |
FAQs about Aditya Vikram Agarwal and UPSC CSE 2024
Aditya Vikram Agarwal secured All India Rank 9 in the UPSC CSE 2024 examination. His achievement is especially commendable because it came after a sustained effort over four attempts. His rank not only reflects academic excellence but also resilience and continuous self-improvement. Cracking the exam at such a high rank places him in the league of the topmost civil servants expected to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), shaping governance in years to come.
Aditya belongs to Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. He completed his undergraduate degree in Computer Science Engineering from IIT Kanpur, one of India’s most prestigious technical institutions. Despite a bright future in the tech world, Aditya felt a deeper connection to public service and governance. This shift from coding algorithms to addressing social challenges makes his journey a fine blend of intellect and empathy—two key attributes of a good administrator.
Aditya chose Public Administration as his optional subject. His rationale was simple: it aligned directly with the role and responsibilities of a civil servant. Public Administration gave him insights into real-world governance mechanisms, administrative theories, and institutional behavior. He felt it would not only help him in the Mains exam but also during his training and actual service in the bureaucracy. His background in logical thinking and systems analysis also helped in understanding administrative structures.
Aditya wrote the UPSC examination in English medium. Having pursued his entire education, including his engineering degree, in English, he felt comfortable expressing complex concepts and policy ideas in that language. He also believed that English gave him access to a wider range of resources and test series. However, he always emphasized that success in UPSC depends more on clarity of thought than on the choice of medium.
