Who is Shruti Sharma, the Civil Service (Main) Examination 2021 topper?

Sharma said, "Everyone involved in my journey deserves credit, especially my parents. They were extremely helpful and supportive friends who guided me."

Team Newsable

New Delhi, First Published May 30, 2022, 2:29 PM IST | Last Updated May 30, 2022, 6:58 PM IST

Union Public Service Commission announced the toppers list of 2021, online on Monday, May 30, 2022. Shruti Sharma topped the Civil Services Exam and secured AIR 1. While Ankita Agarwal comes in second with AIR 2 for the UPSC Civil Services Exam. The complete list can be found at upsc.gov.in.

The civil services exam topper Shruti Sharma said that her 'extremely supportive' parents and friends assisted her in her journey, which required a lot of hard work and patience. Delhi-based Sharma, a St. Stephen's College alumni, said she was not expecting such a result and that it was a pleasant surprise.

Sharma said, "Everyone involved in my journey deserves credit, especially my parents. They were extremely helpful and supportive friends who guided me."

Sharma completed her postgraduate studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University and studied civil services for the past four years as a student of Jamia Millia Islamia's Residential Coaching Academy.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) funds the RCA to provide free coaching and residential facilities to students from scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and minorities. According to a Jamia official, 23 students from the coaching academy passed the exams.

Ankita Agarwal and Gamini Singla were ranked second and third in the UPSC's civil services examination 2021 results announced on Monday. According to the UPSC, six hundred eighty-five candidates qualified for the prestigious exam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the successful candidates and encouraged those who did not pass the exam.

"Congratulations to all candidates who passed the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2021. My best wishes to these young people starting their administrative careers at a critical juncture in India's development as we commemorate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav."

"I understand the disappointment of those who did not pass the Civil Services Exam, but I also know that these are exceptional young people who will make a name for themselves in whatever field they choose and make India proud. My best wishes go out to them," the prime minister twitted.

The UPSC holds an annual civil services examination in three stages, preliminary, main, and interview, to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.

A total of 685 candidates have been shortlisted for the positions of IAS, IPS, IFS, and many other civil services under the Central Government of India. The toppers were chosen based on their performance in all three rounds, the preliminary exam, the main exam, and the UPSC interview.

The UPSC Civil Services 2021 exams started on October 10, 2021, with the preliminary exam. The Mains exam was held on January 7, 8, 9, 15, and 16, 2022. The qualified candidates then appeared for an interview round, which took place between April 5 and May 26, 2022.

Image: St Stephens alumnus Shruti Sharma, who topped the Civil Services 2021 Exam and secured AIR 1, with her family members at her residence, in New Delhi, Monday, May 30, 2022. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo

Also read: UPSC releases Civil Service (Main) Examination 2021 result: Here is full list of 685 candidates

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