Hyderabad, Aug 13 (Maxim News) : Donuru Ananya Reddy from Mahabubnagar achieved the third rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. She secured the All India Rank 3 in her first attempt. She also emerged as the top ranker from the Telugu states.
Ananya achieved the result mainly through self study. She did not take coaching for General Studies. Instead, she built a study plan around her strengths and weaknesses. Her approach focused on repeated revision, past question papers and digital learning resources.
Ananya Reddy Shares Her UPSC Preparation Strategy
Ananya completed her schooling in Mahabubnagar and Intermediate education in Hyderabad. Later, she graduated in Geography from Miranda House in Delhi. She had a strong interest in subjects such as history and political science from an early age.
Her interest later drew her towards civil services. She recalled that her grandfather once showed her a district collector during her childhood. He encouraged her to aim for a similar position. That memory later became an early source of inspiration for her UPSC journey.
For the preliminary examination, Ananya studied material from several sources. She also gave strong importance to revision. She said this approach helped her handle unconventional questions and apply an elimination strategy.
For the mains examination, she reduced the number of study sources. However, she revised the selected material several times. She said repeated revision helped her recall key information during the examination.
Ananya also prepared carefully for the interview stage. She focused on her Detailed Application Form, graduation subjects and current affairs. She aimed to answer questions honestly and reflect her personality.
For Anthropology, her optional subject, she took three months of online coaching from Vethas ICS in Delhi. She also used YouTube, topper talks and topper notes available through blogs.
Family support played an important role in her preparation. Her parents, uncle, cousins and friends provided emotional support and freedom during the process. She also used cricket, books and writing to manage preparation related stress.
Ananya said her goal changed during her preparation. Initially, she only wanted to clear the examination. Later, understanding social and administrative challenges strengthened her interest in public service.
She wants to make administration more accessible to ordinary citizens. She cited Telangana civil servants Smita Sabharwal and Mahesh Bhagwat as sources of inspiration.
For future aspirants, Ananya advised candidates to understand their strengths and weaknesses. She also urged them to analyse previous question papers and understand the examination pattern.
She stressed that aspirants should not blindly follow others. Instead, they should develop a personalised preparation strategy. She also advised candidates to maintain balance between studies and social life.
Ananya currently belongs to the 2024 batch of the Indian Administrative Service and has been allocated the Maharashtra cadre. After training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, she joined as a supernumerary Assistant Collector in Nanded on April 28, 2025.
Her journey highlights the role of focused preparation, revision and consistent effort. It also shows how a personalised strategy can help aspirants compete successfully without extensive coaching. (Maxim News)
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates and Follow us on GoogleNews
