Komal Punia

Komal Punia, AIR 6 UPSC CSE 2024: From IPS to IAS, Komal’s Journey of Unshakable Determination. Read here to know more about Komal Punia.

At ClearIAS, we believe that success in UPSC is not only measured by rank—it’s defined by resilience, clarity of purpose, and unwavering self-belief.

Komal Punia, who secured All India Rank 6 in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, epitomises all these traits and more.

She is among five women who secured positions in the top 10 of the UPSC CSE 2024, alongside Shakti Dubey, Harshita Goyal, Shah Margi Chirag, and Aayushi Bansal.

Table of Contents

Who is Komal Punia?

Already selected into the Indian Police Service (IPS) with AIR 474 in 2023, Komal could have settled.

But she didn’t. Instead, she skipped the foundation course and made the bold decision to appear again, this time with her heart set on becoming an IAS officer—a dream now fulfilled with her third attempt.

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Komal hails from a humble farming family in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. A proud alumna of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, she later graduated from IIT Roorkee in 2021 with a degree in Engineering Physics.

From rural schooling to the premier corridors of civil service, her journey is a beacon of hope for aspirants from every background.

Konal Punia’s Strategy & Preparation

2022 – Cleared Prelims but missed Mains.
2023 – Secured AIR 474, joined IPS, and began training at SVPNPA.
2024 – Reattempted with laser focus and cracked AIR 6.

Her consistent success at the Prelims stage all three times speaks volumes about her disciplined approach and strategy.

Optional Subject: Physics – chosen due to her academic strength but acknowledged as a tough path. “Even with a strong background, it was challenging,” she said.
Structured Study: Komal emphasized the power of Previous Year Questions (PYQs), short notes, and targeted revisions.
Coaching: She took professional coaching for General Studies, combining it with self-study and time management.
Mental Clarity: Komal attributes a large part of her success to maintaining mental discipline, more than academic effort.

“Taming the syllabus was easier than taming the mind,” she shared. A line that deeply resonates with every serious aspirant.

Interview Experience: Academic Meets Analytical

Komal Punia’s interview, held on January 9, covered a wide range of themes—her hobbies, current affairs, technical knowledge, and even her take on socio-economic indicators of rural India.

Despite minimal time to prepare due to IPS training, her performance was confident. “I didn’t know all the answers, but I didn’t let that shake me,” she said. That calm composure is exactly what the board looks for.

Her unique hobby? Sign language—a topic that led to a thoughtful and engaging conversation during the interview.

Emotional Battle of solo preparation

Beyond the books, Komal faced the emotional turbulence of preparing solo, financially depending on her parents, and dealing with the fear of “what if it doesn’t work out.”

“It’s hard to explain the internal struggle of watching your friends move ahead in stable careers while you’re taking the uncertain UPSC route,” she admitted.

Komal Punia’s Advice for Aspirants

Don’t quit after one attempt – Aim for success, but expect setbacks. Be mentally prepared to keep going.
Study at your pace – Can’t do 10 hours? Do 6. But do it consistently.
Master the mind – The real battle is against distractions, doubts, and discouragement.
Structure is everything – Define boundaries in your study plan. Know what to study and when.
Rest strategically – Take breaks to recharge, but don’t make “chilling” a habit.

“Small disciplines every day are more powerful than rare bursts of effort,” she concluded.

Final thoughts

Komal Punia’s journey is the perfect example of turning pressure into purpose. From a village in Uttar Pradesh to one of India’s most elite services, her story reflects everything we aim to instil in our students—vision, courage, and consistency.

If you’re preparing for UPSC and wondering if it’s worth the struggle, let Komal Punia’s journey be your answer.

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