Laghima Tiwari is considered one of the most inspirational UPSC pass-outs of recent times. She achieved an All India Rank (AIR) 19 in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2022 on her first try. Laghima’s success story earned her nationwide recognition owing to her disciplined self-study strategy, dedication to preparation, and outstanding performance in the written test and interview stage. Presently, she is treated as an inspiration for many civil service aspirants.
Biography
Laghima Tiwari was born in Alwar, Rajasthan, and went through schooling in Delhi. As of 2026, she is roughly 26 years old. Her family holds education and hard work in high esteem. Her father works as a teacher in a government school, and her mother is a housewife.
After finishing her schooling, she did her graduation in B.Tech Electronics & Communication Engineering from Delhi Technological University (DTU). Although she was from the engineering stream, she started preparing for UPSC Civil Services right after graduation.
Quick Biography
Name: Laghima Tiwari
Age: Approximately 26 Years (in 2026)
Place of Birth: Alwar, Rajasthan
Nationality: Indian
Profession: IAS Officer
Education: B.Tech in Electronics & Communications Engineering
College: Delhi Technological University (DTU)
UPSC Attempt: First Attempt
Language of the Exam: English
Optional Subject: Anthropology
UPSC Rank and Result Card
Laghima Tiwari got AIR 19 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 with an impressive total score.
Marks of UPSC 2022
Written Test: 853 Marks
Personality Test (Interview): 180 Marks
Total Marks: 1033 Marks
Rank: 19
Her great performance in the interview test, along with impressive performance in the written tests, was an important factor in getting placed among the top 20 aspirants.
Optional Subject
She opted for Anthropology as her optional subject. Despite being an engineer in college, she opted for Anthropology due to her interest in the subject and Biology from her school days.
She had stated that opting for an optional subject according to one’s comfort and interest proved effective in scoring well in the examination.
Preparation Strategy
The preparation strategy of Laghima was based on consistency rather than studying for long hours daily. She prepared all by herself through standard books.
Her preparation included:
Building a sound base through the NCERT books.
Referring to the standard books on every UPSC topic.
Regularly reading the newspaper and revising current affairs.
Practising answer writing frequently.
Practising previous years’ question papers.
Taking test series for Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
Multiple revisions before each phase of the exam.
Laghima had revealed in an interview that sticking to a regular study schedule was better than irregular but lengthy sessions.
Books & Study Material
While preparing for the UPSC exam, Laghima consulted various well-known books, such as:
Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum
Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
Certificate in Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong
Shankar IAS Environment
Standard Economy notes
Atlas for Geography
Previous years’ question papers and Mock Tests
Why Laghima Tiwari Is An Inspiration For UPSC Aspirants
The story of Laghima proves how disciplined preparation and consistent effort can yield great results. The success in clearing the UPSC exam at the first attempt without joining any classroom coaching institute is an inspiration to many aspirants.
Conclusion
The success story of Laghima Tiwari as she moves from an engineering graduate to getting AIR 19 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination is a classic instance of perseverance and targeted preparation. Her brilliant mark sheet, the selection of an appropriate optional subject, and the successful preparation strategy keep motivating numerous UPSC aspirants. Her success story will remain among the most motivating instances of 2026, too.
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