Meet Sarthak Agarwal, who secured AIR 17 in UPSC Civil Services 2020 and was also CBSE 2014 topper

From being a CBSE board 2014 topper to getting in SRCC and Oxford University and working as a researcher in World Bank, Sarthak Agarwal has now secured All India Rank 17 in the UPSC 2020 result.

On his success, Sarthak told India Today that he did not do any formal preparation for the UPSC. He has been always interested in economics, politics, and relations with foreign countries that benefitted him to clear UPSC exams.

In his CBSE board 2014, he had secured 99.6 per cent. Sarthak is a resident of Delhi, he completed his schooling from DPS Vasant Kunj. In his Bachelor’s, Sarthak pursued BA (H) in Economics from Shriram College of Commerce and then completed an MPhil degree at Oxford University.

Till recently, he was working in the Institute for Fiscal Studies in London as an economist. He came back to Delhi to work on a government initiative.   

Sarthak has cleared the UPSC exam without any coaching. Sarthak also said “Make your strategies, try to have an independent mind, and don't follow somebody's path because they give you notes, tell you to read these books, but they can’t give your assurance. Just study that topic whichever you choose with interest,” added India Today.

UPSC Civil Services Exam Result 2020 was released on September 24, in which a total of 761 candidates cleared the final merit list. Out of 761 candidates, 216 are female and 545 are male.