UPSC 2022 topper Ishita Kishore shares ‘secret’ of securing AIR 1 in the Civil Services Exam

Ishita Kishore, a 26-year-old Greater Noida resident, an alumnus of Air Force Bal Bharti School, and an economics graduate from the Shri Ram College of Commerce at Delhi University topped the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2022. 

The UPSC topper attributed her achievement at the national examination to her stint as a corporate employee when she joined the risk advisory department of Ernst & Young. Kishore has said that her work in the corporate sector gave her many opportunities and helped pave the way. However,  her passion remained in public service and contributing to governance and development. 

Ishita Kishore emphasizes on the importance of sincerity and discipline and says, “No matter how intelligent you are, you have to put in the hours and you have to put in the work.” 

Notably, this was Ishita’s third attempt at the UPSC Civil Services Exam. Her decision to shift all her focus to the UPSC exams from a promising career in the corporate world showcases her determination and discipline. 

Ishita Kishore claimed that because she was raised in an air force family and was exposed to service and duty early in life, she came to the decision that she wanted to work with the Indian Government. Her first choice was the I.A.S. 

Kishore is also an athlete who has actively participated in various sporting activities, and enjoys Madhubani painting.

This is the second year in a row in which women have bagged the top 3 ranks in the UPSC exam. In the UPSC examination 2022, women took home the top four positions. According to the UPSC 2022 results, Garima Lohia, Uma Harathi N, and Smriti Mishra received the second, third, and fourth places, respectively. 

According to news agency PTI, Lohia and Mishra hold degrees from the University of Delhi, while Harathi N holds a B.Tech from the IIT-Hyderabad.