The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most competitive and prestigious examinations in India. It selects candidates for high-ranking administrative positions such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Among the numerous inspiring success stories, Anudeep Durishetty’s journey to becoming the All India Rank (AIR) 1 in 2017 stands out as a testament to perseverance, dedication, and strategic preparation. His remarkable achievement after multiple attempts serves as a powerful motivation for thousands of aspirants across the nation.
About Anudeep Durishetty
Anudeep Durishetty is a distinguished Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who secured the first rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017. He hails from Metpally, a town in the Jagityal district of Telangana, and belongs to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
His success is particularly noteworthy because he achieved the highest total score (1126 out of 2025 marks) in the history of the UPSC exam at the time. His story is one of resilience, self-belief, and a deep commitment to public service.
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Anudeep Durishetty (IAS) Date of Birth
Anudeep Durishetty was born on July 6, 1989. Understanding his date of birth gives insight into the timeline of his academic and professional journey, particularly the age at which he cleared the UPSC exam.
At the time of securing AIR 1 in 2017, he was 28 years old, which is a motivating benchmark for many aspirants who aim to succeed within a specific timeframe.
Anudeep Durishetty Personal Life
Anudeep Durishetty comes from a supportive and humble family background. His father, D. Manohar, is an Assistant Divisional Engineer working in the Telangana Northern Power Distribution Company. His mother, Jyothy, is a homemaker, who played a vital role in providing emotional support throughout his UPSC journey. At the time of his success in 2017, he was unmarried.
He is known to have a well-rounded personality. His interests include reading, sports, meditation, and following international athletes like Roger Federer, Lionel Messi, and teams like Arsenal. His love for Tennis and Football reflects his balanced approach to life, demonstrating the importance of having hobbies while preparing for competitive exams.
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Anudeep Durishetty Educational Background
Anudeep Durishetty’s education shows a strong and well-planned journey. He studied in good schools and colleges, and later completed engineering from a top college in India. The table below gives a summary of his education:
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Anudeep Durishetty Educational Background |
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|
Level of Education |
School/College Name | Place | Course or Stream | Year |
|
School |
Sri Suryodaya High School | Telangana | School Education | Not Mentioned |
|
Intermediate (Junior) |
Sri Chaitanya Junior College | Telangana | Maths, Physics, Chemistry (MPC) |
Not Mentioned |
| Engineering (Graduation) |
BITS Pilani (Birla Institute of Technology & Science) |
Pilani, Rajasthan | B.Tech in Electronics & Instrumentation |
2011 |
Anudeep Durishetty Professional Background
After completing his engineering, Anudeep began his career as a software engineer at Google in Hyderabad. Some sources mention that he worked as a Product Quality Analyst, highlighting his involvement in the technology and corporate sector.
In his second UPSC attempt in 2013, he secured Rank 790 and was selected for the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). He served as an Assistant Commissioner (Customs & Indirect Taxes) in Hyderabad and belonged to the IRS 2013 batch.
Despite being in a stable and prestigious role, he continued to prepare for the UPSC exam, aiming for the IAS. His consistent efforts paid off in his fifth attempt in 2017, when he topped the exam. Currently, he is an IAS officer from the 2018 batch, serving as the District Collector of Hyderabad, demonstrating his dedication to administrative service and governance.
Anudeep Durishetty UPSC Rank & Preparation Strategy
Anudeep Durishetty’s UPSC preparation journey is a model of self-discipline, time management, and focused study techniques. His approach to the Civil Services Examination is especially relevant for aspirants preparing without formal coaching or while managing full-time jobs. The key pillars of his preparation included self-study, conceptual clarity, strategic use of online resources, test series, and answer writing practice.
1. Self-Study and Independent Learning
Anudeep Durishetty’s preparation relied heavily on self-study without joining any coaching institute. Instead, he utilized online platforms, standard books, and self-created schedules, emphasizing that self-motivation and consistency are crucial for UPSC success. He adjusted his study plans to his learning pace, building a solid foundation in basic concepts.
2. Strategic Time Management
As a full-time employee in Google, Anudeep had limited hours during weekdays. Therefore, he followed a strict time management strategy:
- He maximized study time on weekends and holidays.
- He created daily micro-goals and weekly study plans, allocating specific hours to different subjects.
- He used early mornings and late evenings for revision and practice.
This approach shows that with proper planning, even working professionals can manage their preparation effectively.
3. Study Material and Booklist
Anudeep relied heavily on standard UPSC books and NCERT textbooks for core subjects like History, Geography, Polity, and Economics. His booklist included:
- NCERTs (Class 6–12) for History, Geography, Polity, Science, and Economics.
- Laxmikanth for Indian Polity.
- Ramesh Singh for Economics.
- GC Leong and NCERTs for Geography.
- Spectrum for Modern Indian History.
- Shankar IAS for Environment.
This booklist reflects his strategy of keeping resources limited but high-quality, and focusing on multiple revisions of the same material instead of reading too many sources.
4. Optional Subject – Anthropology
Anudeep chose Anthropology as his optional subject. His selection was based on its well-defined syllabus, scoring potential, and interesting content. He focused on the following for Anthropology:
- Building conceptual clarity in core areas.
- Including relevant definitions, examples, and diagrams in his answers.
- Referring to the works of famous anthropologists like Emile Durkheim, Bronislaw Malinowski, and Claude Lévi-Strauss.
- Practicing previous year question papers and answering like a subject specialist.
He emphasized writing structured answers with proper introductions, body, and conclusions, and presenting arguments supported by scholars’ views.
5. Answer Writing Practice
One of the most important aspects of his strategy was regular answer writing. He:
- Started practicing answers early in his preparation.
- Focused on writing answers within word and time limits.
- Analyzed model answers and feedback from test series to improve structure and content.
- Followed the principle of writing concise, balanced, and well-structured answers.
He practiced writing answers at home under exam-like conditions, which helped him manage time effectively during the actual examination.
6. Use of Online Platforms and Digital Tools
Anudeep extensively used online resources to supplement his preparation:
- He followed YouTube channels like PMFIAS for Geography and Mrunal for Economics and Polity.
- He regularly read The Hindu and Indian Express for current affairs.
- He followed government sources like PIB (Press Information Bureau) and PRS Legislative Research.
- He used Evernote and OneNote for organizing notes digitally.
His digital approach shows how modern aspirants can use technology smartly to enhance their preparation without being dependent on offline coaching.
7. Test Series and Mock Exams
Test series played a vital role in evaluating performance and building exam temperament. He:
- Joined online test series for Prelims and Mains.
- Focused on attempting full-length tests under strict time conditions.
- Analyzed his performance thoroughly and worked on correcting mistakes.
- Developed exam hall strategies, including prioritizing questions, managing time, and avoiding negative marking.
He consistently emphasized the importance of completing the paper on time, which he considered a turning point in his final successful attempt.
8. Current Affairs Preparation
Anudeep gave high importance to current affairs, especially for Mains and Interview:
- He read newspapers daily, especially The Hindu, for quality editorials.
- Made monthly current affairs notes.
- Followed monthly current affairs magazines from reputed sources.
- Connected current events with static syllabus topics to enrich his answers.
He ensured that his answers reflected awareness of real-world developments, supported by facts, data, and government schemes.
9. Essay and Ethics Preparation
Anudeep gave focused attention to Essay and General Studies Paper-IV (Ethics):
- For Essay, he practiced writing on philosophical and societal topics, ensuring proper introduction, argument development, and conclusion.
- He read toppers’ essays and developed a unique writing style with balanced views and quotes.
- For Ethics, he used real-life examples, case studies, and quotes by philosophers and leaders to add value to answers.
He later authored a book titled “Fundamentals of Essay and Answer Writing”, sharing detailed techniques and frameworks for these papers.
10. Interview Preparation
After clearing Mains, Anudeep prepared for the Personality Test (Interview) by:
- Revising his Detailed Application Form (DAF) thoroughly.
- Practicing mock interviews and preparing answers for personal, academic, and job-related questions.
- Keeping up with current national and international issues.
He maintained a calm and confident demeanor, which helped him secure a good score in the interview, contributing to his top rank.
Anudeep Durishetty – UPSC Attempts
Anudeep Durishetty appeared for the UPSC exam five times. Each attempt taught him valuable lessons and contributed to his eventual success.
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Anudeep Durishetty – UPSC Attempts |
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|
Attempt Number |
Year | Outcome |
|
1st Attempt |
2012 | Cleared Prelims & Mains; not selected in Interview |
| 2nd Attempt | 2013 |
Secured Rank 790; selected for IRS |
| 3rd Attempt | 2014 |
Did not clear |
| 4th Attempt | 2015 |
Did not clear |
| 5th Attempt | 2017 |
Secured Rank 1; selected for IAS |
FAQs
1. Who got the highest marks in UPSC history?
Anudeep Durishetty scored the highest ever marks in UPSC—1126 out of 2025 in 2017.
2. Why is Anudeep Durishetty famous?
He secured All India Rank 1 in the 2017 UPSC Civil Services Exam and became an IAS officer.
3. What is Anudeep Durishetty’s educational qualification?
He completed B.Tech in Electronics & Instrumentation from BITS Pilani in 2011.
4. How many attempts did he take to clear UPSC?
He cleared UPSC in his 5th attempt after previous setbacks.
5. Did Anudeep Durishetty attend coaching classes?
No, he prepared through self-study using online resources and test series.
