How did Dongre Archit Parag get AIR-3 in UPSC CSE 2024?

Dongre Archit Parag secured All India Rank 3 in the UPSC CSE 2024, with the results announced on April 22, 2025. This was his second attempt, and he also stood State Rank 1 in Maharashtra. He was merely 24 years old and made history through sheer determination and hard work. He has chosen the Indian Foreign Service as his preferred service. Dongre Archit Parag’s success didn’t come from luck or shortcuts. It came from consistent effort, self-discipline, patience and a few failed attempts. However, he never gave up on his goal of serving the nation.

He took the time to truly understand the exam pattern and syllabus truly, learned from his earlier mistakes and stayed focused even when the pressure to succeed was high. On days when motivation was missing, he still showed up and pursued his studies with utmost sincerity. In one of his interviews, he admitted feeling low after his failures, but he also had the burning fire inside him to get up each time. His journey is not just inspiring for UPSC aspirants; it’s meaningful for anyone working towards a tough and unpredictable goal. Dongre Archit Parag’s story proves that with the right strategy and steady commitment can turn even the hardest dreams into reality. 

Background of Dongre Archit Parag UPSC 2024 AIR-3

Dongre Archit Parag completed his schooling in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He later pursued a B.Tech degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu. After graduating, Dongre Archit Parag worked in an IT firm for one year, but his desire to serve the nation inspired him to leave his engineering venture behind to prepare for UPSC civil service examinations. During his first job, he realised that his true passion lies in public welfare, and he ended up resigning to give his 100% attention to his UPSC goal. 

He chose Philosophy as his optional subject for the UPSC exam. In his first attempt in 2023, Dongre Archit Parag secured AIR 153 and was selected for the Indian Police Service IPS in the AGMUT cadre (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories). He wasn’t happy with his performance and wanted to join the Indian Foreign Service instead. With the goal of achieving a higher rank, he appeared for the UPSC examination again in 2024 and achieved an impressive AIR 3 in his second attempt, and this time, he got to join his preferred service. 

UPSC Preparation Strategies of Dongre Archit Parag

Dongre Archit Parag All India Rank-3 built a strong foundation by attending the Vajirao and Reddy Institute’s Interview Guidance Program, along with seeking their current affairs materials. The institute’s structured classes, interactive discussions and personalised guidance from experienced mentors helped him clearly understand the requirements of cracking UPSC civil service examinations. He made sure to regularly practice potential exam questions, which deepened his understanding of important topics and improved his ability to write clear and impactful answers. He further sharpened his concepts by breaking down the syllabus into manageable parts, which helped him improve his answer structure, content quality and time management. 

Dongre Archit Parag attended many IAS Mock Interviews to gain insights into his performance quality and actively worked on his weak areas. Attending mock interviews also enhanced his confidence. Studying toppers’ answer copies taught him how to write well-structured answers using the right keywords and simple diagrams, which helped him fetch good marks, especially in the mains exam. Throughout his preparation, a strong support system of mentors, quality study material and curated resources helped him stay focused and refine his overall strategy. 

UPSC Study Materials Used by Dongre Archit Parag, UPSC All India Rank-3

Dongre Archit Parag used standard books for his preparation, along with NCERT books. For Polity, he referred to Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth. For History, he relied on Spectrum for Modern Indian History and used NCERT textbooks and notes for Ancient History. For Geography, he studied NCERT textbooks along with G.C. Leong. For Ethics GS Paper 4, he emphasised improving his answers through current affairs, real-life examples and effective case studies.