Pune's Archit Dongre secures All India Rank 3 in UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024

Archit Dongre worked in the IT sector for a year before quitting his job to focus fully on his UPSC preparation. Representational pic

Pune continues to shine on the national stage as Archit Parag Dongre secured All India Rank-3 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination 2024, becoming the highest-ranking candidate from Maharashtra this year.

His remarkable journey is not only a moment of pride for the state but also an inspiration for civil service aspirants across the country.

mid-day.com tried reaching out to Archit but he was unavailable for an interview as he is currently undergoing training in Dehradun, informed his associates.

However, Mahesh Kumar S, his teacher and mentor at Enlite IAS Institute in Thiruvananthapuram, said, "He is a very bright and hardworking student. I have known him for the past two years. He joined our online course. This was his second attempt. In his first attempt, he secured Rank 153, but he was determined to improve - and he succeeded by securing one of the top ranks."

Mahesh Kumar added, "He was so busy with his training that even we couldn't speak with him. His interview test was held just two days ago, and he told me he wasn't very confident about it. Improving your rank significantly in a second attempt is very difficult - but he did it."

Born into an Air Force family, Archit travelled across India during his school years. A graduate in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from VIT Vellore, he opted for Philosophy as his optional subject - an unusual yet bold choice for an engineer. His fascination with philosophy began in his college days, during which he read numerous books on the subject.

A native of Mumbai, Archit completed his schooling there before moving to Pune for junior college. He later worked in the IT sector for a year before quitting his job to focus fully on his UPSC preparation.

This was not Archit's first tryst with UPSC success. In 2023, he cracked the examination with an All India Rank of 153. His determination and focus helped him make a dramatic leap in 2024, placing him among the top three in the country.

When asked why an engineering graduate like Archit chose Philosophy as his optional subject, Mahesh Kumar explained that candidates are not required to pick their graduation subject. "Archit had a deep interest and understanding of Philosophy. He found the syllabus concise and manageable. It doesn't require any academic background, and it offers intellectual satisfaction. The brevity of the syllabus allowed him to complete and revise it thoroughly, even within a limited timeframe."

Archit often read philosophy books during his college days. He was always intrigued by core philosophical concepts. Archit regularly revised his own notes, and his pictographic memory helped him retain abstract concepts efficiently. According to him, the beauty of Philosophy lies in its abstract nature. "One must have love and a natural inclination toward the subject before choosing it," he once said.