Vikas Singh Panwar, AIR-159, UPSC CSE 2025: Marks, Optional & Preparation Journey

Vikas Singh Panwar, a 22-year-old boy from Himachal Pradesh, has secured an All India Rank 159 in UPSC CSE 2025 in his very 1st attempt. He did his graduation from University of Delhi. Vikas was also a winner of Kaun Banega Crorepati 2025.

Personal Details of Vikas Singh Panwar

S.No.	Aspects	Details
1	Full Name	Vikas Singh Panwar
2	Rank	AIR 159, UPSC CSE 2025
3	Hometown	Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
4	Age	22 years
5	Achievements	KBC ₹50 lakh winner (Nov 2025)
6	Optional Subject	Political Science & International Relations (PSIR)

Journey of All India Rank-159, UPSC CSE 2025

Vikas was born in a rural area of Shimla & completed his schooling from DAV New Shimla school in Shimla, H.P.
Afterwards, he moved to Delhi to pursue his graduation in BA (Hons) Political Science from Hindu College, DU.
He is presently pursuing his post graduation in Political Science & therefore, Vikas chose PSIR as his UPSC CSE optional subject.
He came up with flying colors in his very 1st attempt in CSE 2025.

Educational Background of Vikas Singh Panwar

S.No.	Level	Institution	Location
1	School (10th-12th)	DAV New Shimla School	Shimla, HP
2	B.A. (Hons.) Political Science	Hindu College	Delhi University
3	MA Political Science	Ongoing	Delhi

UPSC CSE 2025 Marks of Vikas Singh Panwar

Roll Number	Name	Written Total	Interview	Grand Total	Rank
0806441	VIKAS SINGH PANWAR	787	201	988	159

All India Rank-159, UPSC 2025 - Preparation Journey

Vikas began his Civil Service preparation in early 2024 after completing his graduation.
NCERTs formed the basis of his preparation, followed by standard textbooks.
After Prelims, Mains preparation gained momentum with daily answer writing.
Full revisions every week helped him turn his weaknesses into strengths, resulting in a total of 988 marks.

10 Preparation Tips for UPSC Civil Services Examination

Divide the UPSC syllabus into smaller areas to study effectively.
Attempt the PYQs along with making notes on the topics.
Prepare a solid foundation by referring to NCERT books.
Read a newspaper daily, such as The Hindu.
Attempt the CSAT daily to make sure that you qualify without any stress.
Attempt mock tests on a weekly basis to analyze your errors.
Attempt 2-3 answers daily to develop your writing skills.
Prepare one-page notes to revise the important topics.
Attempt mock papers in your optional subject.
Take proper rest to maintain your mental health.

FAQs about AIR 159, UPSC CSE 2025

Vikas Singh Panwar cleared UPSC CSE 2025 in how many attempts?

Vikas cleared it in his very 1st attempt at age 22 while simultaneously pursuing MA in Political Science.

What is Vikas Singh Panwar's notable achievement outside UPSC?

He won Rs. 50 lakh in Kaun Banega Crorepati in November 2025, applying Prelims elimination techniques to answer the questions.

Where is Vikas Singh Panwar’s family background?

Vikas Singh’s father Chatar Singh is a school principal and mother Vinita is a homemaker.

Which courses were taken by Vikas Singh Panwar at Next IAS?

During the UPSC Civil Services exam preparation journey of Vikas Singh Panwar, the aspirant has pursued ‘GS Foundation Course’ & ‘CA-VA (Current Affairs) Course’ from NEXT IAS. Both courses are extremely important for the entire exam process—Prelims, Mains, and Interview stage. For the Prelims exam, more than 50% of the questions are based on our GS Foundation and current affairs courses. For the Mains exam, the static-current approach is required for the enrichment of the answers to score more marks. For the Interview round, the personality of the candidate is tested. The CA-VA Course from NEXT IAS helps Vikas in connecting current affairs with the static syllabus for improving the quality of the answers. The current affairs covers a large portion of Polity, Economy, IR, Environment, and Social Issues for the exam. As a result, Vikas came out with flying colors by securing an AIR 159 in UPSC CSE 2025.