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Madhav Agarwal AIR 16 UPSC 2024: Background, UPSC Attempt, Marksheet, Answer Copy and Strategy

Author: VisionIAS Editorial Team

May 21, 2025Foundation Classes6 min read

Madhav Agarwal AIR 16 UPSC 2024: Background, UPSC Attempt, Marksheet, Answer Copy and Strategy

Table of Contents

Table of Content

Introduction
Madhav Agarwal: Background
Madhav Agarwal: UPSC Journey and Number of Attempts
Madhav Agarwal’s Toppers’ Copies
Madhav Agarwal’s UPSC CSE 2024 Marksheet
UPSC Preparation Strategy
Glimpse of Madhav’s Spirit of Daily Classroom Assignments Practice

Introduction

Madhav Agarwal, from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 16 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024. His journey, marked by relentless perseverance, saw him improve from AIR 211 in 2023 to a top-tier rank in 2024. Madhav’s disciplined approach and strategic refinement over multiple attempts make him a shining example for UPSC aspirants aiming to conquer India’s toughest exam

Watch: Toppers’ Talk of UPSC 2024 Toppers

Madhav Agarwal: Background

Hailing from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Madhav Agarwal demonstrated academic excellence early on, graduating with a B.Com in Auditing and Finance from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, in 2016. He furthered his credentials by clearing the Chartered Accountancy (CA) examination in 2018, equipping him with analytical rigor and financial acumen. Madhav channeled his expertise into rigorous UPSC preparation, leveraging his academic foundation to tackle the exam’s complexities. His journey from Gwalior to a top UPSC rank reflects his commitment to public service and intellectual growth.

Also Read Blog: Harshita Goyal, AIR 2, UPSC 2024

Also Read Blog: Archit Dongre, AIR 3, UPSC 2024

Madhav Agarwal: UPSC Journey and Number of Attempts

Madhav Agarwal’s path to AIR 16 in UPSC CSE 2024 is a story of resilience across five attempts. His journey began in 2020, narrowly missing the Prelims by 0.66 marks. In 2021, he cleared the Prelims but fell short in the Mains by just one mark. His third attempt in 2022 saw him reach the Interview stage, missing the final list by 11 marks with an interview score of 171. In 2023, his fourth attempt yielded AIR 211 with an interview score of 205, marking his first selection. Undeterred, Madhav’s fifth attempt in 2024, his fourth Mains and third Interview, culminated in AIR 16 with a strong interview score of 200.

Choosing Commerce as his optional subject, Madhav capitalized on his CA background to excel, scoring 133 and 131 in his optional papers. His preparation was bolstered by VisionIAS programs, including the Classroom GS Foundation Course, Abhyaas Test Series, and Lakshya Mentoring with the Personality Development Program, which provided structured preparation, refining his answer-writing, exam strategy, and interview skills. Madhav’s journey underscores the power of persistence and strategic adaptation.

Madhav Agarwal’s Toppers’ Copies

One of the best ways to understand a successful approach to UPSC is by studying the answer sheets of toppers. Madhav Agarwal’s answer copies from the VisionIAS All India Test Series offer valuable insights into his answer writing techniques.

Download High Scorer Toppers Copies

Madhav Agarwal’s UPSC CSE 2024 Marksheet

The UPSC CSE 2024 marksheet for Madhav Agarwal, is as follows:

Download UPSC 2024 Marksheet

UPSC 2024 Preparation Strategy

Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination demands more than just hard work—it requires a smart, structured, and sustained strategy. Top performers consistently follow a clear roadmap, focusing on conceptual clarity, regular answer writing, current affairs integration, and disciplined revision.

They prioritize quality over quantity when choosing study resources and ensure consistent practice through mock tests and timely feedback.

Equally important is comprehensive interview preparation, involving self-awareness, DAF analysis, and mock sessions. The success of toppers lies in their ability to stay consistent, adapt strategies across attempts, and maintain clarity under pressure.

To gain deeper insights into the strategies of top rankers, explore the detailed blogs below.

Read Blog: Harshita Goyal’s UPSC Preparation Strategy: From CA to AIR 2 with VisionIAS Foundation

Read Blog: UPSC Preparation Strategy from Archit Dongre, AIR-3

Glimpse of Madhav’s Spirit of Daily Classroom Assignment Practice

Madhav’s success was shaped by his consistent practice of daily classroom assignments during the VisionIAS Classroom Foundation Course. This honed his answer-writing skills, and helped him master the structure and clarity UPSC demands—laying the groundwork for his high-scoring performance.