From BBA to the UPSC Merit List—UPSC Topper Aryan Sirsikar’s journey is an inspiration to millions.
The results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, have once again highlighted inspiring stories of perseverance and determination. Among the successful candidates is Aryan Sirsikar, who secured All India Rank 175 and earned a place among India’s future civil servants.
Aryan was a student of APTI PLUS Academy’s Nischay Prelims Test Series Program and he shared that the tests played a major role in his success.
UPSC Topper Aryan Sirsikar (AIR 175) Testimonial on APTI PLUS Test Series
Aryan credits APTI PLUS test series for helping him navigate the uncertainty of the prelims stage. Aryan, in his own words:
“Hi everyone, I am Aryan Sirsikar and I secured All India Rank 175 in this year’s UPSC Civil Services Examination. A large part of my success was built on my ability to handle the unpredictability of the prelims and I largely owe this to my association with Apti Plus Academy for Civil Services. I subscribed to the test series of Apti Plus in March 2025 and the carefully curated questions along with the very detailed answer keys helped me build a wide knowledge base, which allowed me to handle the Prelims 2025 with confidence. Therefore, for all candidates preparing for this year’s prelims, I highly recommend Apti Plus and urge you to go through their content and question papers to improve your chances of success this year. Thank you and all the best.”
Background of UPSC Topper Aryan Sirsikar
A graduate of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, under the University of Delhi, Aryan completed his Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance & Investment Analysis) in 2023. Originally from Mumbai, he entered the challenging world of civil services preparation with determination and clarity of purpose.
In his third attempt, his perseverance finally paid off. By clearing all stages of the examination Prelims, Mains and the Personality Test he secured AIR 175, proving that consistent effort and strategic preparation can lead to success in one of the toughest examinations in the country.
Academic Foundation & Leadership
Aryan’s academic journey reflects both excellence and leadership. During his school years at St. Columba’s School, he actively participated in academic and extracurricular activities.
He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Editorial Board, President of the Student Council and President of the Commerce Society. These roles helped him develop communication skills, leadership abilities and confidence.
His achievements were also recognized through prestigious school awards.
Aryan received the P.N. Clarke Award for being the best debater and speaker for the academic year 2019–2020. He was also awarded the Ravel Singh Tandon Scholarship for being the third highest CBSE scorer in his school.
Later, at Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Aryan pursued BBA in Finance and Investment Analysis. His academic training in finance and analytical thinking helped him develop a structured approach to problem-solving, which later became valuable during his UPSC preparation.
Professional Experience and Leadership Roles
Before focusing fully on UPSC preparation, Aryan gained valuable exposure through internships and student leadership roles. He worked as a Management Trainee Intern at SupplyNote and also participated as an Investment Banking Fellow at Marquee Equity.
In addition, he served as a Student Placement Coordinator at Career Dev, helping manage student placement activities. Aryan was also associated with IFSA Network India and the quizzing society Illuminati – The Quizzing Society of SSCBS, where he engaged in intellectually stimulating activities that strengthened his general awareness and analytical thinking.
These experiences contributed significantly to shaping a well-rounded personality an important quality for aspiring civil servants.
UPSC Optional subject strategy by UPSC Topper Aryan
Aryan chose Anthropology as his optional subject for the UPSC Mains examination. Anthropology has become a preferred optional for many aspirants because of its concise syllabus and relevance to social and cultural dimensions of governance.
Aryan first focused on understanding the core concepts of Anthropology instead of rushing to finish the syllabus. He prepared topic-wise using the UPSC syllabus and previous years’ questions, which helped him stay focused on what UPSC actually asks.
In his answers, he consistently included diagrams, tribal examples and relevant case studies, which helped present his answers like a subject specialist.
He regularly practised answer writing and incorporated anthropologists’ views, theories and research references, which added depth and academic value to his answers.
Success with APTI PLUS All India Prelims Test Series
To strengthen his prelims preparation, Aryan enrolled in Apti Plus Academy’s Nishchay All India Prelims Test Series. The program consists of 40+ Tests and includes Sectional, subject wise as well as Full length tests. Questions are curated by UPSC toppers and India’s leading subject experts, ensuring high exam relevance.
The test series provides clear concepts, detailed answer explanations, proper evaluation and continuous support. Aryan joined the APTI PLUS All India Prelims Test Series in March 2025, where regular mock tests and comprehensive answer keys helped him expand his knowledge base and improve his approach to solving questions. This structured practice played an important role in helping him approach UPSC Prelims 2025 with confidence.
UPSC Topper’s Journey that Inspires Future Aspirants
The journey of Aryan Sirsikar from a BBA graduate to securing AIR 175 in UPSC CSE 2025 is truly inspiring. His story demonstrates that success in UPSC is built through discipline, persistence, strategic preparation and the right mentorship.
For thousands of aspirants preparing for civil services, Aryan’s achievement serves as a reminder that consistent effort and structured preparation can turn ambitious dreams into reality.
