The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination is more than just an exam—it is a test of perseverance, patience, and resilience. Among the thousands who attempt it each year, only a handful make it to the final list, and even fewer manage to improve their rank so significantly in successive attempts.
V. Sanjana Simha’s story is one such inspiring journey. From securing AIR 207 in CSE 2020 to making a remarkable leap to AIR 37 in CSE 2021, her path is an example of how determination, the right mentorship, and consistent self-improvement can change destinies.
A Road Less Taken – Her Journey Begins
Sanjana fondly calls her UPSC preparation “A Road Less Taken.” Her testimonial beautifully captures the struggles, learning, and growth that defined her path. Unlike many aspirants who walk this road alone, she credits her success to the strong support system around her—her family, her friends, and above all, Harsha Mannava Sir, Anthropology Faculty at La Excellence IAS.
She recalls:
“A teacher who is practical, outcome-oriented and very knowledgeable. The journey of UPSC is an arduous one, and swimming alone makes it all the more terrifying. I was lucky enough to receive Harsha Sir’s guidance because he spotted my potential even before I was sure of it.”
Her words reflect not just respect but a deep sense of gratitude—because having the right mentor made all the difference.
Mentorship That Made the Difference
The Civil Services Examination requires more than knowledge—it demands exam orientation, structured preparation, and the ability to present answers with clarity and precision. Sanjana emphasizes how Harsha Mannava guided her through each stage:
- Prelims Simplification:
Instead of being overwhelmed by the vast syllabus, Sanjana learned how to apply knowledge to the examination context.“At the Prelims stage, Sir helped me channelise my knowledge and apply it in the examination context. This simplified Prelims preparation for me.” - Mains Training:
Mains, being the most crucial stage, tested her ability to write, analyze, and present. Harsha Sir focused on her writing ability, presentation, use of keywords, and value addition.“Sir trained me on writing ability, presentation, keywords and value addition, among other aspects. He evaluated my scripts and gave me a practical assessment with a detailed way forward.”
This mix of academic and practical mentorship transformed her from just another aspirant into a confident candidate ready for success.
Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones
Sanjana’s testimonial also reveals her resilience. In CSE 2017, she reached the Interview stage but missed the final rank list narrowly. For many, such a setback could have been disheartening, but she chose to turn it into a stepping stone.
With Harsha Mannava’s guidance, Sanjana reworked her interview strategy:
“For the Personality Test, Sir read quality literature on interviews, its purpose and the method. He trained me to ensure that my personality comes out in every answer. He took many mocks and refined, polished my qualities. Thus, in the real interviews, I was neither meek nor aggressive, but confidently assertive.”
That transformation became the foundation of her later success.
From AIR 207 to AIR 37 – The Big Leap
Her progress from AIR 207 in 2020 to AIR 37 in 2021 was not accidental—it was the outcome of self-reflection, consistent effort, and dedicated mentorship.
Sanjana’s own words sum up the philosophy behind this leap:
“As it is aptly said, ‘Best teacher is one who tells students how to think and not what to think.’ I’m indebted to him for making this journey a learning experience and a path to self-rediscovery.”
This shows that success in UPSC is not just about hard work—it is about working smartly, purposefully, and under the right guidance.
Heartfelt Gratitude
Towards the end of her testimonial, Sanjana leaves a message that is as much a thank-you note as it is advice to future aspirants:
“Sir is very humble, immensely patient and 24×7 accessible. I earnestly wish many more students benefit from what Harsha Sir has to offer.”
At La Excellence IAS, we take immense pride in this. Her words are not just a testimonial—they are a reflection of the values we stand for: student-first mentorship, accessibility, and a commitment to shaping future administrators with integrity and excellence.
Conclusion
Sanjana Simha’s journey is more than an exam story—it’s a lesson in resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of the right guidance. From AIR 207 to AIR 37, her testimonial reminds every UPSC aspirant that setbacks are temporary, but determination and good mentorship can create lasting success.
At La Excellence IAS, we are honored to have been a part of her journey and look forward to shaping many more success stories
Here is what Sanjana Sinha said about Harsha Sir and La Excellence IAS:
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