UPSC CSE 2024: Ministry Releases IAS Cadre Allocation List; AIR 1 Shakti Dubey Assigned Uttar Pradesh Cadre

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions has officially released the IAS cadre allocation list for the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination (upsc CSE) 2024. As expected, All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) topper Shakti Dubey has received the Uttar Pradesh cadre, her home state. Meanwhile, Rank 2 achiever Harshita Goyal from Haryana has been allotted the Gujarat cadre.

The Ministry’s announcement has drawn significant attention from aspirants and experts, given the prestige and influence associated with IAS cadre assignments. Below is the complete list of the top 20 rankers and their allotted cadres.

UPSC CSE 2024: Top 20 Rankers and Their IAS Cadres

The following table includes the cadre allocations, home states, and insider–outsider status of the top 20 candidates:

The UPSC declared the final CSE 2024 results on April 22. Considered one of India’s toughest examinations, the UPSC CSE opens pathways to prestigious services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service, Indian trade Service, and several other central Group A and B posts.

The 2024 result once again highlighted the growing presence of women in top administrative roles. Notably, three of the top five rankers are women-Shakti Dubey (Rank 1), Harshita Goyal (Rank 2), and Shah Margi Chirag (Rank 4). This year, among the 1,009 candidates recommended, 284 are women and 725 are men, reflecting strong female representation in India’s elite civil services.

AIR 1 Shakti Dubey: A Journey of Persistence and Purpose

Originating from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Rank 1 holder Shakti Dubey began her UPSC journey in 2018. Initially aspiring to join the medical field, she completed a BSc in Biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University after narrowly missing out on admission to dental studies. “I studied PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) in school, but my rank only allowed me a dental seat. So I shifted to BSc,” she recalls.

Her path to success was far from easy-Dubey faced five consecutive failures. “I could not clear prelims in my first three attempts. In my fourth attempt, I reached the interview stage but couldn’t pass. Last year, I missed the cutoff by 12 marks,” she says, describing it as the lowest phase of her life. “I felt completely defeated and even thought about giving up.”

But her discipline and determination turned the tide. She followed a strict study schedule, treating each day as a small milestone. “I ensured 8–10 hours of focused study daily, and then allowed myself rest the next day. That balance is the only way to survive this journey,” she explains.

AIR 2 Harshita Goyal: “Unbelievable” Achievement After Years of Hard Work

Rank 2 achiever Harshita Goyal, aged 24, described her result as “unbelievable.” A commerce graduate from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and a Chartered Accountant, Goyal succeeded in her third attempt-her first time clearing both mains and the interview after failing prelims twice.

“It feels surreal. Securing AIR 2 is beyond what I imagined, especially considering the uncertainty around UPSC results. I always believed I would clear the exam, but making it to the top three is like a dream,” she shared with The Indian express. She also spoke emotionally about her late mother, who passed away from cancer a decade ago: “I know I have made my family proud. My mother must be very happy wherever she is.”