Archit Dongre UPSC AIR 3 2024: Biography, Age, Education, Attempts and more

Archit Dongre UPSC AIR 3 2024: Biography, Age, Education, Attempts and more

By 99Notes

Archit Dongre, a determined young man from Pune, Maharashtra, has emerged as one of India’s top civil service aspirants by securing All India Rank 3 in UPSC CSE 2024. His story exemplifies not only academic brilliance but also relentless self-improvement, having already cleared the exam once with AIR 153 and returning to the challenge to aim higher—and succeed.

Archit Dongre: At a Glance

Attribute

Details

Name

Archit Dongre Parag

Age

26

Hometown

Pune, Maharashtra

Schooling

Mumbai + Pune

Graduation

B.Tech in Electrical & Electronics, VIT Vellore

Work Experience

1 year in IT sector

UPSC Attempts

2

Previous Rank

AIR 153 (Selected for IPS under AGMUT cadre)

Current Rank

AIR 3 (UPSC CSE 2024)

Marks Obtained

1038

Optional Subject

Philosophy

Education and Career Shift

Coming from a value-driven family in Maharashtra, Archit was always academically inclined. After completing his B.Tech from VIT Vellore, he worked in the IT sector for a year. However, the desire to contribute to nation-building led him to resign and pursue UPSC full-time.

His previous success (AIR 153 in CSE 2022) and selection into IPS showed his capability, but Archit aimed for IAS. His second attempt, backed by discipline and upgraded strategy, resulted in an outstanding AIR 3.

Why He Chose Philosophy

Archit’s decision to opt for Philosophy stemmed from both personal and strategic motivations:

  • He was drawn to fundamental questions of ethics and existence from a young age.

  • Philosophy’s logical structure and clarity aligned well with his analytical mindset.

  • It provided an edge in General Studies and Ethics papers.

He scored a remarkable 276 in Philosophy, proving that with the right method, even seemingly abstract subjects can be high-scoring.

Archit Dongre’s UPSC Strategy – Precision Over Perfection

Archit Dongre’s UPSC Strategy Summary:

Stage

Strategy Highlights

Prelims

Focused on core books, practiced mocks regularly, logical guessing over blind attempts

Mains

Consistent writing practice, essay examples from current affairs, added value from Philosophy

Optional

Used Philosophy to boost GS answers, made thinker-based short notes, solved PYQs extensively

Interview

Focused on DAF questions, practiced in groups, developed neutral, thoughtful answers

Why Philosophy Helps in Administration

For Archit, Philosophy wasn’t just a scoring optional—it shaped how he thought as a future administrator:

  • Ethics & Justice are not just paper concepts—they’re daily decisions in public service.

  • Understanding moral dilemmas and applying balanced reasoning help in policymaking.

  • Subjects like epistemology and logic strengthened his problem-solving skills in GS and interviews.

Final Thoughts

Archit’s journey from AIR 153 to AIR 3 shows that success is not just about clearing UPSC once—it’s about pushing your limits, identifying scope for growth, and aiming higher.

His story is a beacon for all those aspirants who’ve cleared earlier attempts but want to improve further. For Archit, settling was never an option—and that mindset made all the difference.

Top 20 UPSC 2024 Toppers List:

AIR Rank

Topper Name

Roll Number

1

SHAKTI DUBEY

0240782

2

HARSHITA GOYAL

0101571

3

DONGRE ARCHIT PARAG

0867282

4

SHAH MARGI CHIRAG

0108110

5

AAKASH GARG

0833621

6

KOMAL PUNIA

0818290

7

AAYUSHI BANSAL

6902167

8

RAJ KRISHNA JHA

6613295

9

ADITYA VIKRAM AGARWAL

0849449

10

MAYANK TRIPATHI

5400180

11

ETTABOYINA SAI SHIVANI

8200949

12

ASHI SHARMA

5809367

13

HEMANT

5912548

14

ABHISHEK VASHISHTHA

0818331

15

BANNA VENKATESH

1010403

16

MADHAV AGARWAL

6907627

17

SANSKRITI TRIVEDY

0810414

18

SAUMYA MISHRA

2604936

19

VIBHOR BHARDWAJ

0833456

20

TRILOK SINGH

2200688

FAQs about Archit Dongre Parag

Q1. Who got the 1st rank in UPSC 2024?
A. The All India Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 was secured by Shakti Dubey from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. She achieved this remarkable feat in her fifth attempt, demonstrating perseverance and dedication.

Q2. Who is Archit Dongre?
A. Archit Dongre is a Pune-based UPSC aspirant who secured All India Rank 3 in the 2024 Civil Services Examination.

Q3. How many attempts did Archit take to clear UPSC?
A. He cleared UPSC in his second attempt; in his first attempt in 2023, he secured AIR 153 and was selected for the IPS.

Q4. What is Archit Dongre’s age?
A. As of 2025, Archit is 26 years old.