- Tina Dabi secured the first rank in UPSC 2015 with Philosophy as her optional subject.
- Her strategy involved a thorough understanding of the syllabus and focusing on key areas.
- She relied on self-study and made extensive notes for effective revision.
- She supplemented her preparation by referring to standard books and previous year question papers.
- Tina Dabi emphasized the importance of writing practice and regularly attempted mock tests.
- She also joined a test series to assess her progress and improve her answer writing skills.


- Anu Kumari secured the second rank in UPSC 2017 with Philosophy as her optional subject.
- She focused on building a strong conceptual foundation and understanding the philosophical theories and thinkers.
- Anu Kumari referred to standard textbooks and supplemented her preparation with online resources and video lectures.
- She practiced answer writing regularly to improve her articulation and time management skills.
- Anu Kumari also joined a test series to evaluate her performance and identify areas for improvement.


- Srushti Jayant Deshmukh secured the fifth rank in UPSC 2018 with Philosophy as her optional subject.
- She stressed the importance of reading the syllabus thoroughly and understanding the demand of each topic.
- Srushti Deshmukh made extensive notes to revise the subject effectively.
- She relied on standard textbooks and referred to previous year question papers to understand the exam pattern.
- Srushti Deshmukh practiced answer writing to improve her presentation and time management skills.
- She also joined a test series to evaluate her performance and get feedback from experts.


- Namrata Jain secured the twelfth rank in UPSC 2016 with Philosophy as her optional subject.
- She focused on building a strong conceptual understanding of the subject by referring to standard textbooks and study materials.
- Namrata Jain practiced answer writing regularly to improve her writing style and presentation skills.
- She joined a test series to assess her preparation and get expert feedback.
- Namrata Jain also revised previous year question papers to understand the exam pattern and identify important topics.

Overall, the common strategies followed by these successful UPSC Philosophy Optional toppers include a thorough understanding of the syllabus, building a strong conceptual foundation, extensive reading of standard books, regular practice of answer writing, and joining test series for evaluation and improvement.