: He chose Sociology as his optional subject.

Hails from Delhi and completed his education from premier institutes—IIT Kanpur and IIM Ahmedabad. Cadre: IAS officer of the 2020 Batch, Uttar Pradesh cadre. Optional Subject: Sociology. The Journey to Success: From IIT/IIM to UPSC

. His academic path was elite from the start—he earned his graduation from IIT Kanpur and followed it with a master's degree from IIM Ahmedabad

His preparation was marked by intense self-reliance. Having no mentor, he invested significant time in reading online blogs and interviews of previous years' toppers to understand the demands of the exam. "I believe UPSC is more about understanding the path you will take – walking along the path is the easier part," he once stated.

The path to the IAS is notoriously difficult, requiring candidates to pass the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This examination is one of the most competitive in the world, testing candidates on a vast array of subjects ranging from history and geography to ethics and current affairs. Pratyush Pandey approached this challenge with a well-structured plan and an unwavering focus.

Driven by a passion for problem-solving and structured systems, he pursued a B.Tech. in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, one of India's premier engineering institutes, graduating in 2017 with a notable 8.9/10 CGPA. After completing his engineering, he further sharpened his managerial and analytical acumen by pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, graduating in March 2019. This dual background in engineering and management provided him with a unique, holistic perspective.

He is an avid reader and an author of two published books, often sharing deep, stoic reflections on his personal blog about finding value in work and avoiding the trap of "premature optimization" in life. Service and Impact Today, Pratyush Pandey is an IAS officer of the 2020 batch serving in the Uttar Pradesh cadre . He has served as the Chief Development Officer (CDO)