Monica Adusumilli is a BITS Pilani (Hyderabad, ‘18) graduate in BE Computer Science. She exemplifies determination, resilience, and ambition. Her journey has been extraordinary, from being awarded the Best All-Rounder of her graduating batch to excelling in the corporate world, where she currently holds a significant role at Microsoft. Her story does not end there—Monica’s unwavering dedication and focus recently earned her an impressive All India Rank of 487 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023. Her path is a testament to balancing professional success with academic excellence, leadership, and a long-term vision for societal impact, making her a source of inspiration for many aspiring professionals and civil servants alike.

Let's start by going back to your BITS-Hyderabad days. Can you walk us through your journey from being a student there to securing a significant role at Microsoft, and eventually achieving an All India Rank of 487 in the UPSC? What was the T equals zero for your UPSC journey, and what were some key milestones and lessons in your career along the way?

The T equals zero was probably in my childhood when I first wanted to become a Civil Servant, influenced by inspirational stories in newspapers. I always believed civil services would allow me to create societal impact, and I often discussed this with like-minded people. That is when my UPSC journey began. In my third year, I interned at Microsoft and Nutanix through the practice school program. Initially, I did not focus on UPSC preparation, as I didn’t want to juggle it with work. In 2019, after a year at Nutanix and earning my first promotion, I felt it was the right time to start preparing. I joined a weekend coaching batch in Bengaluru. I decided to continue working while preparing, only quitting if my job became an obstacle. I attended coaching for six to seven months, which helped build a foundation. Then, COVID-19 hit, and I returned home. I did not clear the prelims in my first attempt, but I had my job as a safety net. In my second and third attempts, I cleared the prelims but fell short in the mains. Finally, in my fourth attempt, I cleared both the mains and the interview, securing my rank.

You mentioned that you cleared the interview on your first attempt. Could you share what that experience was like?

The interview was a great experience. Meeting a five-member panel, all of whom have played key roles in the nation's development, was humbling. I had taken mock interviews that focused on my tech background, but the actual interview was different. They pushed me out of my comfort zone, asking very little about technology. One key lesson I learned was that you cannot predict their questions, so it’s best to be yourself. The board rewards authenticity, not someone shaped by coaching institutes. I did not have much time for extensive coaching or mock interviews, so I simply answered the questions to the best of my knowledge. They even asked about BITS’s zero attendance policy, which led to a healthy discussion. For me, besides learning that I had cleared the interview, the real reward was meeting the board and having a conversation with stalwarts of the Indian bureaucracy. The interview, which lasted about 20 minutes, was more personal than pressuring. The panel asked questions about my personality and topics from my DAF, with a mix of both general and deeper questions, such as Gandhi’s relevance today. Overall, it felt more like a conversation than an intense grilling session.

Your academic record at BITS was impressive, with a graduating CGPA of 9.78, the title of Best All-Rounder, and being at the top of the 2018 batch. How did you manage academic excellence alongside your extensive extracurricular involvement?

Academics were something I could not afford to neglect from day one. I made it a point to attend all my classes, no matter how late I went to bed. Simply showing up, whether at 8 or 8:30 AM, was something I believed would benefit me—and it did. During exams, we all studied, but I made sure to compartmentalize my time. From 8 AM to 5 PM, I focused on academics, and after 6 PM, I dedicated time to extracurriculars. This balance helped me become a member of the student mess council and the cultural secretary of the student union. I also learned the importance of focus, especially after scoring an 8 in C Programming during 1-2, which was disappointing for a 4-credit course in my strong suit. That experience reinforced the need to compartmentalize—focusing on academics in the mornings and extracurriculars in the evenings. My motivated peer group also played a significant role. We studied, worked, and excelled together. I particularly enjoyed courses like DISCO and electives such as The Bhagavad Gita, Print and Audio-Visual Advertising, and Linguistics, which allowed me to explore my creative side. Compartmentalizing my efforts and truly enjoying what I did helped me manage everything smoothly.

Your extracurricular involvement at BITS, particularly your roles in the Student Mess Council (SMC) and as Cultural Secretary, undoubtedly honed your skills. How did these experiences contribute to your personal and professional growth, preparing you for your achievements at Microsoft and your success in the UPSC examination? Additionally, how did you manage to balance these responsibilities with your academics, while excelling in leadership roles?

A lot of my personal growth came during my time at BITS. As Cultural Secretary, I initiated events like Ethnic Day, which taught me the importance of both ideation and execution. It showed me that if you can imagine something, you can make it happen. This experience gave me the confidence to believe that I could bring about change when entrusted with responsibility. In the Student Mess Council (SMC), I learned how to balance different student preferences, always reminding myself that I was elected to represent them, not the administration. Both roles taught me valuable lessons in leadership and responsibility, which prepared me well for both Microsoft and the UPSC journey.

Managing my time back then was easier since we did not have as many digital distractions. Sitting down to work and attending all my classes helped me stay disciplined. I was also part of a highly motivated peer group, which made a significant difference. We encouraged each other to excel in both academics and co-curricular activities. Ultimately, it came down to focusing on what mattered—academics, extracurriculars, and being fully present—and not striving for perfection but simply doing my best.

Moving on to your professional journey; you've worked with tech giants like Microsoft and Nutanix. Could you walk us through your career progression and some key projects you've been involved in?

I joined Nutanix after a six-month practice school stint, which provided continuity in my career. Nutanix, being smaller than Microsoft, offered more opportunities to make an impact and learn, allowing me to take on multiple roles. At Nutanix, I worked on Foundation Central, a project that enabled data centres to be bootstrapped remotely, eliminating the need for on-site engineers. Initially, it was just me and another engineer driving the project, but as it grew, product managers and others joined to push it into production.

What made this project particularly fulfilling was seeing it applied in real-world scenarios. Communicating directly with customers and witnessing our work in action was incredibly rewarding, something that is rare for a software engineer. Later, I joined Microsoft to work on Azure Arc, a similar project. Nutanix taught me the value of doing things yourself—being hands-on and resourceful. At Microsoft, I learned how to leverage existing infrastructure effectively. Both experiences taught me valuable lessons: Nutanix showed me how to build success from the ground up, while Microsoft taught me how to succeed by utilizing what is already available. Both approaches are essential for career growth.

For freshers aspiring to build a successful career like yours, what advice would you give them on creating a roadmap, managing time effectively, and focusing on key aspects of professional development? Could you elaborate on this in detail, covering both software engineering and the UPSC journey?

Let us break this down into two parts: Software Engineering and UPSC.

For Software Engineering, adaptability is key. Technology is constantly evolving, and as a junior engineer, having a broad knowledge base helps you determine what to specialize in later. Always stay open to new technologies—do not just follow trends but build something around them. Strive to be a creator, not just a consumer. Time management is crucial; do not let technology consume your time—use it to innovate.

For UPSC, timeboxing your preparation is essential. UPSC is unpredictable, so always have a Plan B. Many people fail despite using the same methods that others succeed with. You can prepare alongside a job or dedicate time fully to UPSC but set a clear deadline for yourself. Trust the process—results may not come immediately, but hard work eventually pays off.

UPSC preparation also comes with the fear of missing out—there is an overwhelming amount of content. Stick to a consistent routine and avoid constantly changing strategies. There is no “best” way to clear UPSC, so trust your approach and do not let self-doubt creep in.

How did you manage to balance your preparation for UPSC with your demanding job at Microsoft? Can you share some of the biggest challenges you faced during your preparation and how you overcame them?

Balancing my job at Microsoft with UPSC preparation would not have been possible if I had started only in the last year—it was the result of four years of consistent effort. I focused on mastering the basics, such as NCERTs for geography and history, Laxmikanth for polity, and Nitin Singhania for art and culture.

You cannot cover everything, so I applied the 80-20 rule—20% of the content provides 80% of the results. For example, mastering core concepts from basic books can get you a decent score, and the rest can be supplemented with sources like newspapers.

The key is to focus on core topics and avoid chasing outliers. UPSC tests your ability to express your thoughts clearly in the mains and assesses your personality in the interview stage. You cannot fake it—be genuine.

Stick to a set of basic books and develop different strategies for prelims and mains. UPSC expects you to have common sense and a solid foundation, so focus on that to navigate tricky questions effectively.

How does one attain the temperament and peace of mind during the interview to be fully confident?

I do not think anyone fully attains peace of mind during the interview. Everyone feels stressed, and that is natural. Different things work for different people—some meditate, others chant or seek blessings. However, by the time you reach the interview stage, you have already cleared the mains, which itself tests your temperament.

Mains consist of nine papers, requiring 27 hours of writing, so after that, a 30-minute interview feels more manageable. The key is to remember that it’s not a test of knowledge, but of personality. UPSC calls it a personality test for a reason—it's about presenting who you are, not about cramming facts. What helps is not overthinking things beyond your control. As Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, "Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma Phaleshu Kadachana"—you have control over your actions, not the results. Treat the interview like any other exam. If it works, great; if not, life has other plans. Detaching from the outcome is beneficial in the long run.

If you were given the authority to conduct the UPSC examinations in the country, what are the three major changes you would make?

It is hard to pinpoint specific changes I’d make to UPSC, as the commission already considers feedback each year. Instead, I can suggest changes in our attitude toward the exam.

First, do not view UPSC as the ultimate goal—the goalpost keeps shifting. Detach from the result; if it works out, great, and if not, that is okay too.

Second, focus on things beyond UPSC. The journey shapes you, teaching resilience. Even if you do not clear the exam, the lessons learned can be applied to other areas of life and work.

Third, do not neglect family, friends, or relationships. Support systems are essential for both success and staying grounded. Being open to feedback from anyone, even non-UPSC aspirants, can also be invaluable.

If I were to suggest changes to the UPSC system, I would take a data-driven approach, analysing feedback from candidates. Each year, I would focus on addressing one major issue, like introducing new optional subjects, but I would prioritize gradual improvements over drastic changes.

How should one start preparing for UPSC while still in college?

In college, you have extra time, so start with the basics. Focus on Laxmikanth for polity and Class 11 and 12 NCERTs for geography and history (ancient, medieval, modern). Covering these basics in college gives you a strong foundation for future attempts, as the core material remains relevant.

While preparing, do not neglect academics, CGPA, placements, or extracurriculars. For current events, read The Hindu for 40-45 minutes daily to understand the context behind the news. Avoid sensational topics like political defections and focus instead on laws and policies, such as anti-defection laws.

Pair newspaper reading with resources like Daily News Simplified from Insights or Rau’s IAS to ensure you are covering relevant topics for UPSC. Compare what you have read with their analysis and adjust accordingly.

Lastly, do not overcomplicate the process by watching too many “how-to” videos. Start reading and refine your approach using trusted UPSC prep resources.

Your journey is truly inspiring to everyone at BITS, is there something you wish to share with the readers?

To all the students studying in BITS, you are the future torchbearers. So, I am sure you will all go out there and create history in your own respective fields. The time in college is magical and use that magic to truly bring out the magic in you.