Rishabh Raj Dev is a young Indian civil services topper who secured All India Rank (AIR) 167 in UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023. With this rank he has been allotted the Indian Police Service (IPS), Jharkhand cadre in the CSE-2023 batch, making him one of the promising IPS officers of 2024. (Indian Police Service)
Hailing from Ranchi/Bihar roots, trained in law, and known for his structured and scientific study methods, Rishabh has quickly become a popular mentor figure among UPSC aspirants through his talks, Telegram channel, and guidance programs. (Jagran)
Early Life and Family Background
News reports describe Rishabh Raj Dev as originally belonging to Matihani village in Aurai area of Muzaffarpur district (Bihar), while his immediate family has been based in Ranchi (Jharkhand). (Prabhat Khabar)
He is the only son of his parents:
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Father – Mukul Kumar: Psychologist at CIP (Central Institute of Psychiatry), Kanke, Ranchi.
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Mother – Dr. Bharti: Scientist at Birsa Agricultural University’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Agricultural Science Centre) near Ranchi. (Jagran)
Growing up in an academically oriented household, Rishabh was encouraged to focus on disciplined study and critical thinking from an early age. Media reports highlight that he has been regarded as a meritorious student since school days. (Jagran)
Schooling and Higher Education
School Education
Rishabh completed his schooling from Delhi Public School (DPS), Ranchi, one of the city’s leading CBSE schools. (Jagran)
At DPS Ranchi, he is reported to have consistently performed well academically, which laid the foundation for his eventual UPSC journey. Teachers and acquaintances have referred to him as sincere, disciplined and focused.
Law Degree from NUJS Kolkata
After school, Rishabh chose law as his field of higher education. He pursued B.A. LL.B (Hons) from the prestigious National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata, completing his degree in 2023. (Jagran)
NUJS is one of India’s top national law universities, and this legal background has reportedly helped him in subjects like Polity, Governance, Ethics, and Essay during UPSC preparation.
Decision to Prepare for UPSC
After completing his law degree in 2023, Rishabh chose to fully dedicate himself to the UPSC Civil Services Examination rather than immediately joining corporate legal practice. According to interviews, he moved back to Ranchi and started preparing seriously from there, taking help from online coaching and test series. (Jagran)
He has stated in talks that his parents played a crucial role in keeping him grounded and motivated, and he credits them for his success mantra – “consistent study is more important than very long study hours.” (Jagran)
UPSC CSE Journey – Attempts, Rank and Optional Subject
Attempts and Rank
Rishabh’s success in UPSC CSE 2023 came in his second attempt. (Jagran)
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First attempt – he appeared earlier but could not secure a final rank.
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Second attempt (CSE 2023) – he cleared all three stages (Prelims, Mains, Interview) and secured AIR 167 in the final result. (YouTube)
His rank is widely reported across leading UPSC coaching platforms, newspapers and topper lists. (YouTube)
Optional Subject – Sociology
For UPSC Mains, Rishabh chose Sociology as his optional subject. A dedicated webinar titled “Sociology Optional Strategy Discussion with Rishabh Raj Dev (AIR 167)” mentions him as a sociology optional candidate sharing his strategy along with his mentor.
In his sessions, he focuses on:
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Building strong conceptual clarity in Paper I
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Structuring Paper II answers around current social issues and case studies
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Integrating diagrams, flowcharts and thinkers’ names to enrich answers
Service and Cadre Allocation – IPS 2024 (Jharkhand Cadre)
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) cadre allocation list for CSE 2023 shows “RISHABH RAJ DEV – General – Jharkhand” under the IPS column, confirming that he has been allotted the Indian Police Service, Jharkhand cadre. (Indian Police Service)
This means:
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He is an IPS officer of the 2023 batch (training starting 2024).
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He will undergo training at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad, followed by field postings in Jharkhand over the coming years (standard IPS career trajectory for new officers).
Given that Ranchi is already his home base, the Jharkhand cadre is often seen by aspirants as both an emotional and professional advantage.
Study Strategy and Preparation Style
Through various YouTube interviews, Josh Talks sessions and Telegram posts, Rishabh has shared a detailed, evidence-based approach to UPSC preparation. (YouTube)
Some major pillars of his strategy:
1. Consistency over long hours
In an interview mentioned by Jagran, he clearly says that studying consistently every day is more important than reading for excessively long stretches occasionally. (Jagran)
He recommends:
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Fixed, realistic daily targets
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Short, regular revision cycles
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Avoiding burnout through balanced routines
2. Smart use of previous year questions (PYQs)
Rishabh emphasises practising previous year question papers for both Prelims and Mains. Reports note that he analysed past papers and made notes based on recurring themes, which helped him align his preparation with UPSC’s expectations. (Jagran)
3. Evidence-based study techniques
On platforms like Josh Talks and other UPSC channels, Rishabh talks about scientific learning methods – active recall, spaced repetition, and writing practice – instead of passive reading. (YouTube)
4. Answer Writing and Ethics (GS-4)
He often mentions that his answer-writing improved after regular evaluation and detailed feedback from online platforms like CollectorBabu, where he used instant evaluation features and full-length test checking. (Telegram)
His key tips:
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Start answer writing early, not after “finishing the syllabus”
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Focus on structure: introduction–body–conclusion, with clear sub-headings
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Use examples from constitution, current affairs, and real-life administration
Role as Mentor, Teacher and Content Creator
Despite being a recent topper, Rishabh has become quite active in the UPSC guidance ecosystem:
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Telegram Channel – Rishabh Dev (AIR 167)
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Shares notes PDFs (e.g., Art & Culture, Ancient & Medieval History).
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Posts his marksheet and discusses how he improved in various GS papers.
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Promotes tools like flashcards and 360-degree reading platforms that helped him. (Telegram)
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Webinars and Optional Strategy Sessions
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Conducted free webinars on Sociology Optional strategy with his mentor.
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Mains Mentorship Programs
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Collaborated with evaluation platforms like CollectorBabu for a structured mains mentorship program, offering one-on-one sessions and unlimited answer evaluation. (Telegram)
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Associated with institutes such as KP 21st Century IAS and others as a topper guiding aspirants. (YouTube)
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Coaching Institute Toppers’ Lists
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Featured by coaching institutions such as KingMakers IAS Academy and The Catalyst Group in their “Toppers” sections, crediting his association with their programs.
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Through these activities, he is steadily building a reputation as a student-friendly mentor who shares his resources openly.
Public Image and Any Controversies
As of the latest publicly available information (late 2025):
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Rishabh Raj Dev is largely seen as a positive role model for UPSC aspirants.
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Media coverage and online content focus on his discipline, scientific study methods, and gratitude towards his parents and mentors. (Jagran)
There are no credible reports of any controversy, misconduct or public dispute involving him, either during his UPSC journey or after his selection into IPS. All available sources highlight achievements, guidance activities and educational content only.
If any new developments arise in future, they would be covered in official or mainstream news – but at this point he appears to have a clean and highly respectable public image.
Personality Traits and Interests (Based on Public Appearances)
While detailed personal hobbies are not extensively covered in media, his interviews and sessions suggest a few traits:
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Calm and analytical – he speaks in a measured, structured way, indicating strong analytical thinking. (YouTube)
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Student-centric – repeatedly stresses empathy for aspirants’ struggles and offers practical, low-cost strategies. (Telegram)
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Fitness-conscious – in at least one interview he talks about maintaining a “fit body, sharp mind” balance for UPSC preparation. (YouTube)
Because he is still in the early phase of his IPS career, more aspects of his personality and leadership style will likely become visible with time.
Interesting Facts about Rishabh Raj Dev IPS
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Law graduate turned IPS officer – Unlike many engineering or humanities graduates in UPSC, he comes from a law background (B.A. LL.B Hons, NUJS Kolkata). (Jagran)
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Second-attempt success – He cleared UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 167 in his second attempt, showing the power of course correction. (Jagran)
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Only child of academically accomplished parents – With a psychologist father and scientist mother, his home environment is heavily academic and research-oriented. (Jagran)
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Sociology optional topper – He is widely known among Sociology optional aspirants due to his specialised strategy sessions and webinars.
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Active note-sharing on Telegram – Unlike many toppers who keep notes private or sell them, he shares substantial portions of his hand-written notes publicly through his Telegram channel. (Telegram)
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Jharkhand cadre – home connection – His IPS cadre (Jharkhand) overlaps with his long-time residence in Ranchi, giving him a strong local connect with the state he will serve. (Indian Police Service)
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Focus on scientific study methods – He frequently references evidence-based learning techniques in his talks, a relatively new trend among UPSC mentors. (YouTube)
FAQs on Rishabh Raj Dev IPS
1. Who is Rishabh Raj Dev?
Rishabh Raj Dev is a UPSC CSE 2023 topper who secured All India Rank 167 and has been allotted the Indian Police Service (IPS), Jharkhand cadre. He is known for his law background and his role as a mentor and content creator for UPSC aspirants. (YouTube)
2. What is the UPSC rank of Rishabh Raj Dev?
He secured AIR 167 in UPSC CSE 2023, as reported by multiple coaching institutes, media houses and topper lists. (YouTube)
3. Is Rishabh Raj Dev an IAS or IPS officer?
With AIR 167, he has been allotted the Indian Police Service (IPS), not IAS. The official cadre allocation document shows him under IPS with Jharkhand cadre. (Indian Police Service)
4. What is the optional subject of Rishabh Raj Dev in UPSC Mains?
His optional subject was Sociology, as clearly mentioned in his optional-strategy webinar announcements and guidance sessions.
5. What is the educational qualification of Rishabh Raj Dev?
He completed his B.A. LL.B (Hons) from National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata) in 2023 after finishing schooling from DPS Ranchi. (Jagran)
6. Where is Rishabh Raj Dev from?
His family belongs to Matihani village in Aurai area of Muzaffarpur, Bihar, while he has grown up and studied largely in Ranchi, Jharkhand. (Prabhat Khabar)
7. Does Rishabh Raj Dev run any Telegram or guidance programs?
Yes. He runs a Telegram channel “Rishabh Dev (AIR 167, UPSC CSE 2023)”, where he shares notes, marksheet and advice. He has also been associated with CollectorBabu, KP 21st Century IAS and other initiatives for mains mentorship and Rankers Guidance Programs. (Telegram)
8. Is there any controversy related to Rishabh Raj Dev?
No. As per available public information up to now, there are no reported controversies involving him. Media coverage and online presence revolve around his preparation, strategy, and guidance for aspirants. (Jagran)

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