"Failure is not the opposite of success; it's a stepping stone to success. My three failed attempts taught me more than any book ever could."– Rajesh Sharma, AIR 47, UPSC CSE 2023
My Background: The Unlikely Beginning
I come from a middle-class family in Patna, Bihar. My father is a government school teacher, and my mother is a homemaker. When I first told them about my UPSC dreams in 2018, they were supportive but worried about the uncertainty and financial strain of multiple attempts.
I completed my B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Patna in 2017. Like many engineering graduates, I initially planned to pursue an MTech or get a corporate job. However, my passion for public service and the desire to bring positive change to society led me toward the civil services.
Key Insight
Having a technical background actually helped me in the logical reasoning and data interpretation sections, but I had to work extra hard on humanities subjects and essay writing.
The Three Failed Attempts: Lessons in Disguise
Attempt 1 (2019): The Overconfident Rookie
My first attempt was a disaster waiting to happen. I was overconfident, thinking my engineering background would give me an edge. I barely prepared for 6 months, relied heavily on coaching notes, and didn't even complete the syllabus.
Result: Couldn't clear Prelims by just 8 marks. The cutoff was 98, and I scored 90.
What Went Wrong:
- • Insufficient preparation time
- • Over-reliance on coaching materials
- • Weak current affairs preparation
- • Poor time management in the exam
- • Lack of mock test practice
Attempt 2 (2020): The COVID Challenge
The second attempt came during the COVID-19 pandemic. I had learned from my first failure and prepared more seriously for 10 months. However, the lockdown affected my routine, and I struggled with online preparation methods.
Result: Cleared Prelims but failed in Mains by 12 marks. I scored 878 out of 1750, and the cutoff was 890.
Attempt 3 (2021): So Close, Yet So Far
By my third attempt, I had become a more mature aspirant. I prepared for 14 months, joined a test series, and even cleared both Prelims and Mains. I was hopeful about the interview, but my confidence was shattered when the results came out.
Result: Missed the final merit list by just 3 marks! I was ranked 1047, and the last rank was 1044. This was the most heartbreaking moment of my UPSC journey.
The Darkest Hour
After missing by just 3 marks, I seriously considered giving up. Family pressure was mounting, friends were getting jobs, and I was questioning my abilities. But somewhere deep inside, I knew I had come too far to quit.
The Mindset Shift: From Failure to Learning
After the third attempt, I took a break for two months. I traveled, met successful candidates, and most importantly, analyzed my journey objectively. This self-reflection period was crucial for my eventual success.
Old Mindset
- • Focused on clearing the exam
- • Studied to finish syllabus
- • Avoided difficult topics
- • Irregular answer writing
- • Feared interview questions
New Mindset
- • Focused on becoming an officer
- • Studied for deep understanding
- • Mastered challenging areas
- • Daily answer writing practice
- • Embraced mock interviews
The Winning Strategy: Attempt 4 (2022)
For my fourth and final attempt, I completely revamped my preparation strategy. Instead of studying harder, I decided to study smarter. Here's the detailed strategy that finally worked:
1. Prelims Strategy: Back to Basics
Subject-wise Approach:
Focused on NCERT (6th-12th), Old NCERTs, and Nitin Singhania. Made detailed notes and revised them 5 times.
NCERT (6th-12th), Certificate Physical Geography by G.C. Leong. Practiced map-based questions daily.
M. Laxmikanth + Constitution of India by DD Basu for in-depth understanding. Made comparative charts.
2. Mains Strategy: Quality over Quantity
The biggest change I made was in my Mains preparation. Instead of reading multiple books, I focused on understanding concepts deeply and writing better answers.
Daily Answer Writing Routine:
- • Morning: 2 answers (250 words each)
- • Evening: 1 long answer (500-750 words)
- • Self-evaluation using model answers
- • Weekly target: 15 quality answers
- • Monthly review and improvement
3. Current Affairs: The Game Changer
Current affairs had been my weak point in previous attempts. For the fourth attempt, I developed a systematic approach:
- 1Daily Sources: The Hindu (editorial + front page), Indian Express (explained section), PIB releases
- 2Weekly Compilation: Made issue-based notes instead of date-wise notes
- 3Monthly Magazine: Yojana, Kurukshetra for government schemes and policies
- 4Integration: Connected current affairs with static portions for Mains answers
4. Interview Preparation: Building Confidence
Having failed at the interview stage in my third attempt, I knew this was crucial. I joined a mock interview program and practiced extensively.
Interview Preparation Strategy:
Content Preparation:
- • Updated DAF thoroughly
- • Home state and district knowledge
- • Hobby-related deep preparation
- • Current affairs integration
Soft Skills:
- • Body language improvement
- • Voice modulation practice
- • Stress management techniques
- • 25+ mock interviews
The Final Result: AIR 47
When the final results were declared on April 20, 2023, I couldn't believe my eyes. After three heartbreaking failures, I had finally made it with AIR 47. The journey from failure to success taught me invaluable lessons about persistence, self-belief, and continuous improvement.
Final Scores Breakdown
Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants
1. Failure is Not Final
Each failure taught me something new. Don't let setbacks define your potential. Use them as learning opportunities to come back stronger.
2. Quality Over Quantity
Don't chase multiple books and sources. Master what you have. Deep understanding beats superficial coverage every time.
3. Answer Writing is Crucial
Reading without writing is incomplete preparation. Practice answer writing daily and get them evaluated regularly.
4. Current Affairs Integration
Don't study current affairs in isolation. Connect them with static portions to write enriched answers in Mains.
5. Mental Health Matters
Take breaks when needed. This journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Maintain your physical and mental well-being throughout.
Final Message: Never Give Up
To every aspirant reading this story, remember that success in UPSC is not about intelligence alone—it's about persistence, continuous learning, and the ability to bounce back from failures. My journey from a failed candidate to AIR 47 proves that with the right strategy and unwavering determination, dreams do come true.
If you're going through failures right now, don't lose hope. Analyze your mistakes, improve your strategy, and keep moving forward. Your success story might be just one attempt away. For more motivation and mindset tips, and additional study resources, explore our comprehensive guides.
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