Beyond the "Success Stories": Reflections on UPSC IAS Civil Services Exam 2024 and the Journey Thereafter
You are the chosen ones this year. You are now role models to millions. But let me remind you: This is not the end. Not even the beginning of the end. It is only the end of the beginning.
The Result Day: A Moment of Glory — and Reflection
Today, April 22, 2025, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) declared the final results of the Civil Services Examination 2024 — a red-letter day in the lives of 1,009 young Indians who will now go on to serve the nation in various Central Services, including the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).
This year's exam was no less than a modern-day marathon of merit: over 13.4 lakh candidates sat for the Preliminary Examination held in June 2024, of whom 14,627 made it to the Mains in September. Out of them, 2,845 were called for the final Personality Test — and now, a select few have reached the finishing line, entering a service that is more than just a job — it is a commitment to the people of India.
Among the toppers, Shakti Dubey (AIR 1), Harshita Goyal (AIR 2), and Dongre Archit Parag (AIR 3) have become overnight celebrities and inspirations. The presence of two women in the top three ranks is a reaffirmation of changing winds — in favour of equality, merit, and representation.
Yet, this day is not only about those who succeeded. It is equally about those who tried, who gave it their best — and yet, did not make it. And this is where I would like to pause and share a message, not as an ex-bureaucrat, but as someone who’s seen, advised, and walked the road you’re on.
To the Ones Who Tried and Fell Short Today
There is a deafening silence today in thousands of homes, where families had hoped for a miracle. Aspirants who poured in months — years — of effort now confront the brutal arithmetic of elimination. Perhaps you missed the Prelims cutoff. Perhaps you fell in the Mains. Or maybe, despite reaching the Personality Test stage, your name is not on the final list.
If this is you — allow yourself to grieve. But don’t allow yourself to drown in it.
Years ago, while still in service, I recorded a video speaking to aspirants — not about “how to crack the exam,” but about how to approach it with realism, resilience, and reflection. That video, recorded four years ago, rings more true today than ever before. Here is the link: [YouTube Link].
In it, I cautioned against the virtual worship of “toppers’ success stories.” I argued that their final victory — often reduced to a YouTube interview or a photograph with family — does not capture the actual essence of the journey. Their true learnings lie in how they dealt with failures, handled pressure, or avoided common pitfalls.
What the Video Tried to Say — And Why It Matters Today
Success, I said then, is not just about reaching the finish line — it is about how one navigates the road: the stumbles, the recalibrations, and the silent strength drawn from one’s own resolve.
This exam is not a formula-driven enterprise. If cracking UPSC was simply about copying strategies, then the lakhs who imitate “toppers’ timetables” every year would all be officers. But that’s not how life — or this examination — works.
I shared my own story — of preparing during my engineering years at Thapar College, clearing the exam in the first attempt without coaching, and joining the IAS in 1984. But I was clear: my path is not your template. What matters is not how I made it, but how you carve your own route.
Actionable Tips for Aspirants: Not a Shortcut, But a Mindset
To all those preparing for another attempt — and even those contemplating their first — here are some grounded insights. These are not tricks or hacks, but hard-won truths:
1. Detox Before You Recharge
Take a few days off. Step back. Do nothing related to UPSC. Let the emotional dust settle. Then return to your books — with a clearer mind and stronger will.
2. Understand Focus vs. Concentration
Focus = what you choose to study.
Concentration = how deeply you study it. You’ll need both. Laser-sharp selection of content. And total immersion in it.
3. Balance Extensive and Intensive Reading
UPSC demands:
Extensive coverage for General Studies: Current events, economics, environment, ethics.
Intensive mastery for your optional subject.
Syllabus may look finite, but the scope is boundless. Learn to prioritize, revise, and dig deep.
4. Choose Optional Wisely
Choose what resonates — not what’s trending. It should interest you, challenge you, and grow on you.
5. Time Your Peak
Many aspirants “burn out” before the exam. Don’t be one of them. Build stamina. Your peak — mental, emotional, academic — must align with the Main exam and the Interview.
6. Limit the Noise
Take advice — but selectively. Everyone has an opinion. But only you know what works for you. Follow the method that suits your temperament, your rhythm.
7. Use Coaching If Needed — But Wisely
Coaching isn’t magic. It can help summarize material, expose trends, or offer community. But success depends on your effort, not someone else’s timetable.
8. Prepare for the Interview as a Conversation
It’s not a quiz. It’s a test of personality, not perfection. Be honest, consistent, and reflective. Know your views — and more importantly, why you hold them.
9. Develop Inner Strength
You’re preparing not just for a career, but for life. Cultivate calm, compassion, and clarity. These matter more than any syllabus.
And to Those Who Made It: Power With Purpose
To the 1,009 who have made it — heartfelt congratulations.
You are the chosen ones this year. You are now role models to millions. But let me remind you:
This is not the end. Not even the beginning of the end. It is only the end of the beginning.
From this very day, you are under public gaze — long before you report to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA video) in August.
Everything you say or post, everything you celebrate or flaunt — will be interpreted. Celebrate, yes — but with humility, not from a place of ego or arrogance.
This is not about power for status. It is about power with a purpose. It is about serving the ultimate sovereign — the citizens of India. “We, the People.”
This service gives you not a crown, but a responsibility — to uphold the Constitution, preserve integrity, and stand as a bulwark against injustice.
Your journey has just begun.
In Closing: Wherever You Are on This Journey…
To those who missed the mark: you are not a failure. You are braver than most. Your effort has made you wiser, calmer, and stronger.
To those taking another shot: breathe, believe, and begin again.
To those who succeeded: wear your success lightly, but wear your integrity always.
And to all — remember:
The pilgrimage is in the journey, not just the destination.
You may or may not wear a badge. But the values you’ve acquired — discipline, awareness, resilience — they will remain your armour for life.
So walk forward. With grace. With humility. And with the courage to keep becoming better — as aspirants, as officers, as citizens.
Awesome 👏
Sir : perhaps I am repeating sharing of this experience ( do forgive me) but your fascinating write up took me back
in time again.
My fascination with the IAS began long before I truly understood what the title meant. I was just a boy in the fifth grade, growing up in a quiet village where my father worked as Patwari—a modest but deeply respected revenue official in the village. Though his position was not high-ranking, he carried his duties with great sincerity and pride.One day, a major public gathering was organized in the town hall by village elders ( Panchayat) The goal was to encourage people to donate or purchase bonds to support farmers who had suffered from devastating floods. The chief guest that day was the D.C.Sangrur- a young officer named Mr. Khanna, whose name I only learned from you few years back ,
had gone on to shine even brighter in public service.
My father and I sat cross-legged on the ground among other villagers. Then, the Collector arrived.Even as a child, I sensed something magnetic about him. Tall, composed, and radiating quiet authority, he spoke to the crowd with such conviction and ease that even I, young as I was, felt drawn in. His presence was powerful—not overbearing, but inspiring. He made eye contact in a way that made you feel as if he was addressing you alone. The town hall was packed, yet in those moments, each of us felt seen.
When he stepped down after the speech, he walked through the crowd, meeting people, shaking hands, offering genuine smiles. And then—he stopped at my father.He extended his hand.That simple gesture became one of the proudest moments of my father’s life. For the rest of his days, he would recount that handshake like it was a medal of honor. But it wasn’t just the handshake that he remembered—it was what the officer said to him.
“You are the Patwari of your village. People trust you. They will listen to you more than they will listen to me. Convince them. They will donate and buy bonds because of you.”
Those words struck like lightning—not just in their intent, but in their effect. They gave my father a sense of validation, of being seen and valued, that stayed with him forever.
Then came the moment I will never forget.
My father, glowing with pride, introduced me to the officer. Mr. Khanna looked at me—really looked at me—and with a calm yet powerful voice, he said:
ਪੜਾਈ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵਡਾ ਕਵਚ ਹੈ।
( Education is the strongest armor in life) *
For my father, this became a lifelong mantra. For me, it became a calling.
* almost half a century later I heard Candleeza Rice speak on role and importance of education as strongest armor!