For Abhay Pratap Singh, wearing the uniform was never just a career choice. It was a dream he kept pursuing even when the path repeatedly pushed him back.
A resident of Bhusahar village in the Patti tehsil of the Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh, Abhay comes from a simple family. His father is engaged in agriculture, while his mother is a homemaker.
With limited financial resources, he had to start working soon after completing Class 12. But earning for his family did not mean giving up on the ambition he had carried for years — joining the uniformed forces.
Abhay appeared for 10 SSB interviews for NDA and CDS. Each time, he was conference out.
For many, repeated setbacks of this kind could have meant the end of the road. For Abhay, they became a reason to keep looking for another route.
“My dream was always to join the uniform forces. I gave 10 SSB interviews for NDA and CDS, but I got conference out every time. UPSC CAPF gave me another opportunity to fulfil that dream,” Abhay shared in a conversation with Indian Masterminds.
A Job After Class 12, But the Dream Continued
Coming from a humble family background, Abhay knew that he could not remain dependent on his parents for long. After Class 12, he cleared the SSC CHSL examination and was selected as a sorting assistant in the Department of Posts.
The job gave him an opportunity to support his family financially, but it did not make him abandon his studies or his goal.
While working, he completed his B.A. Honours in Political Science from IGNOU in 2023. He is currently pursuing an M.A. in political science from the same university.
Managing a full-time job alongside higher education and competitive exam preparation required him to make careful use of whatever time was available.
“I used to utilise every minute resourcefully. I would read on my tablet during free hours in the office and utilise weekends with specific targets,” he says.
Instead of waiting for long stretches of uninterrupted study time, Abhay learned to work with the schedule he had.
Office breaks became opportunities to revise. Weekends were divided into focused targets. His preparation continued alongside his responsibilities at work and at home.
The Second CAPF Attempt
UPSC CAPF became the route through which Abhay finally moved closer to the dream that had survived years of disappointment.
The 2025 examination was his second attempt. This time, his efforts produced the result he had been waiting for.
Abhay cleared the UPSC CAPF 2025 examination with an All India Rank of 191, earning selection as an Assistant Commandant.
The result was especially meaningful because it came after years of trying to enter the armed forces through different examinations.
His 10 unsuccessful SSB interviews had already taught him how unpredictable the journey could be. Instead of allowing those results to define him, he continued searching for another opportunity.
The CAPF examination gave him that chance — and he made it count.
An Emotional Moment at the Office
There was no elaborate celebration when Abhay first saw his name in the result.
He was at his office when the result was announced.
“I was in my office when the result came. I just shouted and got emotional,” he recalls.
For Abhay, the moment carried the weight of several years — the SSB interviews that did not work out, the decision to start working after Class 12, the effort to continue his education, and the hours spent preparing around his job.
It was also a moment his parents could share in.
Coming from a farming family, Abhay had seen his parents work hard to provide for him. His selection brought both happiness and emotion to the family.
“Years of hard work by my parents finally paid off. They were emotional and happy both.”
Turning Setbacks Into Another Attempt
Abhay’s journey is not about succeeding on the first try. It is about continuing to look for a way forward when one route does not work.
He had already experienced 10 SSB setbacks before entering the CAPF journey. Even his first CAPF attempt did not result in selection. Yet he continued preparing.
His experience also changed the way he approached preparation. Rather than measuring progress only through the number of hours studied, he focused on how effectively he used his available time.
Working as a sorting assistant meant that preparation had to fit around professional responsibilities. IGNOU studies added another commitment. Family responsibilities remained important as well.
But these demands also taught him to plan his preparation carefully.
“Remember Why You Started”
Today, after clearing the UPSC CAPF examination with AIR 191, Abhay has a simple message for other aspirants facing setbacks.
“Always remember why you started. Since it is your dream, you have to accomplish it despite setbacks. Hard work will always pay off.”
His journey from a village in Pratapgarh to the rank of Assistant Commandant did not follow a straight line. It included repeated SSB disappointments, an early entry into the workforce, studies through IGNOU and preparation alongside a government job.
But the goal remained the same.
For Abhay Pratap Singh, the uniform was a dream that survived 10 SSB rejections, a job, two CAPF attempts and years of preparation. His selection in UPSC CAPF 2025 shows what can happen when a setback becomes a reason to find another path rather than an excuse to stop.
