When the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 results were announced, one name quietly stood out among the achievers: Anjani Mishra, who secured All India Rank 274 in her very first attempt.
Her story does not begin in coaching hubs or years of repeated attempts. It begins in a disciplined household shaped by public service, in the classrooms of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Bhopal, and later in the demanding world of Chartered Accountancy and corporate consulting.
Today, Anjani’s journey is inspiring thousands of aspirants because it reflects a path many fear to take: walking away from financial security to chase a dream that offers no guarantees.
Also read: Born Without a Forearm, Kerala’s Daughter Secures AIR 167 in UPSC CSE 2025
A FAMILY ROOTED IN SERVICE
Anjani grew up in a family where service to the nation was not just discussed; it was lived every day.
Her father serves in the police force, an influence that quietly shaped her ambitions from childhood. Her brother is currently working as a DSP in the Madhya Pradesh Police. Another brother is a mechanical engineer, while her sister manages responsibilities at home.
Watching her father wear the uniform and dedicate himself to public duty left a deep impression on her.
“Since my father is a police officer, he inspired me to do civil services. There was always a willingness to contribute to the nation,” she shared in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.
But unlike many aspirants who jump directly into UPSC preparation after graduation, Anjani had a carefully planned route in mind.
THE CA ROUTE BEFORE UPSC
After completing her schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bhopal, Anjani chose a completely different and highly demanding professional path: Chartered Accountancy.
She did not attend a traditional college. Instead, immediately after school, she immersed herself in the CA course and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in November 2022.
Soon after, she joined PwC Mumbai in Risk Consulting and worked there for nearly one and a half years. The corporate world polished her communication skills, confidence, and personality, qualities that would later become crucial during her UPSC interview.
But somewhere behind presentations, audits, and consulting work, another dream continued to wait patiently.
“I always had a plan in my mind,” she said. “First I will complete my CA and then I will go for UPSC.”
In 2024, she finally made the biggest decision of her life: leaving a stable job to prepare full-time for one of the toughest examinations in the country.
THE FEAR OF LEAVING STABILITY
For many aspirants, the hardest battle is not the syllabus. It is the uncertainty.
Anjani openly admitted that stepping away from a secure corporate career brought mental pressure and financial insecurity.
“Leaving your job and then preparing for an exam which is very uncertain… mental stress and financial insecurity, self-doubts, are something that can hold you back,” she said.
There were moments of anxiety, moments where questions naturally appeared: Was this the right decision? Would the sacrifice be worth it?
And during those phases, one person became her biggest emotional support.
“My mother was my backbone and support system in the whole journey,” she told Indian Masterminds.
Her mother constantly reminded her that she was capable of cracking the exam. That reassurance became her anchor during difficult days.
NO FANCY STRATEGY, NO ENDLESS RESOURCES
In an age where aspirants often drown themselves in endless PDFs, multiple coaching materials, and overloaded schedules, Anjani followed the opposite approach.
She kept things simple.
Her optional subject was Commerce and Accountancy, a natural choice considering her academic background and CA qualification. But what truly defined her preparation was consistency and discipline.
“I just followed a very simple strategy,” she explained. “Listen to experienced people and religiously follow what they tell you to do.”
She enrolled in online coaching and trusted her teachers completely. Instead of constantly experimenting with new methods, she focused on execution.
Every day followed a disciplined structure: attending classes, reading newspapers, preparing notes, and practising answer writing.
“You have to get up every morning to take the classes, read your newspaper, develop your notes and practice answer writing,” she said.
There were no shortcuts in her routine. Just repetition, focus, and self-control.
THE UPSC INTERVIEW AND THE ROLE OF AI
One of the most fascinating aspects of Anjani Mishra’s journey is how she blended traditional mentorship with modern technology.
For interview preparation, she received close guidance from mentor Mahindra Joshi, who helped her work on posture, communication, presentation, and overall personality development.
But alongside mentorship, she also used Artificial Intelligence extensively for mock interview preparation.
“I actually used artificial intelligence a lot,” she revealed. “I used to give it prompts and ask AI to ask questions and then check my answers.”
At a time when AI is becoming a growing part of education and preparation strategies, Anjani’s approach reflects how aspirants are adapting smart tools into traditional preparation models.
Her corporate exposure at PwC also helped sharpen her confidence and communication abilities before facing the UPSC board.
THE HINDI POETRY MOMENT THAT MADE HER SMILE
Unlike the terrifying interview stories many aspirants fear, Anjani describes her UPSC personality test as warm and conversational.
“The board was very cordial,” she recalled. “It was a decent conversation. We were just sharing our thoughts.”
Then came an unexpected moment. The panel discovered that she wrote Hindi poetry and asked her to narrate one of her own poems during the interview.
“That added a personal touch to the interview,” she said with a smile.
That small moment transformed the atmosphere from a formal evaluation into a human conversation, a reminder that UPSC interviews are not just about facts, but personality, confidence, and authenticity.
“KEEP IT SIMPLE”
Now preparing to enter the civil services, Anjani says she is ready to give her “100%” in whichever service she receives. Her goal remains straightforward: serving the nation.
And for aspirants preparing for the exam, her advice is refreshingly practical.
“Keep it simple,” she said. “Do not get into the hustle of collecting a lot of sources.”
She believes discipline and self-control matter far more than overcomplicated preparation plans.
“Leave everything behind for a few years and you will see how your life changes.”
In a preparation ecosystem filled with noise, comparison, and pressure, Anjani Mishra’s journey stands out because of its clarity.
A Chartered Accountant who walked away from corporate comfort.
A first-attempt achiever who trusted consistency over chaos.
A young woman who used both mentorship and AI to sharpen herself.
And above all, someone who proved that simplicity, when followed with complete honesty, can still produce extraordinary results.
Also read: Vishwajeet Gupta’s Grounded, Gritty Journey to AIR 67 in UPSC CSE 2025 | Exclusive
