“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
Some success stories are written in silence, carved through sleepless nights, heartbreaks, and relentless determination. But a few rare stories rise beyond success – they ignite hope, redefine perseverance, and remind an entire generation that no failure is final until you stop trying.
The story of Devesh Kumar Sahu, the Topper of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC)-2024 (Rank 1) with 773 marks, is one such extraordinary tale.
His journey wasn’t a straight path paved with victories; it was a fierce battle against repeated setbacks, narrow misses, and moments that would have crushed the faint-hearted. Yet, with every failure, he rose stronger. With every rejection, he sharpened his resolve. With every unanswered dream, he rebuilt himself with new discipline.
And on the late evening of November 20th, when the CGPSC-2024 results were announced, destiny finally bowed to his courage. The moment he saw his name shining at the top – Rank 1 – tears flowed freely in his home. His father, a retired electrician, stood trembling with pride. His mother whispered prayers of gratitude. His sister celebrated with overflowing joy. Dhanora, Bhilai, and Durg rejoiced together, proud that their son had turned perseverance into history.
Indian Masterminds interviewed Mr Sahu to learn more about his inspiring journey and how he carved his path to the glory of becoming a topper.
Journey So Far: From Repeated Interviews to Rank 1 Glory
When asked about his journey, Devesh laughed softly and said, “It was a short journey, but it was a long journey.” It began in 2021 but felt much longer due to the emotional and psychological challenges that came with each attempt. His very first attempt earned him an interview call, but no final selection.
In 2022, he could not even clear the prelims – a setback many would consider devastating, especially after reaching the interview stage just a year before. Yet, Devesh did not allow disappointment to harden into defeat.
He came back stronger in the following cycle, reached the interview again in 2023, but selection still eluded him. With ranks like 219 and 179 in earlier years, he hovered close to success but could not seize it. Reflecting on those years, he said, “Those failures, and sometimes achievements, were a challenge for me. Making the jump from Rank 179 to Rank 1 was the biggest challenge of all.”
And then came 2024, his fourth attempt and third interview, the attempt that would change everything. Not only was he finally selected, but he topped the state.
Background: Humble Roots, Strong Values
Devesh’s life is grounded in simplicity and hard work. His family originally hails from Joratarai village in the Gunderdehi block of Balod district, and they now reside in Dhanora in the Durg district.
His father, Holdhar Sahu, worked for FSNL as an electrician and retired in 2023. His mother, Nandini Sahu, is a homemaker whose steady presence kept the family emotionally strong throughout his preparation. His elder sister, Bhumika Sahu, is serving as the Horticulture RHEO in the Dongargaon block of Rajnandgaon district, adding yet another pillar of stability and inspiration to the household.
Devesh completed his schooling at Bhilai Steel Plant Senior Secondary School in Sector 10. Later, he pursued Mechanical Engineering from the Government Engineering College, Jagdalpur, graduating in 2020.
In 2021, he shifted to Bilaspur and enrolled in a coaching institute to begin serious preparation for the CGPSC examination. After one and a half years of classroom learning, he decided to continue the rest of his journey through self-study, dedicating two to three years to focused, disciplined, solitary learning.
Preparation Strategy: Learning, Unlearning, and Reinventing
Devesh’s strategy evolved with every attempt and every setback. He explained that the first thing he learned was the art of coping. Whenever failure struck, he allowed himself to feel the disappointment but never allowed it to break him. “My morale never went down. I never thought I cannot do it,” he recalled with calm confidence.
Once he accepted failures, he shifted his focus to course correction. He meticulously identified what had gone wrong each time – whether in answer writing, speed, depth of content, or understanding of the exam pattern. Previous year questions became his compass.
He studied toppers’ strategies, observed how they structured their answers, and made conscious changes to his own approach. He believes that this phase of introspection and improvement played a critical role in shaping his performance in his final attempt.
The third and most important pillar of his preparation was consistency. During the last two years, he immersed himself in self-study completely, often studying 14–15 hours a day, treating preparation like a full-time responsibility. His environment, family support, and self-belief formed a strong foundation that carried him through every high and low.
He attempted the exam in the English medium, another factor he handled with discipline and clarity.
Notes And Use of AI
He attributes his success to consistent daily preparation, studying 6–9 hours every day without falling below six, and leveraging AI-powered notes for efficient learning.
He highlights that AI helps filter and organize information, making it easier to gather relevant material. Devesh also emphasizes the importance of group study, which allows candidates to learn from one another, correct mistakes, and foster cooperation – a skill valuable for future administrative work. Despite these strategies, he considers the “spirit of service” as the most essential quality for joining the civil services.
“Tools like ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity gave me filtered, accurate, and updated information. I would enter a topic and, within two minutes, get a complete summary. This saved a lot of time and allowed me to focus on revision,” Devesh said.
The Interview Questions: Tested on Every Front
The interview board this year tested him from all angles – technical, factual, analytical, and personal. They asked several mechanical engineering questions, some current factual issues, and situation-based questions such as whether prohibition should be implemented and how poverty could be eradicated.
They also asked him to list five characteristics that make Chhattisgarh unique and delved into his hobbies. Since he enjoys physical exercise, the board wanted to understand how this hobby would contribute to his role in administration.
One question, however, stood out as completely unexpected. Because he had an NCC A certificate, a board member suddenly asked him to salute the Head of the Board using an NCC salute. Devesh promptly stood up and executed the Air Squadron salute. The board then remarked lightly, “But you’re not wearing a uniform or a cap.” It was an unusual moment, but Devesh handled it with confidence and presence of mind.
Biggest Struggle: Treating Study as Duty, Not Choice
When asked about the greatest struggle in his journey, Devesh thought for a moment before answering. He explained that his biggest challenge was maintaining discipline every single day. He always believed that just like an employee is expected to work a standard eight-hour shift, a student too must dedicate at least eight hours – and in his case, far more – to their studies. He never took his preparation for granted. Even after clearing interviews multiple times, he didn’t allow complacency to enter his system. Commitment, he felt, was the real deciding factor.
Turning Points: Moments That Redefined the Journey
Several key turning points transformed him from a hopeful aspirant into a determined achiever.
- Realized his answer writing needed improvement
- Decided to rely heavily on Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
- Adopted strategies used by toppers
- Shifted entirely to self-study
- Built resilience after missing selection despite multiple interview attempts
These moments collectively transformed him from a hopeful aspirant into a determined achiever.
Message to Aspirants: Consistency Above Everything
Devesh’s message to aspirants is simple, powerful, and rooted in experience. “If you remain consistent, you will surely achieve success one day. Don’t break your rhythm. Don’t get demotivated. Stay connected with your parents, take guidance from your teachers, and be consistent with your performance.”
His advice reflects the long journey of self-correction, patience, and focused effort that ultimately helped him secure Rank 1.
A Story That Will Inspire for Years to Come
Devesh Kumar Sahu’s story is a beacon of hope for thousands of young people preparing for competitive exams. His journey is proof that success is not defined by the absence of failure but by the refusal to surrender.
As he reflects on his achievement, his words linger with profound meaning – “Failure doesn’t block the path, it shows the direction.”
