Some UPSC stories are simple yet incredibly beautiful. Meet Mr. Gajendra Kumar Meena, an IPoS officer from the 2021 batch, whose journey through five attempts, countless hours of hard work, and the unwavering support of his family led him to success. Despite the challenges, he not only cleared the exam but secured a coveted position in the Indian Postal Service (IPoS) with an impressive rank.
After completing his studies at IIT, Mr. Meena moved to Delhi to pursue his dream of becoming a civil servant. Four years of relentless effort eventually paid off. While he didn’t achieve an IAS rank, he feels fulfilled, having reached his goal. His journey serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of staying true to oneself, focusing on the syllabus, and recognizing that UPSC is not just about a job, but about serving the nation. He is currently serving as the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Indian Masterminds had the privilege of interacting with him to learn more about his inspiring journey and gather valuable tips for UPSC interviews.
JOURNEY SO FAR
Mr. Meena embarked on his UPSC journey in 2016, right after completing his engineering. Over the course of four attempts, he successfully cleared all five prelims. In his first attempt in 2017, he fell short in the mains.
In his second attempt, he advanced to the Interview round but unfortunately didn’t make it to the final list. The third attempt saw him fail again in the mains.
However, his persistence paid off in 2020, when, in his fourth attempt, he cracked the UPSC CSE with an All India Rank (AIR) of 733 and became an Indian Postal Service (IPoS) officer.
Despite this success, he decided to give one last attempt in 2021, but could not clear the mains exam. After that, he decided to stop pursuing further attempts.
Reflecting on his journey, he said, “My path was relatively simple and smooth, thanks to the constant encouragement and support of my family and friends, who were there for me at every step.”
INTERVIEW SUGGESTIONS
When asked about tips for the ongoing UPSC CSE interviews, Mr. Meena emphasized the importance of being genuine in any situation. He explained that the interview process is unpredictable and can take various directions. Unlike the prelims, where the format is objective, or the mains, where understanding the concepts allows one to craft answers, the interview is entirely different. It is uncertain, and you can’t predict what will be asked.
His key advice is simple: never lie. “If you lie, they will catch it,” he said. “And that could derail your entire career.” The best approach is to stay true to yourself and maintain confidence.
He also suggested avoiding mumbling, as the interviewers are assessing how you react under pressure. They deliberately create pressure situations to evaluate your composure. If you don’t know the answer to a question, it’s perfectly fine to admit it. “Just say ‘I don’t know,’ and they won’t mind at all,” he explained. “What’s important is not to fabricate an answer or try to dodge the question. Be direct and honest.”
BACKGROUND
Mr. Meena hails from Bharatpur, Rajasthan. His father worked in the Railways, while his mother is a homemaker.
He completed his early education in his hometown before moving on to pursue his engineering studies. In 2016, he graduated with a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Hyderabad.
UPSC
After completing his engineering, Mr. Meena moved to Delhi to pursue his UPSC preparation and joined a coaching institute. He acknowledges that coaching centers have become dominant in today’s preparation landscape. However, he still believes that having a mentor for proper guidance is crucial. If one can afford the expenses or has the support, coaching can be beneficial as an added advantage. Otherwise, preparing independently is also a viable option – many aspirants have cleared the exam on their own.
For effective preparation, Mr. Meena’s advice is clear: don’t focus on just clearing the exam; focus on mastering the syllabus. He believes that if you have a thorough understanding of the syllabus and are confident about it, the exam will take care of itself. The real issue, he points out, is that many candidates get overly fixated on how to clear the exam, which only adds unnecessary stress. Instead, the focus should always be on the syllabus – the rest will follow naturally.
His chosen optional subject was Anthropology.
HIS INTERVIEW
Mr. Meena described his interview as smooth, though he was thoroughly grilled. He scored 151 marks in the interview, with questions ranging from his DAF (Detailed Application Form) to current affairs. He mentioned that many factual questions were asked, testing his knowledge across various areas.
The most interesting question he was asked came right at the beginning. The interview members made him wait outside for 8 to 10 minutes. When he went inside, someone was bringing samosas for them from outside. One of the members then asked, ‘Why do people like samosas?’ Mr. Meena said that he still doesn’t know why this question was asked, and he thinks he gave the wrong answer. He explained that to surprise aspirants, the interviewers can ask questions that are not related to the DAF or bio. They may randomly ask to check what kind of creative or logical answers you can come up with.
MESSAGE
When offering advice to fellow aspirants, Mr. Meena emphasized that UPSC is not just about securing a job – it’s about serving the people. “Do your best, stay consistent, and keep going,” he urged. His message was clear: the journey requires dedication, but the true essence lies in the service you provide to society.
