“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
For thousands of aspirants across India, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination represents a dream that demands perseverance, patience, and relentless hard work. For many, the path is long and filled with setbacks – but those who refuse to give up eventually find their moment of triumph.
Such is the inspiring story of Geetika Arora, a young woman from Ballabhgarh in Faridabad, Haryana, who secured All India Rank (AIR) 22 in UPSC CSE 2025. Her journey was not a straightforward one. It was a path defined by near misses, emotional challenges, financial constraints, and unwavering determination.
After four attempts, a missed final list by just a handful of marks, and even a failed preliminary exam in between, Geetika refused to lose faith. Today, her story stands as a testament to resilience – proving that persistence and sincerity eventually lead to success.
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Geetika reflected on the long road behind her. “It was indeed a long journey. This was my fourth attempt and my second interview. I really worked very hard, and today is a very important day for me. My family members are feeling very proud.”
Journey So Far: Four Attempts and a Dream Fulfilled
Geetika’s UPSC journey began soon after she graduated in 2021. Like many aspirants, she stepped into the competitive world of civil services preparation with determination but soon discovered the challenges the exam presents.
Her first attempt came in 2022, and though she had prepared diligently, she narrowly missed clearing the Preliminary Examination.
“In my first attempt, I missed clearing Paper I of the Prelims by eight marks. That was actually my best attempt in terms of preparation, but that was the outcome,” she recalled.
Her second attempt brought hope. She successfully cleared the Prelims and Mains and reached the Interview stage. However, the final result was heartbreaking.
“I missed making the final list by 12 marks, and I also missed the reserve list by five marks,” she said.
The disappointment took an emotional toll.
“After that, my mental state wasn’t particularly good, and the 2024 Prelims were just two months away. Consequently, I couldn’t clear the 2024 Prelims.”
But she refused to stop there. She gathered herself, prepared once again, and appeared in UPSC CSE 2025.
This time, the effort paid off. She cleared all stages and secured AIR 22.
“By God’s grace, I finally secured Rank 22,” she said with a smile.
Her Background: Roots in Ballabhgarh
She belongs to Adarsh Nagar in Ballabhgarh, a town in the Faridabad district of Haryana.
She completed her schooling at Rawal Public School in Ballabhgarh before moving to Delhi for higher education. She pursued B.Com (Honours) from Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi University, graduating in 2021.
After graduation, she continued her academic journey and completed her Master’s degree in Social Sciences in 2023.
Her family played a crucial role in supporting her aspirations.
“My mother is a homemaker and my father runs a business. My parents have been incredibly supportive throughout this entire journey,” she shared.
When the results were announced, celebrations erupted in her hometown. Family members and local residents welcomed her warmly, offering sweets and garlanding her with flowers to celebrate her remarkable achievement.
Balancing Work and Preparation
Even before achieving success in UPSC, Geetika had already secured a prestigious position in the Central Government.
She is currently undergoing training as a District Youth Officer under the ‘My Bharat’ initiative, which operates under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Interestingly, this opportunity came from her earlier UPSC interview.
“I secured this job based on my previous UPSC interview in 2023 through the ‘Pratibha Setu’ initiative. It is a Level 10, Group A job, and I am currently undergoing training for it in Bhopal,” she explained.
Having a job in hand also boosted her confidence during her final UPSC interview.
The Biggest Struggle: Financial Pressure and Social Expectations
While Geetika’s journey may appear smooth from the outside, it was not without challenges.
She identifies two major struggles during her preparation years.
The first was financial pressure while living in Delhi.
“There were times when finances felt tight, especially when I was living in Delhi for preparation. Receiving money from home and managing expenses sometimes felt difficult,” she said.
The second challenge came from social expectations and criticism.
“There were constant taunts from some relatives asking why it wasn’t working out for me. That did create some pressure.”
Yet, despite these difficulties, she says she never felt overwhelmed because of the unwavering support of her parents.
“My parents were so supportive that I never actually felt the struggle while going through it. It just felt like something that had to be achieved.”
Her Preparation Strategy
Geetika began her preparation with a prestigeous coaching during her college days, which helped her build a strong foundation.
However, most of her preparation was self-driven.
“After building my foundation at coaching, I mostly prepared on my own. I made my own notes for Mains and relied on mock tests and test series for Prelims.”
Her study routine was disciplined and consistent.
“My journey mostly consisted of studying for 10 to 12 hours every day. At the same time, I made sure not to put too much pressure on myself.”
Her optional subject for the Civil Services Examination was Sociology.
She also followed a mix-and-match approach to preparation – spending some time in Delhi and some time studying from home.
Interview Experience and Questions
Geetika appeared for the UPSC personality test twice, and the second interview turned out to be far better than the first.
“My interview this time went much better than the last one. The reason I didn’t make it earlier was because of a low interview score.”
Most questions revolved around her Detailed Application Form (DAF).
One interesting discussion revolved around her hobby of journaling.
“They asked me about the difference between journaling and reading a newspaper, and what the significance of journaling is,” she recalled.
Another set of questions was related to her association with the Satyarthi Foundation and the work of Kailash Satyarthi in combating child labour.
“They asked whether his work genuinely makes a difference or if it is just media publicity. I tried to answer such questions using my understanding and judgment.”
Having a job and more life experience also helped her perform better.
“Since I already had a job, I felt more confident. As I grew older, I also became more mature, which helped in the interview.”
The Role of Family
Throughout her UPSC journey, Geetika credits her family for being her biggest pillar of strength.
“My parents never put any pressure on me to clear the exam at any cost. Perhaps it is because of them that this day has finally arrived.”
Their encouragement helped her stay focused even during moments of disappointment and uncertainty.
Message for Aspirants
After achieving success, Geetika has a simple yet powerful message for UPSC aspirants.
“It takes time – it really does take time. But if your intentions behind your hard work are sincere and you are putting in the right kind of effort, then ultimately you will succeed.”
She also urges aspirants not to lose hope during setbacks.
“One shouldn’t lose heart. If you keep working sincerely, success will eventually come.”
A Story of Perseverance
Geetika Arora’s journey – from narrowly missing the cut-off to finally securing AIR 22 in UPSC CSE 2025 – is a reminder that success in the civil services examination is not only about intelligence but also about resilience.
Her story reflects the spirit of countless aspirants who continue striving despite setbacks.
And as Geetika’s journey proves, sometimes the path to success is long – but every step taken with determination eventually leads to the destination.
