“There is nothing greater than hope. It is hope that drives you forward, motivating you to face each challenging day and fight through adversity. Hope transforms even failure into a stepping stone toward success. All you need to do is work hard and hold onto that hope.”
These powerful words belong to Vishavdeep Mattu, a 2022 batch IRS officer, whose journey embodies the very essence of perseverance. He didn’t just speak these words – he lived them, and his story has become a beacon of encouragement for all. Mattu proved that as long as you keep moving forward, unafraid of failure, you can achieve anything.
His path wasn’t easy. He faced defeat in the UPSC exams five times in a row – sometimes falling short by just a single rank. But “giving up” was never an option in his vocabulary. Instead of succumbing to despair, he redefined his approach, set fresh goals, and forged ahead with renewed determination.
Mr Vishavdeep believes that success lies in those who are willing to adapt, learn from their failures, and continue pushing forward. “The one who is willing to change their course after analyzing failure is the one who will ultimately succeed,” he says. His journey highlights the power of perseverance and the belief that with determination and the refusal to give up, anything is possible.
Indian Masterminds had the privilege of interacting with Mr. Vishavdeep to gain deeper insights into his inspiring journey.
JOURNEY SO FAR
His UPSC journey began in 2016, right after his graduation. He made a total of six attempts. In his first and second attempts in 2016 and 2017, he couldn’t even clear the prelims. In his third, fourth, and fifth attempts, he managed to clear the prelims but failed to pass the mains. The continuous setbacks were deeply disheartening, as failing the mains for three consecutive years took a toll on him. But he never lost hope and refused to give up.
Finally, in his sixth attempt in UPSC CSE – 2021, he cracked the exam with an impressive AIR 619 rank and achieved his dream of becoming an Indian Revenue Service officer.
In the meantime, he also cracked the Punjab PCS exam in 2018-19 and worked briefly under the Punjab government.
Speaking with Indian Masterminds, he shared, “My journey was long and tiring. I didn’t achieve success in UPSC as quickly as some people do, like in their second or third attempts. But with determination and continuous effort, everything is possible.”
INTERVIEW TIPS
Offering his advice for the ongoing UPSC CSE-2025 interviews, Mr. Mattu emphasized that candidates shouldn’t overdo mock interviews. He believes that two to three mocks are more than enough to assess your personality. They should help you identify areas of improvement, but not push you to change your entire persona based on feedback from the mocks.
He firmly believes that the actual UPSC interview is quite different from the mock interviews. The level of both is significantly distinct. In the real interview, you cannot gauge your performance based on the panel’s facial expressions. In fact, he suggests not trying to judge your performance at the moment. Pressure can sometimes affect your performance, and that’s completely normal.
Additionally, Mr Vishavdeep advised candidates to stay true to themselves. It’s important not to fake answers; instead, humbly admit when you don’t know something. Confidence is key, but it must be balanced with honesty. The interview isn’t solely about testing your knowledge – it’s about assessing your personality and how you handle pressure. Finally, he suggested viewing the interview as a casual conversation with senior bureaucrats, urging candidates to stay calm and relaxed throughout the process.
BACKGROUND
He originally hails from Amritsar, Punjab. His father retired as a Senior Bank Manager, and his mother is a homemaker.
He completed his basic education up to the 12th grade in Amritsar before pursuing a B.Tech in Computer Science, which he completed in 2015.
UPSC PREPARATION
Talking about his UPSC preparation, Mr Vishavdeep emphasized that extensive coaching is no longer essential, as everything is readily available online. While he himself went to Delhi for preparation, he believes that today, with greater accessibility, preparing from the comfort of your own home can be even more effective.
He also pointed out that the UPSC syllabus is dynamic and changes every year, with new elements being added. According to him, the most crucial part of preparation is analyzing Previous Year Questions (PYQs), which helped him immensely. He advised aspirants to think critically after analyzing the past papers—understand why UPSC asks certain questions and why not others.
Using an analogy, he explained, “Sometimes, an article on a particular issue appears in the newspaper, and UPSC may ask questions not only about the central issue but also about its peripheral aspects. So, whatever you read, make sure you understand the broader context and related topics as well.”
For the Mains, he found it helpful to review the answer sheets of toppers and analyze them. He recommends this approach to other aspirants as well. His optional subject was Sociology.
HIS INTERVIEW
His interview went well, though he was thoroughly grilled by the panel. Interestingly, the interview took place on his birthday, and the board members wished him a happy birthday. The questions covered a wide range of topics, from current affairs and his DAF (Detailed Application Form) to his optional subject, Sociology.
He was even asked questions from the newspaper of that day. Reflecting on this, he advised future aspirants that reading the newspaper on the day of the interview, as well as the previous day, is crucial for preparation.
MESSAGE
Giving a message to aspirants, he said, “The journey is the same for everyone. Success comes to those who don’t lose hope and study with full dedication and continuity. It’s true that the competition is fierce, so you must have a backup option in mind, one that you consider as your second best. Be aware of other exams like State PCS, SSC CGL, RBI exams, etc. This way, if you don’t make it into UPSC, you still have other paths to pursue. Otherwise, you might find yourself stuck in the endless loop of UPSC preparation.”
