Utkarsh Ujjwal, a 2023 batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, has carved a unique journey in the landscape of India’s civil services. Hailing from Patna, Bihar, he completed his B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Guwahati. Unlike many aspirants who enter the UPSC journey with prior work experience or coaching exposure, Utkarsh began this journey directly after college, driven purely by determination and a structured approach.
EARLY LIFE AND MOTIVATION
Growing up in a middle-class family in Patna, Utkarsh was instilled with the value of education from a young age. His father, a retired government school teacher, emphasized learning as a way of life, making academic discipline a natural habit. This early environment played a significant role in shaping his outlook toward challenges and opportunities alike.
“Education was never just a goal; it became a habit and a part of how I approached life,” Utkarsh told Indian Masterminds in an exclusive conversation. This grounding in focus and perseverance prepared him for the rigors of the UPSC exam, where self-discipline and clarity of purpose often define the line between success and repeated failure.
THE UPSC JOURNEY
Utkarsh’s journey with the Union Public Service Commission was not immediate. He attempted the mains in 2020, 2021, and 2022 before finally clearing the exam in 2022 with an All India Rank of 68. Each attempt, he says, served as a learning experience, helping him refine his strategy and improve his understanding of both the exam and himself.
“I cleared the exam on my third attempt. The journey was long and challenging, but each attempt taught me something new and helped me refine my strategy for the next one,” he shares.
PREPARATION STRATEGY
One of Utkarsh’s central strategies during his preparation was balancing physical and mental health. “You cannot win this battle without focusing on both,” he emphasizes. He maintained consistency over highs and lows, avoided dwelling on past mistakes, and concentrated on actions that mattered in the present.
Interestingly, Utkarsh chose not to attend traditional classroom coaching. Instead, he relied on test series from coaching institutes to assess his performance and identify areas that needed improvement. This approach allowed him to stay independent, self-driven, and methodical, building confidence in his abilities.
KEY MESSAGES/ADVICE
Utkarsh’s advice to aspirants is straightforward and rooted in his personal experience. His words reflect his core philosophy:
Failures Are Not a Comfort Zone
“Never make failures your comfort zone. The core idea is simple: ‘If you’re going through hell, you have to keep going.’ No matter how challenging things seem, perseverance eventually leads to improvement and success.”
Control Your Actions and Reactions
“We are always in control of how we act and react to situations. Being conscious of your actions and whether they contribute to your progress is crucial. Removing unnecessary external distractions and developing unshakeable self-belief is key to staying on track.”
Adopt a Work Ethic Like Kobe Bryant
“I remember watching a Kobe Bryant interview where he said that his advantage was not talent but the sheer amount of work and hours he put in. Everyone has the same 24 hours, but how you utilize them makes all the difference. Adopt that mentality—hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work as hard.”
Overcome the Fear of Failure
“More than failure itself, it is the fear of failure that holds us back. In this exam, you must fail early in practice so that when it matters, you perform at your best. Bad answers in the beginning are normal, and learning from them repeatedly is the fastest way to improve. Accept failure as a step towards mastery.”
Embrace Monotony in Preparation
“Preparation will often feel repetitive, with many days seeming like exact replicas of the previous ones. There won’t always be flashy highlights, but accepting the monotony and staying consistent is what ultimately builds success.”
EXAMPLE OF DETERMINATION
Utkarsh’s determination was tested even before his formal UPSC preparation took off. In his fourth year of college, just as he had started preparing seriously, he suffered an ACL tear. After undergoing surgery, he returned to his study table within ten days. Reflecting on the experience, Utkarsh notes, “I always believed in my ability to push limits, and this moment reinforced that the exam is as much about determination as it is about knowledge.”
IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal’s journey shows that success in the civil services isn’t about shortcuts or raw talent—it’s about steady focus, thoughtful strategy, and learning from every setback. From a middle-class home in Patna to taking on responsibilities in the Gujarat cadre, his story is a reminder that persistence, daily effort, and mindful choices can turn challenges into opportunities and dreams into reality.
