What happens when a dream is interrupted not by failure, but by illness? For many, it could mean giving up. For Karan Singh, it became the beginning of a journey defined by resilience, patience and purpose.
From a small town in Bihar to the classrooms of IIT Kharagpur, from spending months recovering after three kidney stone surgeries to finally securing All India Rank 4 in the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2025, Karan’s story is one of quiet determination. Along the way, he also reached the UPSC Civil Services interview stage twice, narrowly missed the final merit list, worked as a faculty member at Insights IAS, joined the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and never stopped believing in his goal.
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Karan shared his journey, his preparation strategy, and the lessons he learnt through years of perseverance.
A Passion Born at IIT Kharagpur
Born in Vaishali district of Bihar, Karan spent most of his childhood and schooling near Gorakhpur. Like thousands of engineering aspirants, he moved to Kota after school before securing admission to IIT Kharagpur.
He pursued a Dual Degree in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering, graduating with a B.Tech in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Environmental Engineering.
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During his postgraduate studies, subjects like solid waste management, carbon economy, air pollution and water conservation fascinated him. Unlike undergraduate courses, where these topics were introduced briefly, his master’s programme explored them in depth.
That exposure gradually shaped his career aspirations.
“After studying these subjects in detail, I became genuinely drawn towards environmental conservation. Even while preparing for the civil services, somewhere in my mind I always knew that I wanted to work in areas like waste management and water conservation.”
His interest in environmental governance naturally aligned with public service. Sustainable waste management, water conservation and environmental policy became areas he hoped to contribute to throughout his career.
When Health Became the Biggest Challenge
After graduating in 2018, Karan began preparing for the Civil Services Examination in 2019. But just as his preparation gained momentum, life took an unexpected turn.
He underwent three kidney stone surgeries over nearly one and a half years. Recovery was painful. Every surgery required stents, prolonged medication and weeks of healing. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted normal life.
There were days when UPSC preparation became secondary.
“For almost one and a half years, my biggest concern was not the exam but whether I would be able to recover fully and lead a normal life again.”
It was one of the toughest phases of his life, but he never allowed the setbacks to end his dream.
A Long UPSC Journey
Between 2019 and 2023, Karan remained committed to UPSC preparation despite unavoidable interruptions caused by his health.
His journey included several near misses.
He cleared the Preliminary Examination multiple times and reached the Personality Test twice in the Civil Services Examination. In 2021, he narrowly missed making it to the final list.
Instead of becoming discouraged, he continued working towards his goal.
In 2024, while continuing his preparation, he joined Insights IAS as a faculty member, mentoring aspirants. Around the same time, he also joined the Airports Authority of India (AAI), balancing a full-time job with UPSC preparation.
Alongside Civil Services, he also appeared for the Indian Forest Service Examination. In 2024, he missed selection by just eight marks. A year later, his persistence paid off as he secured an outstanding All India Rank 4 in the UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination 2025.
Balancing Work and Preparation
Managing a demanding job while preparing for one of the country’s toughest examinations was never easy.
Karan believes that many aspirants today are working professionals or have family responsibilities. Success, therefore, depends less on having unlimited study hours and more on consistency.
He says the key is making the best use of whatever time is available instead of worrying about what cannot be controlled.
Beyond Studying: What Really Matters
Karan believes that UPSC preparation is often misunderstood as a race to collect more information.
According to him, success comes from understanding, not merely memorising.
His advice to aspirants is simple:
- Build a strong foundation using standard books.
- Stick to basic sources.
- Prepare self-made notes.
- Practice regularly through test series.
- Focus on understanding concepts instead of accumulating excessive material.
He largely relied on self-study rather than classroom coaching. Test series and guidance from Insights IAS helped structure his preparation, while for Geology in the Forest Service Examination, he found Planet Geology notes particularly useful.
Paper Management Can Change Your Rank
One lesson Karan repeatedly emphasises is something many aspirants overlook—paper management.
He believes many candidates lose marks not because they lack knowledge, but because they spend too much time attempting one difficult question.
According to him, candidates should learn to move on quickly, maximise attempts and complete the paper within the allotted time.
Smart paper management, he says, often creates the difference between selection and disappointment.
Static Knowledge Alone Is Not Enough
Karan also believes UPSC is far more than an examination of facts.
For him, General Studies tests something much deeper.
He says the examination evaluates administrative maturity, balanced thinking, common sense and the ability to understand exactly what a question demands.
Instead of trying to display extraordinary knowledge, candidates should focus on giving balanced, practical and well-reasoned answers.
Developing an administrative mindset, he says, is far more important than memorising endless facts.
Answer Writing Is the Real Game-Changer
For the Mains examination, Karan identifies answer writing as the single biggest differentiator.
Many aspirants possess adequate knowledge. The challenge lies in presenting it effectively within limited time.
According to him, high-scoring answers require:
- Clear structure
- Logical flow
- Relevant diagrams and flowcharts wherever applicable
- Technical accuracy
- Clarity of thought
He believes presentation matters as much as content.
A well-organised answer often scores better than one filled with excessive information but lacking structure.
Lessons From Three UPSC Interviews
Having appeared for three personality tests, Karan offers a practical perspective on the interview stage.
He believes interview performance depends on three factors.
Around 60–70 percent depends on preparation, especially Detailed Application Form (DAF)-based questions. Another 30 percent reflects one’s personality, communication skills and confidence. Beyond that, he admits, there is always a small element of unpredictability depending on the interview board.
He recalls one interview where a board member from an aviation background questioned him extensively about his professional work and expressed dissatisfaction with one of his answers.
Rather than viewing it negatively, Karan sees interviews as opportunities to demonstrate maturity and composure.
He says the board is trying to understand the person behind the resume, not merely test factual knowledge.
Learning From Mistakes
Reflecting on his own preparation, Karan identifies a few mistakes many aspirants make.
These include neglecting current affairs during the initial stages, spending too much time collecting content instead of practising answer writing, and giving insufficient attention to interview preparation.
He believes aspirants should prepare for every stage simultaneously while gradually developing an administrative outlook.
A Story of Persistence
Karan Singh’s journey is not just about securing AIR 4 in the Indian Forest Service Examination. It is about refusing to let illness, repeated setbacks and near misses define his future.
From IIT Kharagpur to environmental engineering, from kidney surgeries to UPSC interviews, from teaching aspirants to becoming one of the country’s top-ranked Forest Service officers, every phase of his journey reflects patience, resilience and continuous learning.
His story reminds aspirants that success in UPSC is rarely about brilliance alone. It is about consistency, perspective, adaptability and the courage to keep moving forward even when the destination seems distant.
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