“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally – it comes from what you do consistently, even when no one is watching.”
Everyone faces their own battles during the UPSC journey. But those who carry extra responsibilities while preparing become true inspirations. This is the story of Raj Krishna Jha from Bihar, who secured an impressive rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 – on his fifth attempt.
Raj couldn’t afford to leave his job due to personal reasons, which meant limited time for studies. But as the saying goes, “Nothing is impossible once the mind is made up.”
What sets Raj apart is not just his success, but his honesty. He openly admits to making serious mistakes in his earlier attempts – lessons he now hopes others can learn from.
His journey stands as a powerful example of perseverance, purpose, and the kind of hard work that refuses to give up – no matter the odds.
Indian Masterminds caught up with Mr Raj Krishna Jha to delve deeper into his inspiring journey.
JOURNEY SO FAR
After completing his engineering degree in 2018, Mr Raj began working at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), where he continues to work even today, in 2025.
He began his UPSC preparation during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Over the years, he gave the exam five times, each attempt teaching him something new. In his first two attempts in 2020 and 2021, he couldn’t clear the Preliminary stage.
In 2022, during his third attempt, Raj crossed the Prelims hurdle but fell short in the Mains. Then came a particularly heart-wrenching moment – his fourth attempt in 2023. He missed clearing the Mains by just two marks. But he didn’t give up.
Finally, in his fifth attempt in 2024, Raj triumphed – securing an incredible All India Rank 8 in the UPSC CSE.
Reflecting on his journey, Raj shared, “I would define my journey as a lot of ups and downs. It was not just ups or downs. There were some silver linings in this journey. There were some failures as well, and above all, there were a lot of learnings.”
CHALLENGES
For Raj, quitting his job was never an option. The responsibilities were real, and the job at HPCL was important – both financially and personally. So, he chose the tougher path: preparing for one of India’s most demanding exams while working full-time. But time was never on his side.
Raj would return home from work around 7 PM, exhausted yet determined. That’s when his study hours began – often with heavy eyes and a tired mind.
“Many times, I would fall asleep while studying,” he recalled with a smile. Still, he stayed consistent.
On working days, he managed to study for 3 to 4 hours in the evenings. But on weekends and holidays, Raj pushed his limits – clocking in 12 to 14 hours of focused study. This ironclad routine, despite all odds, became the foundation of his success.
BACKGROUND
Raj Krishna Jha hails from Sitamarhi, a small town in Bihar. Born into a humble yet academically driven family, Raj grew up with strong values and big dreams. His father is a teacher at a private school, while his mother is a homemaker. He is the youngest of four siblings, part of a close-knit family that deeply values education.
His brother works as an engineer with the Bihar government, his younger sister is a doctor at PMCH (Patna Medical College and Hospital), and his elder sister is a teacher. Raj credits much of his motivation and perseverance to this supportive environment.
Raj completed his early education in hometown and went on to do his 12th from the historic Langat Singh College in Muzaffarpur – one of Bihar’s oldest educational institutions, established in 1899.
Driven by his interest in engineering, he pursued a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT), Allahabad, graduating in 2018. Soon after, he entered the private sector and began working full-time.
UPSC PREPRATION
Raj believes that one of the biggest challenges in UPSC preparation isn’t just the vast syllabus – it’s the overwhelming number of resources available.
“The syllabus of UPSC is very vast, and its resources are even more vast. It’s important to keep this in mind and limit them during preparation,” he shared.
This realization led him to make key changes in his strategy, especially in his fifth and final attempt.
“My focus was to write well – whatever I understood and knew – rather than running behind too much content,” Raj explained.
One of the most effective changes he made was simplifying and shortening his notes.
“I made my notes a little more concise this year, so they could be revised easily. And that made a big difference. I also strictly limited my resources,” he said.
But perhaps the most critical breakthrough came when he addressed a persistent issue in his preparation: lack of consistency.
“The biggest problem with my preparation was not having continuity. I worked really hard to overcome that, and gradually, it became a habit. Continuity, I believe, is a major key to success in UPSC,” he emphasized.
In his mains prepration, Jha shared that essay writing was key to his Mains preparation. He would start with a quote, write his thoughts around it, and use AI like ChatGPT to review his work – across 40–50 essays. What began as a strategy soon became a hobby. This blend of consistent practice and AI feedback helped refine his writing and played a vital role in his success.
Raj chose Geography as his optional subject and appeared for the exam in English medium.
INTERVIEW
Raj’s UPSC interview – the final stage of the examination – was a positive and memorable experience. For him, it didn’t feel like a traditional interview at all.
“It was, in fact, more of a discussion than an interview. It truly lived up to its name – a personality test. The board wasn’t just questioning me; they were engaging with me, listening to my thoughts, and discussing ideas. That was really nice,” Raj recalled.
The panel asked him questions related to his Detailed Application Form (DAF), particularly focusing on his professional experience in the oil sector, as well as his views on current affairs. The discussion touched on both personal and professional aspects of his life, offering him the chance to present his personality, reasoning, and values – which, ultimately, the board appreciated.
SUGGESTIONS FOR ASPIRANTS
As someone who has seen both failure and success in the UPSC journey, Raj has valuable advice for future aspirants.
“Minimize your resources. That’s something I got wrong in my earlier attempts – I tried to follow every new material that came my way. Please don’t do this. It’s much better to have patience and stay focused on a few selected resources. That’s my sincere advice,” he emphasized.
He further added some golden principles that helped him stay on track – “Apart from that, maintain continuity. Make it a habit. Solve previous years’ questions (PYQs), understand the syllabus deeply, and most importantly, stay positive – it’s a long journey, and mindset matters as much as strategy.”
From a small town in Bihar to securing AIR 8 in the toughest exam in India – Raj Krishna Jha’s story is not just about cracking UPSC. It’s about resilience, discipline, and the power of belief.
