Prachi Honey from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, has secured All India Rank (AIR) 28 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, achieving a milestone that has filled her family, neighbourhood, and district with pride. Residents welcomed her with drums, nagadas, and showers of flowers, celebrating the achievement of a young woman whose journey reflects years of focused preparation and disciplined study.
Prachi’s success in one of India’s most competitive examinations has drawn attention across Bihar, not only because of her impressive rank but also because of the challenges she faced during her preparation. Despite failing to clear the preliminary examination in her first three attempts, she stayed committed to her goal and eventually secured a top rank in her fourth attempt.
A CHILDHOOD DREAM GUIDED BY FAMILY
Prachi Honey lives in Padav Pokhar Lane 4B in Muzaffarpur, where education has always been a strong influence in her household. Her father serves as the headmaster, while her mother is a teacher.
Growing up in a family deeply connected with education, Prachi says the idea of joining the civil services was planted early in her life.
“My father always dreamed that I would become an IAS officer. Since childhood, I grew up hearing about that dream, and gradually it became my own goal as well,” Prachi shared in an exclusive interview with Indian Masterminds.
As the elder of two sisters, she credits her parents for encouraging discipline and focus throughout her academic journey.
FROM MUZAFFARPUR CLASSROOMS TO DELHI UNIVERSITY
Prachi completed her schooling in Muzaffarpur before moving to Delhi for higher education. She studied up to Class 10 at DAV Public School and completed Class 12 at Holy Cross Public School in Muzaffarpur.
For her undergraduate studies, she shifted to Delhi and enrolled in Kalindi College under Delhi University, where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in geography. Her time in Delhi played an important role in shaping her preparation strategy for the UPSC examination.
After completing her graduation, Prachi decided to start preparing for the Civil Services Examination. Geography later became her optional subject for the exam.
THREE FAILED ATTEMPTS BEFORE A BREAKTHROUGH
Prachi’s journey to AIR 28 did not follow a smooth path. She revealed that her first three attempts ended before the mains examination stage.
“I could not even clear the preliminary examination in my first three attempts. Those years were difficult, but I kept reminding myself why I started preparing,” she said.
Instead of changing her goal or abandoning the attempt, Prachi reworked her preparation strategy and continued studying. Her fourth attempt turned out to be decisive. Not only did she clear the Prelims for the first time, but she also went on to clear the Mains and the Interview in the same cycle, ultimately securing the 28th rank in the country.
SUCCESS IN BPSC DURING PREPARATION
During her preparation period, Prachi also appeared for the 69th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination, where she secured the 92nd rank. However, she chose not to join the position offered through BPSC.
Prachi explained that her long-term focus remained on the Civil Services Examination conducted by UPSC.
Her decision reflected a clear commitment to the exam she had been preparing for over several years.
INTERVIEW BOARD ASKED ABOUT HER TRAVEL HOBBY
Prachi mentioned that travelling is one of her favourite hobbies, and this interest also became part of the discussion during her UPSC personality test.
According to her, the interview board asked which country she would choose to visit outside India if given the chance. She answered Iceland. The board then asked her to suggest three ideas from Iceland that she would like to implement in Muzaffarpur.
Prachi said she explained how lessons from Iceland in areas such as sustainable practices and tourism management could be adapted for Indian cities.
The board appeared satisfied with her responses, and the conversation became one of the memorable parts of her interview experience.
STAYING AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
One of the key decisions Prachi took during her preparation was to stay completely away from social media.
“I stayed completely off social media during my preparation. I did not use WhatsApp either and used the internet on my phone only when it was necessary for studies,” she shared with Indian Masterminds.
She explained that limiting distractions helped her maintain focus during the long preparation period. According to Prachi, she only started using WhatsApp after the BPSC results were announced.
IMPORTANCE OF SELF-STUDY
While Prachi did attend coaching and foundation courses in Delhi, she believes that consistent self-study played the most important role in her success.
“Self-study is the most important part of UPSC preparation. Coaching can help with direction, but ultimately you have to study on your own and revise regularly,” she explained.
Her optional subject in the examination was geography, a discipline she had studied during her graduation.
ADVICE FOR UPSC ASPIRANTS
Prachi Honey also shared a message for students preparing for the Civil Services Examination. She believes that many aspirants spend a lot of time collecting resources without first understanding the exam’s structure.
According to her, the most effective strategy is to start by carefully studying the UPSC syllabus and understanding the type of questions asked in the exam.
“Aspirants should first understand the syllabus properly and analyse what UPSC actually expects from candidates. If preparation is aligned with the syllabus and exam pattern, success becomes much more achievable,” she said.
