There are many UPSC stories of success. But then there are stories like Priyasha Verma’s, where success doesn’t arrive quickly, but only after repeated rounds of hope, heartbreak, and starting all over again.
In UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, Priyasha Verma secured All India Rank 324. It was her fourth attempt, her third interview, and the year when everything finally fell into place.
Her journey was not about changing strategies every few months or chasing every new trend in the preparation market. Instead, it was built on one thing she trusted deeply: simplicity.
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A JOURNEY ACROSS UTTAR PRADESH, ROOTED IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Priyasha’s story begins in Uttar Pradesh.
Born in Ayodhya, raised in Lucknow, educated in Varanasi, and now living in Jabalpur due to her father’s posting, her life has moved through different cities, each adding a layer to her journey.
Academically, she followed the path of engineering, completing her BTech in Civil Engineering from IIT BHU, Varanasi, between 2018 and 2022.
Public service was never a distant concept at home. Her father, a civil engineer, is an IRSE officer in the Railways, having entered service through UPSC Engineering Services. Watching him work closely with public systems gave her an early understanding of governance.
But the push toward civil services became stronger during college.
“It was mainly in college, in my first or second year, when I was exploring career options,” Priyasha shared in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.
That was when her father encouraged her to consider UPSC seriously. Another source of inspiration came from within the family: her cousin, an IAS officer, currently posted in Lucknow and previously Municipal Commissioner in Varanasi.
That combination of family influence and personal interest slowly turned into a goal.
FOUR ATTEMPTS, THREE INTERVIEWS, ONE FINAL BREAKTHROUGH
Priyasha graduated in 2022 and wasted no time. She gave her first UPSC attempt the same year. But she could not clear the mains. For many, that would have been enough to rethink the journey. But for Priyasha, it was only the beginning.
In 2023, she cleared mains and reached the interview stage. She missed the final list by just 14 marks. In 2024, she repeated the feat, again reaching the interview, but this time missed selection by 20 marks.
Two back-to-back close misses. That phase, she admits, was the toughest.
“It was very disheartening because again you have to give prelims, mains, and repeat the whole cycle,” she says.
And that is what makes her story stand out. She did not quit after getting so close. She prepared for the entire process all over again.
And in 2025, she finally secured AIR 324.
THE SUBJECT THAT CHANGED HER SCORE
Coming from a PCM and engineering background, Priyasha made an unconventional choice for her optional: Political Science and International Relations (PSIR).
It was unfamiliar territory. But that was exactly why she chose it.
“I wanted to learn something new. The syllabus was interesting and it overlapped with many General Studies subjects,” she says.
That decision paid off. Her optional marks jumped significantly this year. She scored 282, nearly 30 marks higher than before.
The difference, according to her, was not in reading dozens of new books, but in improving answer writing. She worked on presentation, structure, and clarity.
Her answers became cleaner, more organised, and sharper. Along with that, she filled content gaps carefully instead of overhauling everything. Sometimes, success in UPSC is not about doing more. It is about doing better.
FIGHTING THE “INFODEMIC”
Priyasha has a strong opinion about today’s UPSC ecosystem. She believes aspirants are drowning in too much information. Telegram channels, endless PDFs, circulating notes, and multiple sources often create more confusion than clarity.
“There’s an infodemic right now. Don’t run after too many materials. Stick to the basic sources,” she advises.
Her own preparation model was surprisingly straightforward. She relied on limited resources, made her own notes, and revised those same notes for four years.
No constant switching. No panic-driven buying of materials. Just repetition and refinement.
YOU DON’T NEED DELHI
In a coaching-driven UPSC culture, Priyasha offers another practical insight. She believes aspirants can prepare from home.
“I am a huge supporter of studying from home itself. There is no need to go to Delhi,” she told Indian Masterminds.
Having spent time there herself, she says the city brought its own challenges. With digital resources now widely available, she feels focused preparation can happen anywhere.
That advice will resonate with thousands of aspirants across smaller towns and cities who often feel geography limits opportunity. Priyasha’s journey proves otherwise.
THE ROAD AHEAD
With AIR 324, Priyasha is likely to get IRS (Income Tax). She is content with that, but her UPSC chapter is not fully closed.
She plans to attempt the exam again. Her eyes are still on IAS and IPS. That perhaps tells you everything about her mindset.
For Priyasha Verma, clearing UPSC was never just about entering the system. It was about reaching the role she truly wants.
And if her journey so far says anything, it is this: sometimes the longest routes create the strongest stories.
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