“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” — Henry David Thoreau
In a country where millions of dreams converge on one examination, only a few manage to transform relentless effort into extraordinary success. Every year, the UPSC Civil Services Examination writes stories of perseverance, resilience, and determination. Among the brightest names in UPSC CSE 2025 is Raghav Jhunjhunwala, who secured an impressive All India Rank 4, placing himself among the nation’s top achievers.
Hailing from Bihar, a state deeply passionate about government jobs and civil services, Raghav has done what thousands aspire to achieve. His remarkable journey reflects the spirit of Bihar – ambitious, resilient, and determined to rise despite challenges.
When the results were announced, celebrations erupted not only in his home but across the entire district. Congratulations poured in from friends, relatives, teachers, and well-wishers. Yet, for Raghav himself, the result came as a surprise.
“The result was a surprise for me. I had almost started planning for the next attempt because I wasn’t expecting to make it this year,” he said while speaking to Indian Masterminds.
His journey, however, is not just about a rank – it is a story of perseverance through setbacks, disciplined preparation, and unwavering belief.
Journey So Far: From Early Setbacks to AIR 4
His UPSC journey is a classic example of persistence paying off.
His path to success spanned three attempts –
- First Attempt (2023): Cleared the Prelims but could not clear the Mains.
- Second Attempt (2024): Cleared Prelims and Mains, even reached the interview stage, but his name did not appear in the final list.
- Third Attempt (2025): Returned stronger and secured All India Rank 4.
“Yes, this was my third attempt. In my first attempt, I was left in the Mains. In the second attempt, I reached the interview stage but couldn’t make it to the final list. This year everything finally came together,” he explains.
What makes his achievement even more remarkable is that he jumped directly from not making the final list to securing AIR 4, one of the top ranks in the country.
His Background: A Scholar from Muzaffarpur
He belongs to Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, where he completed his primary education. He later finished his Class 12 from a private school before moving to Delhi for higher studies.
He pursued B.A. (Honours) in Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), University of Delhi, graduating in 2022.
- Schooling: Muzaffarpur
- Graduation: B.A. (Hons) Economics, SRCC, Delhi University (2019–2022)
- Optional Subject: Economics
Interestingly, he did not begin UPSC preparation during college. Instead, he started preparing only after completing his graduation in 2022.
“I didn’t prepare during college. I started my UPSC preparation straight after graduation,” he shares.
A Personal Loss: Strength Behind the Journey
Behind Raghav’s inspiring success lies a deeply personal story.
His father is no longer alive, and his mother is a homemaker who supported him throughout his journey.
Despite the emotional challenges and responsibilities, Raghav remained focused on his goal.
His success today is not just his own achievement but also a moment of pride for his family and the entire district of Muzaffarpur.
The Biggest Struggle: Lack of Guidance
For many aspirants, the biggest challenge is the vast syllabus or the intense competition. For Raghav, however, the real struggle was finding the right guidance.
“For me, the biggest struggle was guidance. It is a race, and it is difficult to find the right people to guide you,” he says.
Interestingly, Raghav prepared largely without coaching, except for limited support related to his optional subject.
“I didn’t take coaching. I only took some guidance for my optional subject, which honestly I would not strongly recommend,” he notes candidly.
His journey shows that self-discipline and clarity of strategy can often outweigh dependency on external coaching.
Preparation Strategy: What Changed in the Final Attempt
The turning point in Raghav’s preparation came when he focused on improving his Mains performance.
In his third attempt, he significantly improved his Mains score by around 100–120 marks.
“This time I improved a lot in Mains. I used current affairs, data, facts, committees, examples, and especially case studies in my answers to make them multidimensional,” he explains.
His approach focused on demonstrating depth of understanding to the examiner.
Key elements of his strategy included:
- Extensive use of current affairs
- Adding data, facts, and committee recommendations
- Incorporating case studies and examples
- Making answers multidimensional
- Focusing on value addition in every answer
“I tried to improve every answer compared to the last attempt wherever possible,” he says.
Prelims Strategy: Understanding the Language of PYQs
Raghav cleared the Preliminary Examination in all three attempts, something that highlights the consistency of his preparation.
His biggest advice for Prelims is surprisingly simple.
“Many aspirants chase knowledge endlessly. But it is more important to understand the language of previous year questions (PYQs). That tells you how deep you should study a subject.”
According to him, a strong Mains preparation automatically strengthens Prelims performance.
Interview Experience: A Stressful Board
While he eventually secured AIR 4, his interview experience was far from comfortable.
He describes it as stressful and challenging.
“My interview was very stressful and situation-based. Whatever answers I gave, the board kept rejecting them. They deliberately did that, I think,” he recalls.
Because of the nature of the interview, Raghav initially believed he might not make the final list.
Yet, the board was likely testing his composure, reasoning, and humility under pressure.
Interesting Interview Questions
The interview panel asked him several thought-provoking questions, including –
- Why doesn’t India print currency notes beyond ₹100 extensively, like the US uses $100 notes widely?
- How would you stop cheating in examinations in a state where even parents encourage it?
- What is the connection between Artificial Intelligence and photography?
- To what extent should the government regulate markets?
These questions tested his analytical thinking, ethical understanding, and policy perspective.
What He Did Differently This Time
When asked what changed between his earlier attempts and the final successful one, Raghav pointed to two key improvements.
1. Value Addition in Mains
He focused on making every answer richer with facts, examples, and case studies.
2. Personality Development for Interview
He consciously worked on –
- Body language
- Confidence
- Calmness under pressure
- Humility
“I worked on my body language, confidence, calmness, and humility. Maybe that is what the board looks for in a future civil servant,” he says.
Message for UPSC Aspirants
His message for aspirants is straightforward yet powerful.
“Hard work is non-negotiable, but smart work is equally important.”
He advises aspirants to focus on quality over quantity.
“Focus on PYQs. Don’t chase random things like endless test series or scattered current affairs. Keep enriching the content you already have and be patient.”
He also reminds aspirants that UPSC is fundamentally a competitive examination.
“Try to do more than what your competition is doing. Ultimately, this exam is about outperforming others.”
An Inspiration for Aspirants Across India
Raghav Jhunjhunwala’s story is a powerful reminder that setbacks are not the end of the road. From missing the final list in his second attempt to securing AIR 4 in the third, his journey reflects resilience, strategic preparation, and relentless determination.
In a state like Bihar, where the civil services dream inspires countless young minds, Raghav’s achievement will undoubtedly motivate thousands of aspirants.
His journey shows that success in UPSC is not just about knowledge – it is about patience, adaptability, humility, and the courage to keep moving forward despite failures.
And perhaps that is why his story resonates so deeply.
Because sometimes, the difference between failure and extraordinary success is simply the determination to try one more time.
Read Also: UPSC 2025 Gujarat Topper: Nisar Dishant Amrutlal’s Four-Attempt Journey to AIR 19 | Exclusive
