In the quiet town of Tonk in Rajasthan, Sakshi Jain’s journey began like that of many aspirants… with ambition shaped by simplicity. She completed her schooling in her hometown before moving to Jaipur, a shift that would mark the beginning of a disciplined academic path.
In Jaipur, she pursued Chartered Accountancy, a course known for its rigour, and completed it in 2018. What makes this achievement stand out is that she cleared it in a single attempt, finishing the entire course within four years.
This phase of her life reflected clarity and focus, qualities that would later define her UPSC preparation.
A CORPORATE CAREER AND A TURNING POINT
After qualifying as a CA, Sakshi stepped into the corporate world as a financial analyst with Barclays GC PLC. It was a stable and promising career path, but something felt incomplete.
Her exposure to civil services through a family member sparked a deeper thought about purpose, impact, and connection with people at the grassroots level.
“I wanted to connect with the ground level and contribute to society. Civil services offer both a meaningful career and an opportunity to serve,” she shared with Indian Masterminds.
This realisation led her to make a bold shift: leaving behind a structured corporate trajectory to prepare for one of the toughest examinations in the country.
BEGINNING UPSC IN THE MIDDLE OF UNCERTAINTY
Sakshi began her UPSC preparation in January 2020, a time when the world was entering the uncertainty of COVID-19. With offline coaching unavailable and online ecosystems still evolving, she had to navigate preparation with limited structured support.
She subscribed to online academies and selectively followed lectures. For her optional subject, Commerce and Accountancy, aligned with her CA background, she enrolled in an online course to maintain consistency and discipline. This course spanned six months and became a stable anchor in her preparation.
FIVE ATTEMPTS, FOUR INTERVIEWS
Her UPSC journey was not linear. In her first attempt in 2021, she could not clear prelims. But what followed was a rare level of consistency.
From 2022 to 2025, she cleared prelims and mains every single year, reaching the interview stage four times out of five attempts.
Yet, selection remained just out of reach until 2025.
“This year is the year of my selection. Before this, I had not been selected for any service,” she reflects.
Her persistence wasn’t blind repetition; it was built on careful analysis and targeted improvement.
STRATEGY SHIFTS THAT WORKED
Sakshi’s General Studies scores had stabilised around 440 from her second attempt onwards. But she identified two key areas holding her back: essay and optional.
Her essay scores had consistently dipped—101, 89, 84, 82—before improving to 94 in her final attempt. Meanwhile, her optional subject saw a strong comeback, reaching 281, close to the highest marks in Commerce optional.
Her overall mains score jumped by nearly 50 marks, reaching 816.
But the real turning point came in the interview.
Her interview scores tell a story of evolution:
176 → 145 → 155 → 201
MASTERING THE MENTAL GAME OF THE INTERVIEW
For Sakshi, the interview was not just about knowledge; it was about mindset.
“It’s a mental game,” she says candidly.
In one of her earlier interviews, the pressure of previous failures showed. In another, she overprepared based on a specific panel style, which didn’t align with the actual board.
By her final attempt, her approach had changed entirely.
“This year, I had a very positive mindset. I believed that if I gave a good interview, something good would happen eventually.”
One moment stood out. She was the last candidate of the day, entering at 5:15 PM, when fatigue could easily set in.
“I deliberately entered with very high energy and maintained it throughout.”
That conscious decision became symbolic of her preparation—aware, adaptive, and controlled.
BATTLES BEYOND BOOKS
Behind the marks and ranks were quieter struggles.
Long study hours brought health challenges, which she managed through yoga and regular walking. There was also societal pressure, the kind that often accompanies repeated attempts.
But her strongest support system was her family.
“My family stood like a strong wall behind me, and I feel privileged to have them,” she told Indian Masterminds.
Then came the toughest challenge: self-doubt.
After multiple setbacks, questioning oneself becomes inevitable. Sakshi faced those moments too, but she chose to continue.
ROOTED IN FAMILY, DRIVEN BY PURPOSE
Sakshi comes from a grounded and academically inclined family. Her father works at the District Institute of Education and Training, contributing to teacher training, while her mother is a financial advisor associated with mutual funds like HDFC, UTI, and Axis.
Her younger brother has pursued a dual degree from IIT Bombay, adding to an environment where education and ambition go hand in hand.
A FOCUS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY
As she steps into the civil services, Sakshi carries clarity about the kind of impact she wants to create.
While she is open to serving in any department, her inclination towards the finance sector is evident. She hopes to work on improving financial literacy, particularly among women.
“Right now, we focus more on financial inclusion than financial literacy, and there is a gap that needs attention.”
It is a perspective shaped by both her professional background and lived observations.
HER MESSAGE TO ASPIRANTS
After five attempts and years of preparation, Sakshi’s advice is simple, yet powerful:
“Keep PYQs and the syllabus as your guiding principles, like your Gita, Bible, or Quran. Stay clear in your mind and heart, and be confident.”
