Many believe that cracking the UPSC CSE is equivalent to cutting the Gordian knot, considering the quantum of hard work, perseverance, and sacrifices that go hand-in-hand with its arduous preparation, notwithstanding the ‘luck factor’. However, when IPS Mridul Kachawa, SP Bharatpur, tells you that cracking the CA exam is ‘tougher’ than clearing the UPSC CSE, especially as he succeeded in both and cracked the latter twice, you should take note before hanging your gloves!
EARLY CAREER
Born in Bikaner on August 30th, 1989, a young Mridul Kachawa received his primary education in the city before shifting to Jaipur for his senior secondary schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jaipur. He graduated with a B.Com from Rajasthan University, before completing his post-graduate degree in International Business.
While completing his post-graduation, Mr. Kachawa simultaneously belabored throughout his preparation for the two most difficult examinations in India’s commerce domain, the Chartered Accountancy (CA) and the Company Secretary (CS) Exams. During his conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Kachawa said, “I dedicated approximately 12-14 hours each day for my studies during my CA preparation days.” Needless to say, he cleared both the CA and CS with flying colors.
A young Mr. Kachawa then joined a German company in Mumbai, where he served for 11 months before having a change of heart. During his stint with the corporate world, Mr. Kachawa struggled to keep himself motivated and often found himself dissatisfied with the thick and thin of a life caged inside an office cubicle.
He eventually decided to try his luck in the armed forces at the National Defense Academy. The man who cracked both the CA & CS and then renounced the fruits of his hard work — failed to clear the entrance exam for the NDA twice! Luckily, he wasted no further time and took up the preparation of India’s toughest competitive examination, the UPSC CSE.
PREPARING FOR THE UPSC
Much like any other UPSC aspirant, Mr. Kachawa chose Delhi’s Old Rajendra Nagar as the cradle of this decisive journey. He opted for private coaching for his General Studies preparation but prepared for his optional subject, Commerce and Accounting, on his own.
In conversation with Indian Masterminds, he recalled a distinctive memory from the initial phase of his preparation days. One fine morning, he decided to explore the setting of Old Rajendra Nagar and got overwhelmed when he saw a sea of aspirants leaving their coaching sessions and crowding every nook and cranny of the region.
At this moment, Mr. Kachawa felt a wave of apprehension engulfing him as he contemplated the hype around UPSC and questioned his decision to toss his high-paying CA job for the uncertain pursuit of civil services.
OWNING THE VICTORY
The officer toiled hard and studied for at least 12 hours each day to crack the UPSC CSE. And he accomplished his goal as he cracked the exam twice in his first two attempts! He first cracked CSE 2014 and secured the Indian Post & Telegraph Account and Finance (IPTAF) Services through a reserved list.
He then cleared CSE 2015, securing AIR- 216 in his second attempt, and was awarded the Indian Police Service (IPS). He joined the IPS as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Bhilwara in 2017.
His simple mantra to budding aspirants is, “Be patient and be consistent.” Though Mr. Kachawa is humble enough to consider himself “lucky” for having cracked the UPSC CSE twice, he advised the budding aspirants to be consistent in their pursuit, give equal efforts across all stages of the preparation, and not lose hope over failures.
CAMARADERIE WITH HORSES
The officer has a range of hobbies, from wildlife photography to crusading on horses. However, the latter has a special place in his heart. Speaking to Indian Masterminds, he carved out a beautiful parallel between life in the civil service and riding on horses.
He said, “A horse is a beautiful yet powerful beast weighing approximately 500 kilos. It feels empowering to mount and take control of such majestic creatures. It is similar to taking charge as an IPS officer. In both cases, you take control of the immense power and responsibility, and it depends on you how you use this power.” He emphasized how “horse-riding” builds one’s character and imbibes one with the values of camaraderie and bonding — which are rudimentary with the task of policing.
Apart from being a passionate rider, Mr. Kachawa is also a fitness freak. He realized the fruits of daily workouts while playing basketball in his school and college days, and the habit of hitting the gym eventually became a daily part of his life.
The officer has more than 1.1 lakh followers on his Instagram handle, and his posts garner thousands of likes and even go viral on the internet. Speaking about his presence on social media, Mr. Kachawa said, “When I was an aspirant myself, we used to idolize and seek inspiration from the contemporary civil servants of our time. Now, I try to do the same and inspire budding aspirants to join the civil service.”
