https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Wrote Exam In Pre-Covid High Fever & Aced It

Indian Masterminds Stories

Success doesn’t come in easy. Your patience, determination and tenacity, everything is tested in the journey.  Sometimes the journey becomes long and one has to face unexpected situations. 

Mr. Gaurav Pandey’s journey is somewhat that of a academic gladiator. He faced some unforeseen situations but didn’t give up. In his fourth attempt, he succeeded in UPSC CSE and secured AIR 168.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 

Mr. Pandey’s family is settled in Delhi. His father is a retired army personnel and mother is a housewife. In an interview with the media, he mentioned that more than him, it was his family’s specially grandfather’s dream that he gets into UPSC CSE. 

Since his father was in a transferrable job so he had studied in different schools including Army School, Kendriya Vidyalaya and Government School in Delhi. He considers himself as an average student. “I scored around 85% in 12th and landed in Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar College for BA (Hons) in English. I completed my Graduation with 66% and started preparation for UPSC simultaneously”, he said.

THE TEST OF TIME 

Before clearing the exam this year, he had given three attempts. He managed to clear Prelims in every attempt but missed Interview with just two marks in his second attempt. In 2020, he appeared for interview but wasn’t in the final. 

This was his fourth attempt and it was very important to him clear this time. He says, “Even if you fail then also UPSC teaches you a lot. With all those teachings you are definitely going to be successful in life. Having said that, the continuous rejection is going to make you sad. No matter how much you want to keep your motivation high, you will start questioning your abilities.”

He needed success but it wasn’t going to be a cake walk for him. After coming from the first day of Mains exam, he got 103 degree fever. It was difficult for him to travel to the examination centre and write the paper. He didn’t give up and wrote rest of the paper in that condition. In an interview he said, “In the exam hall, I saw blood in my cough. But, exam had to be taken. I gathered my strength and finished the paper. The fever continued and I was tested Covid +ve after that. It was a shocker for me but we dealt with it.”

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPER 

Mr. Pandey emphasizes that everyone should trust their strategy for the preparation. “Many aspirants focus on test series but I didn’t do it after my first attempt. I just solved last 20 years question papers for Pre and did it five or more times. This helped me a lot.”

Besides this, he focused on revising the content for Mains and didn’t attempt answer writing. Also, his optional was English which is considered as a low scoring subject still he didn’t change it after continuous failure. He advises the aspirants to trust their decision and don’t follow everything said by others. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Bihar Elections 2025: CEC Gyanesh Kumar Addresses 5 Key Issues - SIR, Fake Voting, Freebies & More
BSNL
BSNL Surpasses Airtel in Mobile Subscriber Growth After Nearly a Year; Jio Leads with 19 Lakh Additions in August
NTPC_Tapovan Donates_Ambulance_
NTPC Hands Over ₹30 Lakh Advanced Life Support Ambulance to Chamoli District Hospital to Boost Emergency Healthcare
NTPC_Barauni_signed_agreement_
NTPC Barauni to Install 89 High-Mast Lights Across Begusarai to Boost Safety and Community Development
BPCL_bags_Excellence_Awards_
BPCL Wins Top Honours for City Gas Distribution and Customer Service at 19th PNGRB Foundation Day
Allahabad high court
SC Collegium Approves Appointment of Vinai Kumar Dwivedi as Judge of Allahabad High Court
JK Cement Health Camp Panna
Free Health Camp Organised for Forest Personnel During Wildlife Week 2025 by South Panna Forest Division
REC Mobile Medical Units
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav Flags Off REC’s ₹5.71 Cr Mobile Medical Units to Boost Rural Healthcare in Rajasthan
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Discover how IDES officer Saquib Alam left his corporate job at Mahindra, overcame six UPSC attempts,...
Utkarsh Ujjwal IAS
IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal Shares Key Advice for UPSC Aspirants: Work Ethic, Failure, and Focus
Read the inspiring journey of IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal, 2023 batch, Gujarat cadre. From IIT Guwahati to clearing...
Sagar Datta Majumdar UPSC CSE 2024 AIR 317
“Don’t get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-doubt,” says UPSC Achiever Sagar Datta Majumdar
Discover how Sagar Datta Majumdar from Agartala, Tripura, cracked UPSC CSE 2024 with All India Rank 317....
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Bihar Elections 2025: CEC Gyanesh Kumar Addresses 5 Key Issues - SIR, Fake Voting, Freebies & More
BSNL
BSNL Surpasses Airtel in Mobile Subscriber Growth After Nearly a Year; Jio Leads with 19 Lakh Additions in August
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT